Jesus Disciples Death

Why did Jesus Christ say to His disciples that some would not taste death until they had see the Kingdom?

Now, this bears some thought, and I have pondered it many times. He spoke of that generation “not passing away” until these things had come to pass. This seems contradictory; meaning, it is confusing to those who have no answer.
Good answers!
Dave N, you would get a gold star if I could give you one, lol. You’ve all answered me well, and I thank you. I hadn’t thought of that.
Dew, yours is a thoughtful and intelligent answer. I’ll remember that!

The statement by Jesus that “this generation would not pass away until all these things comes to pass” and the statement that “some would not taste death until they see the kingdom” were made to two different groups of people at two different times. The two statements are not interrelated.

Matthew, Mark and Luke all record Jesus stating that some of the disciples would not taste death until they saw the kingdom”. The very next event in all three gospels is where Jesus takes some of those disciples (Peter, James and John) to the top of a mountain where they see Jesus transfigured into his full glory talking with Moses and Elijah. They present this event as the fulfillment of Jesus’ word. Those disciples show the fullness of the Kingdom at that time.

The other reference to “this generation nor passing away” is found in what is called the Olivet Discourse. It is the last major public teaching that Jesus gives before his arrest and crucifixion, given on the Mount of Olives.

There is a Bible principle that whenever a prophet gives a prophecy of the distance future, he must also give a prophecy that will be fulfilled in the immediate future – his life time – as proof of the future prophecy. Often these prophecy would be the same words, meaning the prophet would speak something that would happen right then, but would also be a prophecy of a greater event in the future.

When Jesus spoke, he predicted that Jerusalem would be surrounded, the temple would be defiled and destroyed, and that the Jews would flees to “the rocks”. He also referred to the sun going dark and the moon turning to blood, phrases used over a hundred times to scripture as an image/allegory of a nation being overthrown. He said all these things would happen to “this generation”.

In 70 AD, the Roman General (and future Emperor) Titus would surround Jerusalem, force his way into the temple and sacrifice a pig on the altar to defile it, and then pull down the entire temple and its surrounding buildings. The Jewish leaders who survived did so by fleeing to the fortress of Petra (which means “rock”) – you can see the entrance to that fortress in Indy Jones/Last Crusade, where Indy finds the Holy Grail. Israel was overthrown and the Jewish dispersed. A direct fulfillment 40 years later of the events that Jesus predicted.

But those events are then coupled with more events that deal with the second coming of Christ. It appears that the same events – an invasion of Jerusalem and a destruction of a rebuild temple – will come immediately before the return of Christ. The fact this happened in the first generation is our guarantee that it will happen again at the time of his return.

It also appears to state that the second generation that sees a destruction of a temple in Jerusalem will be the same generation that sees the return of Christ.

Shabazz The Disciple – Death Be The Penalty

Doubting Thomas Photo Mugs Jesus appears, after his death, to Doubting Thomas and other disciples ….

The dead Christ – Bible Photo Mugs The dead Christ, surrounded by Mary and the disciples…..

St. John Passion Hlts $36.18 …

Jesus (The Epic Story of the Tragedy and Triumph of the Most Controversial Life in Human History) $1.00 The epic story of the tragedy and triumph of the most controversial life in human history. Witness the most remarkable story of passion, intrigue, pain and glory as you are taken back two thousand years to the life of Jesus Christ. A masterpiece that was created by the Cannes Film Festival award winning producer John Heyman and a team of specialists. Researched for five years and filmed in over 20…

Unscented Anointing Oil 1/2oz $9.40 Classic Unscented is our original anointing oil, inspired by the Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; …

Unscented Anointing Oil 2oz $21.20 Classic Unscented is our original anointing oil, inspired by the Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; …