Please help me clear up my doubts about Jesus' second coming

[timeandeternity]

I’ve been doing my homework on the verses that speak about some not tasting death before seeing the kingdom of God come with power. So far the best explanation of these verses is that they refer to Pentecost. The following article outlines this argument fairly well:

christiancourier.com/articles/1392-jesus-foretells-the-coming-kingdom

However, it’s pretty clear that the early Christians were expecting Jesus’ imminent return. Even St. Paul seems to think that this was the case (see 1 Cor 7 and 1 Thess 4:16-17. In the latter, Paul uses “we” rather than “those,” which seems to suggest that he thought that he and others would be alive at the Second Coming). If this is what Paul believed, and it’s in the Bible, this is really making me doubt the infallibility of the Bible. I really need this doubt cleared up.

Also, right before the verses where Jesus talks about some not tasting death, he clearly talks about His second coming–for example, in Luke 9 He says “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Right after that He says “Some will not taste death etc.” The same thing occurs in Matthew 16:27-28 and Mark 8:38-9:1. To me this really seems like He’s talking about His second coming.

I just don’t know what to do. I’ve done everything I can to clear up this doubt. Please help me–I don’t want to lose my faith. I am sure there must be an explanation for both of my doubts (Bible infallibility, second coming), but I just can’t find one yet. Please help me out here!

 

[TheDumbOx]

Commenting at Luke 9:27, the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The Gospel of Luke says: “see the kingdom: Jesus promises that his kingdom will arrive within the lifetime of his contemporaries. This points to the birth of the Church in general (22:28-30) and to the destruction of Jerusalem in particular (21:31-32). The downfall of the city (A.D. 70) will mark a turning point in salvation history that signals the expiration of the Old Covenant kingdom and the definitive establishment of the New.”

 

[Aelred_Minor]

Commenting at Luke 9:27, the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The Gospel of Luke says: “see the kingdom: Jesus promises that his kingdom will arrive within the lifetime of his contemporaries. This points to the birth of the Church in general (22:28-30) and to the destruction of Jerusalem in particular (21:31-32). The downfall of the city (A.D. 70) will mark a turning point in salvation history that signals the expiration of the Old Covenant kingdom and the definitive establishment of the New.”

 

[wiggbuggie]

As for Mark and Matthew Jesus saying some will not die until they see the son of man coming in his kingdom, look what episode follows the next chapter in both gospels, the transfiguration. Jesus chose 3 people to show them his full glorious nature to give them a taste of whats to come. I think thats what Jesus was referring to his transfiguration.

 

[TheTrueCentrist]

Commenting at Luke 9:27, the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The Gospel of Luke says: “see the kingdom: Jesus promises that his kingdom will arrive within the lifetime of his contemporaries. This points to the birth of the Church in general (22:28-30) and to the destruction of Jerusalem in particular (21:31-32). The downfall of the city (A.D. 70) will mark a turning point in salvation history that signals the expiration of the Old Covenant kingdom and the definitive establishment of the New.”

It seems like that is too much of a deviation from all the other times Jesus uses the term “kingdom.” He does not say “you are Peter and upon this rock I shall build my kingdom” instead he says “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews.”

 

[Deborah123]

Hello,
I can recommend reading NT Wright (who also writes as Tom Wright) on this subject. He was the Bishop of Durham and has written extensively and clearly on this problem.
I’m sure he will put your mind at rest, though he is Church of England (so no doubt some will disagree with me!).

There is an unofficial website dedicated to his essays and lectures which is easy to find on Google and he has written countless books. One I have read which covered this subject is called “The Challenge of Jesus”.

Hope this helps.