Jehovah's Witnesses...Was Chrisitanity destroyed in the first century?

Question

Jesus speaking to a crowd of people along with his disciples:

Mat 16:28 I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Jesus speaking to his disciples just prior to sending them out to preach the good news:

Mat 10:23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Jesus instructing his disciples privately on the Mount of Olives on when the end will come and when he himself will return:

Mat 24:34 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

Jesus instructing his disciples privately on the Mount of Olives on when the end will come and when he himself will return:

Mat 24:34 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

Jesus said he would return to Earth soon and in fact, he stated that it would be within the lifetime of his contemporaries. He promised to return before all the people of his generation had died. But this automatically destroys Christianity by making Jesus either a liar or a false prophet and therefore cannot possibly be what Jesus is saying.

What do you think of that?

Answer 1

No.

Jesus taught many prophecies, some of which were fulfilled during his human life, some soon after his impalement, some in our day, and some still await fulfillment.

Matthew 16:28 prophesied regarding "the Transfiguration", which occurred only a fews after Jesus uttered those words. The point is remarkably easy to discern from the few verses immediately following Jesus' prophecy.
...(Matthew 16:27-17:2) For the Son of man is destined to come in the glory of his Father ...there are some of those standing here that will not taste death at all until first they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” Six days later Jesus took Peter and James and John his brother along and brought them up into a lofty mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone as the sun, and his outer garments became brilliant as the light.
...(Mark 9:1-2) There are some of those standing here that will not taste death at all until first they see the kingdom of God already come in power.” Accordingly six days later Jesus took Peter and James and John along, and brought them up into a lofty mountain to themselves alone. And he was transfigured before them
...(Luke 9:27-29) There are some of those standing here that will not taste death at all until first they see the kingdom of God.” In actual fact, about eight days after these words, he took Peter and John and James along and climbed up into the mountain to pray. And as he was praying the appearance of his face became different and his apparel became glitteringly white.

Matthew 10:23 refers to the global preaching work. Scriptures such as Matthew 24:14 help make that clear.

Matthew 24:34's use of the term "this generation" refers to the "generation" (as Jesus used the term) which shared a common mindset during "the [second] presence" of Jesus (between 1914 and Armageddon). Much of what Jesus prophesied about the last days of that "second coming" are still future.
...(Matthew 24:3-37) . . .the disciples approached him privately, saying: “Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?” 4 And in answer Jesus said to them: “Look out that nobody misleads you...For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. 8 All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress. 9 “Then people will deliver YOU up to tribulation and will kill YOU, and YOU will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name. ...and because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off. 13 But he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved. 14 And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come. ...29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in lamentation, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ...Truly I say to YOU that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. 36 “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For just as the days of Noah were, so the [so-called "second"] presence of the Son of man will be.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_09.htm

Answer 2

The Son of Man has come in His Kingdom...that happened on the day of Pentecost, when He descended in power and began to dwell within His disciples.

In Matt 24, Jesus was describing events that would happen when the world would end.
If you look at some of the surrounding text, Jesus' meaning becomes clearer:
Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

THIS generation...meaning, the generation that sees these things that Jesus has been describing...shall not pass away till it's all over.
Some people think that will be very soon.
I'm inclined to think that they are right.

Answer 3

It wasn't "destroyed" in the first century because the apostasy have already taken effect when Paul was here on Earth. He also warned people that this would take place, and he had to disfellowship memebers of the congregation because of this.

2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

He also name some of the apostates by name.

1 Timothy 1:19,20
keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.

Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.

2 Timothy 2:16-19
But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,
and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.
Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness."


This was also foretold by others.

2 Peter 2:1
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

Hebrews 6:4-8
For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;
but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.


You can see by these accounts that apostasy had already taken place, but it wasn't until years after until it took great effect.


UPDATE: The term Generation didn't apply to the disciples timezone, it applied to the certain events that would take place (which is located Chapter 24 of Matthew)

Answer 4

I think people have taken ALL that out of context. Do we not also remember? It also says We know not the hour,day,etc. That there would be signs of the second coming.The Bible also tells us That the end will come when the gospel has reached the 4 corners of the earth, just as Jesus commanded of us. That is the TRUTH!!!

Answer 5

Fundamentalists will say yes, but that would make Jesus a liar.

Christ promised to guide and protect HIS Church, which will last till the end of the age.

"And so I tell you. Peter; you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven; what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven." - Matthew 16,18-20

"And teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28,20

Answer 6

1) With his Kingdom rule in mind, Jesus told his disciples: “There are some of those standing here that will not taste death at all until first they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” (Matthew 16:28) Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John into a lofty mountain where he was transfigured before them. As a bright cloud covered the apostles, God declared: “This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved; listen to him.” (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-9) What a preview of Christ’s Kingdom glory! No wonder Peter referred to that dazzling vision and said: “Consequently we have the prophetic word made more sure.”—2 Peter 1:16-19.

2)Jesus said that in the year 31 (A.D.). This was when he was sending out his twelve apostles, in twos, to preach in all the cities of Israel. It may have been, as in the case of the seventy evangelizers whom Jesus also sent out to preach, that the apostles were sent in advance of Jesus and that Jesus would later come to the places where they had preached. (Luke 10:1) This, however, does not appear to be the thing referred to by Jesus in Matthew 10:23, namely, that he would personally, in the flesh, follow up his twelve apostles in the cities in which they had preached.
It is evident that when Jesus gave his twelve apostles these preaching instructions, he was doing so for the years that would follow his death, resurrection and ascension to heaven, never to come back again to the earth in the flesh. How is this evident? From the fact that Jesus spoke to the apostles about their being mistreated in the synagogues and being haled before governors and kings “for a witness to them and the nations.” (Matt. 10:17, 18) There is no record that such things occurred during the short preaching campaign in which the apostles engaged in Israel exclusively, after which they returned to Jesus and made their reports. At the time that Jesus gave them the above instructions, he plainly told them not to go to the nations or even to the Samaritans on this preaching campaign, but only to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel.”—Matt. 10:5, 6.
So it must have been because he looked ahead to their world-wide preaching among outside nations after his ascension to heaven that Jesus said to the apostles: “You will be objects of hatred by all people [not merely Israelites] on account of my name; but he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved. When they persecute you in one city, flee to another; for truly I say to you, You will by no means complete the circuit of the cities of Israel until the Son of man arrives.”—Matt. 10:22, 23.

3) Many scriptures confirm that Jesus did not use “generation” with regard to some small or distinct group, meaning only the Jewish leaders or only his loyal disciples. Rather, he used “generation” in condemning the masses of Jews who rejected him. Happily, though, individuals could do what the apostle Peter urged on the day of Pentecost, repent and “get saved from this crooked generation.”—Acts 2:40.
In that statement, Peter was clearly not being precise as to any fixed age or length of time, nor was he tying the “generation” to any certain date. He did not say that people should get saved from the generation that was born in the same year Jesus was or the generation that was born in 29 C.E. Peter was speaking about the unbelieving Jews of that period—some perhaps being rather young, others being older—who had been exposed to Jesus’ teaching, had seen or heard of his miracles, and had not accepted him as Messiah.
That evidently is how Peter understood Jesus’ use of “generation” when he and three other apostles were with Jesus on the Mount of Olives. According to Jesus’ prophetic statement, Jews of that period—basically, Jesus’ contemporaries—were going to experience or hear of wars, earthquakes, famines, and other evidences that the end of the Jewish system was near. In fact, that generation did not pass before the end came in 70 C.E.—Matthew 24:3-14, 34.
It must be acknowledged that we have not always taken Jesus’ words in that sense. There is a tendency for imperfect humans to want to be specific about the date when the end will come. Recall that even the apostles sought more specifics, asking: “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”—Acts 1:6.
Hope this Helps..

Answer 7

Many do not understand Mat 16. Jesus' kingdom was set up when he overcame death (sin), when he was raised from the dead. THAT'S when his kingdom started. Not his 2nd coming!


†

Answer 8

Not destroyed but taken by liars and changed.