Anyone care to comment on Jesus' most famous false prophecy?

Question

Matthew 16:27 and 28

Jesus said he will come in the glory of this father, and he will reward every man according to his works; and there would be some standing there listening to him that would not die until they see him coming in his kingdom, with his angels.

All the people who were in his audience are long dead and gone and he has not returned.

What? No he was not talking about the transfiguration, because only his disciples saw that -- and he was not coming with his angels.

This was Jesus' most famous false prophecy. Anyone care to comment? I'm asking this question on Yahoo-Answers, and on two other forums, and I'm compiling all serious answers, and I thank all who respond.

For correlating passages see also Matthew 23:36

Also Mark 9:1 and Mark 13:30

Luke 9:27 and Luke 21:32

As you see this prediction is reported by Matthew, Mark and Luke; and their versions are similar.

I posted this question earlier, and it was deleted. Now I re-post it. I welcome all replies.

Answer 1

I agree. It is a false prophecy. This alone excludes him from being God or a messiah. You've just proved the entire Christian religion is based on sham and falsehood. Star for you!

Answer 2

Let start with a literal translation for Matt 16:27-28:

16:27 IS-ABOUT G3195
for G1063
THE G3588
SON G5207
OF-THE G3588
human G444
TO-BE-COMING G2064
IN G1722
THE G3588
esteem (glory) G1391
OF-THE G3588
FATHER G3962
OF-him G846
With G3326
THE G3588
MESSENGERS G32
OF-him G846
AND G2532
then G5119
He-SHALL-BE-FROM-GIVING (he-shall-be-paying) G591
to-EACH G1538
according-to G2596
THE G3588
PRACTISing (practise) G4234
OF-him G846
16:28 AMEN (verily) G281
I-AM-sayING G3004
to-YOU (to-ye) G5213
that G3754
ARE G1526
ANY (some) G5100
OF-THE-ones G3588
here G5602
HAVING-STOOD (standing) G2476
WHO-ANY G3748
NOT G3756
NO G3361
SHOULD-BE-TASTING G1089
OF-DEATH G2288
TIL G2193
EVER G302
THEY-MAY-BE-PRECEIVING G1492
THE G3588
SON G5207
OF-THE G3588
human G444
COMING G2064
IN G1722
THE G3588
KINGdom G932
OF-Him G486

Clearly, you do not have a problem with verse 27. It talks about the end times and is consistent with other descriptions.

It is verse 28 that you claim that Jesus made a mistake.

Let's start with the end of this verse, "THE SON OF-THE human COMING IN THE KINGdom OF-Him". What is the kingdom of Jesus?

Let’s move to the beginning, "AMEN (verily) I-AM-sayING to-YOU that ARE ANY (some) OF-THE-ones here HAVING-STOOD (standing) WHO-ANY NOT NO SHOULD-BE-TASTING OF-DEATH TIL EVER THEY-MAY-BE-PRECEIVING". This ends with "THEY-MAY-BE-PRECEIVING". Possible preceiving, not listening. If there is a mistake, it is with the translation, not with what Matthew recorded.

Answer: Before you can claim something is false, you need understand what it says.

Answer 3

Read Mark 9:1-8 first and then read Matthew 16:28-17:13. God didn't make the chapter breaks... man did.

See also: 2 Peter 1:16-21

Answer 4

You goofed.
Matthew 16 and 23 are different events. In the part where he says those with Him would see Him come in His glory were with Him in the next 9 verses where he was transfigured and met Moses, Elijah, and God. (Matt 16:28-17:8)
Peter,James, and John were with Him.
Mark 9:1-same as above
Mark 13:30- unrelated
Luke 9:27-same as above
Luke 21:32- unrelated

Answer 5

We are told to watch because when we least think it Jesus will return in power with great glory.

Even if Jesus hasn't returned by the time you die your opportunity for salvation will be decided.

You will probably already know the reference 'all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation'. That is the classic excuse for doing nothing positive towards God.

The transfiguration certainly appears to be the immediate experience the disciples were to see and they were stunned by it.

But in the ultimate when the time is ready Jesus will return, but until then there is the time to serve God and trust Him and love Him.

What better opportunity could anyone be offered - eternal life in a renewed world.

Answer 6

Well...come on now, let's be fair and think this over: Jesus talked about future and future is described in Revelations...writen by John...who was a listener when Jesus was talking about the future: "some here will not die before they see the future."

The contradiction is not here but it is basically everywhere else. I wished there was a god and I believed in one...then I read the bible a few times and now I'm the worst atheist there is hahahaha. Isn't it funny that the hardest working people for Jesus are those freshly recruited which means they are the ones who know the least about the bible? The more you know the less you believe...but for the sense of fairness you are wrong-this is not a contradiction.

Answer 7

Well you do make a good point...

I can only say that perhaps part of that prophecy was fulfilled when disciples seen the beginning of that coming Kingdom.. in Act 1: 1-7. His disciples do say “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

The rest of the fulfillment comes later?

Answer 8

Ok..First Matthew 23:36
36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. For sure that did come to pass, as the disciples were killed for their testimony of Jesus Christ. A brief study of the bible will confirm that fact. Starting with Stephen.

Matthew 16:27-28 This scripture refers back to to Daniel 7:13,14
This was the Mediatorial kingdom which Jesus Christ was now about to set up, by the destruction of the Jewish "politics", and the diffusion of his Gospel through the whole world. If the words be taken in this sense, the angels or messengers signify the apostles and their successors in the sacred ministry, preaching the Gospel in the power of the Holy Ghost.
Chapter 28 refers to the above:This verse seems to confirm the above explanation, as our Lord speaks of the establishment of the Christian Church after the day of pentecost, and its final triumph after the destruction of the Jewish polity; as if he had said, "Some of you, my disciples, shall continue to live until these things take place." The destruction of Jerusalem, and the Jewish economy, which our Lord here predicts, took place about forty-three years after this.

I would offer a word of caution and encouragement to you, in the study of the word of God. It is not a book that can be comprehended as other books may be. The word must be studied with your heart in humility to God. You must pray for the Holy Spirit to illuminate your mind to reveal the truth .

In addition, commentaries and concordances are very helpful.
Bless you as you uncover the truth of the gospel.

Answer 9

There is a difference between false prophecy and future prophecy. Did Isaiah prophecy falsely when he spoke of bringing the People of Israel home 'on eagles' wings'? No. It just took awhile for jet aircraft to be invented. Jesus also said that our God is a God of the living, not of the dead. He has plenty of time yet to make good on His Promise.

Answer 10

He was talking about His death pickle brain...so much you know ..........

His death would bring Glory to His Father by the countless souls that would be saved and duhhh- yeah- not everyone listening that day died before witnessing His death and ressurection.... And , His disciples watched Him ascend into heaven..Luke 24:50-53
Get more education ...or get a different hobby , might I suggest 'scrabble'.........

Answer 11

But one within the audience DID see Jesus return in all His glory: John son of Zebedee. You can read about what he saw in Revelations.

He didn't say that He'd actually be returning before they died, only that some among them would SEE His return. It wasn't the first time the disciples had no clue what He meant. They really weren't very smart sometimes.

Therefore, it's not a false prophecy.