 |  |
Matt. 16: 27, 28 refers to the same coming and kingdom. That coming would takes
place either within the lifetime of some who heard the words, or, failing that, would
possibly be deferred. This is implied by the particle "an", "if". Israel did not repent;
though granted nearly forty years in which to fulfil the implication of the "if". They
failed to do so, and when the longsuffering of God reached this limit, they were set aside,
and the possibility of the Lord's return during the lifetime of any of His early disciples
ceased to be practical truth. The transfiguration which immediately follows Matt. 16:
is a partial fulfillment and prophetic foreshadowing, as Peter himself testifies in
II Pet. 1: 16-18.
These four passages must be considered together if they are to be understood:--
A |
10: 23. Not finish the cities . . . . . till He may have come.
B
| 16: 28. Not taste death till see.
B
| 23: 39. May not see Me till say.
A |
24: 34. That generation not pass till . . . . . fulfilled.
It is not our purpose to tarry long over details or difficulties in this series. However,
should readers find difficulty over these passages, we shall be glad to help, but we do not
wish to go over ground already covered and so unnecessarily waste time.
We have touched upon these passages together in order to leave the way clear to take
up the classic passage on the second coming in the Gospels, namely, Matt. 24: To this
we hope to give attention in our next paper.
#9. Matthew 24:
The sunteleia. The times of refreshing. The presence of the Lord.
pp. 188 - 192
The passages we have looked at in Matthew's Gospel, while adding their quota to the
teaching of the N.T. concerning the second coming of the Lord, are nevertheless isolated
and fragmentary in character. Matt. 24: on the other hand is a discourse wholly
devoted to the subject. This notable discourse is introduced by the closing verses of
Matt. 23::--
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are
sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen
gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not. Behold, your house is left
unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say,
Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord" (37-39).
We have here a quotation from Psa. 118: 25, 26:--
"Save now (Hosannah), I beseech Thee, O Lord . . . . . Blessed be He that cometh in
the name of the Lord, we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord."