Posted by
Bob Siegel on Friday, December 21, 2007 11:43:45 AM
“Did Jesus prove Himself
to be a false prophet when He predicted a second coming that would take place
some time during the lives of His disciples?”
This interesting and provocative question has been brought up at many of
my formal debates with well known atheists. It has also been brought up by
skeptical college students and even Christians who (understandably) want to be
sure their Bible is accurate and non-contradictory.
Fortunately, many alleged Bible problems are solved through even the
smallest degree of study.
In Matthew 16:27, Jesus says, “ 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.."
This seems to pose a rather obvious problem since the disciples of Jesus
passed away two thousand years ago and we still have not seen His return. But
if we would simply keep reading we will find no problem whatsoever.
Matt 17:1-5
After six days Jesus
took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a
high mountain by themselves. There he
was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes
became as white as the light. Just then
there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be
here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and
one for Elijah."
While he was still
speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said,
"This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to
him!"
Three of Jesus’ disciples did get
a sneak preview of His coming and His glory. They did it shortly after Jesus
made the prediction and it is probably not a coincidence that Matthew relayed
this incident at this time.
A similar problem is found in Mat. 24: 34,
“I tell you the truth, this
generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. “
This time, an understanding of the
original Greek language is useful The
word used here is genos. True, genos
can translate as generation but it can also translate as nation. Jesus could be referring to Israel,
predicting that the Jews as a race will survive. When we consider the pogroms
of the last two millennia and the holocaust which killed almost every Jew in
Europe, when we consider the fact that despite these horrific incidents, the
Jews not only survived but have returned to their promised land dwelling in
their own sovereign nation once again
and when we consider that Isaiah 11 predicts three different nations of Israel,
(the 1948 establishment being the third) the idea of Jesus predicting the
longevity of the Jews becomes even more likely.
Conclusion:
We do not know when Jesus
will return. We know He will someday but in the meantime we can trust His words
because no contradiction or false prophecy has ever been proven.
All Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE
New International Version NIV
Copyright 1973, 1979, 1984 by
International Bible Society
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
All rights reserved.
The Bob
Siegel Show can be heard every Sunday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM on KCBQ 1170 on the dial or KCBQ.com to listen live
over the Internet.
Call in toll free number if you want to join in the program with
questions or comments:
1-888-344-1170
Bob’s website is: www.bobsiegel.net