From Did Jesus Say He’d Return within His Disciples’ Lifetimes?
- three times in the New Testament Gospels, Jesus makes a solemn prediction that at first glance seems like he thinks his second coming will take place before all his first followers have died (Mark 9:1; 13:30; Matt. 10:23).
- In Mark 9:1 and its parallels (Matt. 16:28; Luke 9:27), Jesus promises that “there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
- In Mark 13:30, Jesus declares that “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” “These things” presumably refers to what he has just been describing, and in verses 24–27 he has described his return. Still, he has also spoken of “these things happening” in verse 29 as the clue to recognizing that his return is near, and it would make no sense for him to say, in essence, “Once you see I’ve returned, know that I’m near.”
- Matthew 10:23. In verses 5–42, Jesus is teaching the Twelve about what to expect as they travel around Israel to replicate his ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing: “When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes” (Matt. 10:23).