Some today mock Christianity on the basis of what they perceive to be inconsistencies regarding what Christ said about His 2nd coming.  They will claim that passages such as Matthew 10:23 and 16:28 prove that Christ thought He would be returning before those He directly spoke to would die.  The problem these individuals have is a failure to recognize that when a passage speaks of a “coming” of Christ, it can be meant literally or figuratively depending upon the context.

There are plenty of passages that make clear the fact that Christ will literally return a 2nd time for the purpose of judgment (Matt. 25:31ff).  This return will be personal (i.e. Christ Himself will literally appear – 1 Thess. 4:16), visible (“every eye will see Him” – Rev. 1:7; cf. Acts 1:11), sudden and unexpected (1 Thess. 5:2-3), victorious (2 Thess. 1:7-10), and terminal (i.e. His coming will be the end of time and God’s physical creation – 1 Cor. 15:22-24; 2 Pet. 3:10).

What then do passages such as Matthew 10:23 and 16:28 refer to?

Matthew 10:23 refers to Christ’s judgmental or disciplinary coming upon the nation of Israel due to their overall rejection of Him.  This was accomplished at the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 by the Romans.  This verse is parallel to Matthew 24:30 where Christ speaks of this figurative coming.  Notice that this coming would be accomplished before that generation would pass away (vs. 34).  We know this coming was not Christ’s final coming (referenced above) because of the instructions He gives in verses 15-20.  What good would it do them to “flee to the mountains” if the earth was about to be burned up? (cf. 2 Pet. 3:10)  Note also that we read nothing of the dead being raised in this passage; an event we know will occur at Christ’s final coming (John 5:28-29).

We read about other “comings” of this nature in the book of Revelation as it pertained to certain congregations in Asia Minor (cf. Rev. 2:5, 16; 3:3).

Matthew 16:28 has reference to the establishment of Christ’s kingdom (the church – cf. vs. 18-19; Col. 1:13) which was accomplished during the lifetimes of His disciples (i.e. Pentecost AD 33).  This was also a figurative coming accomplished representatively through the Holy Spirit.  Christ promised the disciples that He would not leave them orphans, but stated in John 14:18, “I will come to you.”  How would He do this?  Noting the context, we see that it would be representatively through the Holy Spirit (cf. vs. 16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:5-15).  In Mark 9:1, Jesus stated that some standing before Him would not taste death until they saw the kingdom of God “present with power.”  In Acts 1:8, we find that this power corresponded to the apostles receiving the Holy Spirit (as promised) and ushering in the first recipients of Christ’s church (Acts 2).

Peter warned us that scoffers would appear in these last days asking, “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Pet. 3:3-4)  Let us not be convinced by their flawed logic and twisting of Scripture.  Christ is coming.  The question is: are you ready?