Has The 2nd Coming Already Happened?

Q

Thank you for answering the many questions that you receive. Your insight and knowledge helps many in their understanding of the Bible and living the Christian life with a world view. One of the scripture texts which the Preterists use in arguing for the second coming in some form having taken place before the destruction of the Jerusalem in 70 AD is found in Matthew 16:28, Mark 9:1 and Luke 9:27.

Jesus is telling His disciples about His need to die and His future second coming bringing rewards to His followers and makes the statement “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death fefore they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.” Preterists take this as His second coming taking place in some way before some of these disciples died and His kingdom being establshed at that time.

Of course, none of the many other things which had to take place before Christ returns as stated in Revelation had and has not happened and so the Preterists are wrong in the view but what did Christ mean in this statement about some of these disciples not seeing death before He comes in His kingdom? Did he mean that upon His resurrection, His kingdom would be in his followers (believers) hearts?

A

There is a sense in which the Lord’s statement was fulfilled by the establishment of the Church after the Resurrection. But if that was the only fulfillment, He could have said all (or at least most) of the disciples would live to see it. The use of the word some hints at something different.

Six days after He said that, the Lord took Peter, James and John with Him to the top of a mountain where He was transfigured before them, appearing in His glorified form. Moses and Elijah appeared as well and spoke with Jesus about His 2nd Coming. Later, Peter recalled this experience saying that he and the others were eyewitnesses of the Lord’s majesty. (2 Peter 1:16-18) I think this was the fulfillment of the Lord’s declaration.

And as you say, several pre-conditions for the 2nd coming still have not been met, which in my opinion makes it impossible to reconcile the Preterist view with Scripture.