And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified. Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead. They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant.
What were the three disciples actually invited to see high up on this mountain? Was this scene with Jesus, a prophet and a patriarch a vision of the future? A dream of the past? Had heaven come down to earth? These were likely not the questions the terrified disciples were asking in the moment. They were probably just wondering if they would survive this encounter. Upon reflection, they undoubtedly assumed they must have been among those who indeed were standing there with Jesus who were told that they would not taste death before they saw the kingdom of God after it had come with power.
I had always believed the kingdom came with power at Pentecost. After further thought I now believe that the kingdom came in Christ and had been present since He began His ministry.
I believe the disciples had been witnessing and experiencing the kingdom in their day to day lives with Jesus. As far as this encounter goes, it is fair to say that whatever the time or the realm into which James, Peter and John saw, they would never be the same because they now knew there was more going on than that which had previously met their eyes.
It was crystal clear that this Jesus, whom they thought they knew, has an existing majestic identity beyond their wildest dreams. He is the Lord of glory and power and apparently lives in more than one dimension. Having seen Elijah and Moses, they also had to assume that the dead are in fact raised. Perhaps most importantly though, they learned that “This Jesus is God’s beloved Son and that they must listen to Him!“
What is it today, as we listen, that we hear Jesus saying? Do you hear Him saying, “Don’t get left behind. Just hold on a bit longer; My second coming is drawing near. Then you will have new bodies and you will then enter in to the kingdom.” Judging by book sales, this is what most of the family is hearing. You might find it interesting; The Left Behind series has more than doubled both the profits and staff of Tyndale House Publishers. More than 75 million copies have been sold.
It is an attractive idea isn’t it to be beamed up and out of this fallen sin infested earth where we are hamstrung by Adam’s nature and destined to be eventually overcome by the swelling tide of evil. Because of what I have tasted of Christ’s reign in my life over the past 38 years and how I read the scripture I have not embraced Left Behind theology. I don’t believe the patriarchs or the prophets would either.
Can you imagine what King David would say about this Rapture/Retreat theology. If he were seen talking to Jesus wouldn’t he be saying about this world system something in this spirit; “For who are these uncircumcised Philistines, that they should taunt the armies of the living God?”
If we could listen in on the demonic I could easily imagine we would overhear plans to neutralize the armies of God. The grand overarching deception being strategized would be to convey that the kingdom of God has not yet come with power. From there it would be a simple matter to infect the armies of God with the fatalistic notion that evil is going to triumph in the earth but that a great evacuation plan will be launched from heaven before anarchy prevails. This will forestall any real resistance from God’s army. Since no real victory is possible it would breed passivity and a preoccupation with the temporal world. A world of doctrinal lies could be sown successfully in this soil. The strategy would include a full scale assault on the identity of God’s people. Every effort would be made to promote the debilitating half-truth that a christian’s identity is that of being just a sinner saved by grace. This way, the army would be introspecting about their fallen sinful natures as opposed to strapping on their armor by embracing their identity in Christ and the kingdom that has already come.
We often presume that it was David’s musical, worshipful heart but perhaps it was something more that God loved about David. Perhaps He liked the fact that David presumed that He was with him and would therefore not be intimidates by any giants.
Have you ever considered that Jesus is also saying to us, “Truly I say to you, there are some of you who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power?” It is feint but at times I think I hear stirring within our camps that indicates this is being heard. The spirit of of what I hear reminds me of the declaration/prayer? made by George C. Scott in his portrayal of General Patton,
“I’ve always felt that I was destined for some great achievement, what I don’t know. ….The last great opportunity of a lifetime – an entire world at war, and I’m left out of it? God will not permit this to happen! I will be allowed to fulfill my destiny! His will be done.”
This company of recruits I am hearing is not pining for an airlift. They believe they have already been dropped in at the front lines. They believe that light is greater than darkness and that Truth shall triumph over the satanic lies that blind and entangle us. They see themselves as new creations in Christ not just poor sinners saved by grace. Their confidence is born of the reality that Christ lives in them and that the Kingdom of God has already come in power. There is the sense that it was for this destiny they were created – to see every knew bow and tongue confess that truly Jesus Christ is Lord.
Father, Help us to see that we too have an existing majestic identity beyond our wildest dreams. As your disciples, open our eyes as well to see that in Christ we too have been raised from the dead. Permit us to grasp that we are citizens of the kingdom of God and that even now we are heirs of the powers of the Age to Come. Help us to see Jesus as He is, the king of glory, our elder brother, our example of kingdom life and Your beloved Son to whom we must listen. So be it.
AMEN