Question:

I was reading one of your comments on Mat 16:28. You believe that it was fulfilled at the Day of Pentecost but Jesus said only some of them will not taste death. Did the word some have a more loose meaning back then?

Answer:

To be honest, I am not sure I understand why you think my interpretation is problematic. Jesus said that "some of you will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." The interpretation I gave is that this was fulfilled, historically, with the miraculous events at Pentecost, which was 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus. By this time, of course, Judas was dead. Some but not all of the apostles were in fact still alive at the fulfillment of this prophecy. Perhaps my explanation is not the correct one, but what I can say for sure it that it meets the literal requirement that the fulfillment occurred while some of the apostles were still alive. It is not a "loose" interpretation of the words.

Others may propose another interpretation of Matthew 16:28. Perhaps some might see it as fulfilled in AD 70 when God came in judgment on Israel, seeing to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman general Titus. At this time, as well as at Pentecost, some, but not all of the apostles were still alive. I am prepared to accept this as a possible (though in my opinion, less likely correct) interpretation of the Matthew 16:28 prophecy.

John Oakes