Jesus Christ declared that there were some people who stood with him who would not die until they saw him come in his kingdom as recorded in Matthew 16:28:

“28 Truly I tell you, there are some of those who are here who will not taste death until they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” (RSV)

Since all those people have died after their normal lifespans, does this mean that Jesus Christ established his kingdom within 100 years or so of making this statement? Does the Bible explain what Jesus Christ meant? Yes, it does in Matthew 17:1-9:

“1Six days later, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John his brother, and leads them up a high mountain by themselves,

2 And he was transfigured before them; and her face shone like the sun, and her face became white as light.

3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with him.

4Then Peter answered and said to Jesus: Lord, it is good that we are here; if you want, let’s make three tabernacles here; one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.

5While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud covered them; and behold a voice from the cloud, which said: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear it.

6 On hearing this, the disciples fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.

7And Jesus coming near, touched them, and said, Get up, and do not be afraid.

8 And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus alone.

9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man riseth from the dead.

The special vision he gave them is called the transfiguration. The key to understanding the transfiguration is in verse 9, where Jesus Christ told Peter, James, and John that “no one shall tell the vision” until he rises from the dead. What Pedro, Santiago and Juan saw was not real. It was a unique, special vision of the Kingdom of God in the future, not the resurrection of Moses and Elijah (Elijah) who had died many years before.

Jesus Christ fulfilled his promise as recorded in Matthew 16:28. Three of the leading disciples saw the son of man (Jesus Christ) coming into his kingdom.

Jesus Christ gave these three disciples a unique vision of the coming Kingdom through a supernatural vision. The Kingdom of God did not yet rule over the entire earth. Elijah (Elias) and Moses were not literally present. They were present only in vision, symbolic of their roles in the Old Testament congregation (or church) and in God’s rule over the 12 tribes of Israel.

Moses, Elijah (Elias), and all the other faithful servants of God have not yet received the promises God gave them. The writer of Hebrews makes this clear in the famous faith chapter of Hebrews 11. He specifically points out how Moses was a great man of faith in Hebrews 11:23-28.

23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden from his parents for three months, because they saw him as a worthy child, and they did not fear the king’s commandment.

24By faith Moses, when he came of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

25 choosing rather to be afflicted with the people of God, than to temporarily enjoy the delights of sin;

26 Considering the reproach of Christ for greater riches than the treasures of the Egyptians, because he had an eye on the retribution of the reward.

27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; because she sustained herself as seeing the Invisible.

28By faith he celebrated the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.” (RSV)

Although Moses was a man of great faith, even at the time the book of Hebrews was written, Moses had not yet received what God had promised him, as the writer of Hebrews makes clear in Hebrews 11:39-40.

39And all these, having obtained a good testimony by faith, did not receive the promise;

40God having provided something better for us, so that they would not be perfected without us.” (RSV)

Moses and all the other faithful servants of God will not receive what God promised them until the Kingdom of God comes to earth. All God’s faithful servants will receive what God has in store at the same time. God will make them perfect to be his children in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus Christ has not yet established his kingdom on earth. He will come again in the future and establish the Kingdom of God to rule the earth with the laws of God. The Kingdom of God will bring abundant blessings to all the earth.