Question: Who is the Lord referring to when He says, “There be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom?” (Matt. 16:2828Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. (Matthew 16:28)).
Answer: The Lord speaks of Peter, James, and John, whom He selected to accompany Him into an high mountain apart, where He was transfigured before them. This scene is a sample of the Son of Man coming in His kingdom, or as in Mark 9:11And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. (Mark 9:1), “The kingdom of God come with power.”
In it we see the heavenly saints represented by Moses who died and was buried; and Elias who was raptured to heaven without dying. And there we see the Lord Jesus in His glory. In Peter, James, and John, we see the earthly saints represented. This gave the disciples to know who was there manifested in His glory. 2 Peter 1:1616For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16) reads, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, ‘This is, My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.’ And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him on the holy mount.” This to their minds made the prophetic word surer.
It was but a foreshadowing of the kingdom, but the King was there in! His real personal glory.
Question: What is the difference of the children of wrath, the children of disobedience, and the children of the devil?
Answer: They are the same persons viewed from different standpoints.
Children of “wrath” indicates what is before them.
Children of “disobedience” refers to their unbelieving character.
Children of “the devil” contrasts with children of God.
Believers are redeemed, are brought to God, and are the children of God. Man, since the fall, is under wrath, is disobedient to God, and under the power of Satan.
Answer: “The Spirit of God” is God’s mark put upon every believer. The Spirit of God dwells in him. He is called the “Spirit of Christ,” because by Him the life of Christ is produced and seen in the believer. The same blessed person is spoken of in different ways in this chapter.