Church of Christ - Mark 9:1

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Mark 9:1: ". . . 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."
Problem:: If some standing with Jesus would not die until the kingdom was established, then it is argued that the kingdom would not have to wait nearly 2,000 years for its establishment. Hence, it must have been the "church" set up at Pentecost.
Solution:

The words, "some of them that stand here, shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power" refer to the transfiguration, and not to the Day of Pentecost. Consider the following:
1. Only some were to see the kingdom come with power, but on the Day of Pentecost all but Judas were present. (Acts 2:14). The language is entirely appropriate, however, to describe Peter, James and John who accompanied Christ during the transfiguration.
2. In all three Gospels recording the promise, the transfiguration narrative immediately follows. (See Matt. 17:1; Mk. 9:2; Lk. 9:28).
3. Peter refers to the transfiguration in his Epistle in such a way as to make the case conclusive: "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 honour 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 in the holy mount." (2 Pet. 1:16-18). The kingdom of God came with power and glory at the transfiguration, not at Pentecost. The disciples witnessed this in a vision. (Matt. 17:9).
This passage affords evidence that the kingdom of God is not the New Testament "church" as is taught by the Church of Christ.¹ The fact that the kingdom of God came at the transfiguration before Christ had died indicates that the term kingdom is not synonymous in this passage with the "church" said to have been set up at Pentecost.

Footnotes:

"The kingdom of God and the church are the same; At Pentecost, The Holy Spirit came, Christ preached, repentance and remission declared in the name of Jesus; men and women saved. The church began, its birthday." Richard Rogers, "The Church of Christ: A Study of the First-Century Church", (Lubbock, Texas: Sunset School of Preaching), Mimeo., pp. 4,9. Return