Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) Bible-Presbyterian Church (BPC): Mark 9:1

Aug 17, 2026

Mark 9:1

Mark 9:1 states: "And he said to them, 'Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.'" (NIV) [1]

Context and Meaning

The Setting: Jesus speaks these words to His disciples and the crowd right after teaching about the cost of discipleship and taking up one's cross (Mark 8:34–38). [1, 2]
The Transfiguration Link: Many Bible scholars and commentators connect this verse directly to the Transfiguration of Jesus, which happens just six days later. During that event, Peter, James, and John see Jesus transformed in dazzling glory on a high mountain. [1, 2]
Alternative Views: Some readers interpret the phrase as pointing toward the resurrection, the Day of Pentecost, or the future expansion of the early church rather than the physical return of Christ. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Mark 9:1 presents Jesus making a striking promise about witnessing God’s kingdom, though interpreters have long debated what he meant. Jesus tells his listeners that some standing before him will not die before seeing the kingdom of God arrive with power.

This statement creates interpretive tension because it points simultaneously in two directions. The saying treats God’s kingdom as something future and imminent, yet other passages suggest it was already present in Jesus’ ministry—a tension scholars call the “already/not yet” dynamic of New Testament eschatology.[1] For Jesus, the powerful manifestation of God’s kingdom still lay ahead,[2] yet by limiting this experience to only some bystanders, Jesus indicated the kingdom would not arrive within an extremely short timeframe, though those who witnessed it might also see others pass away before it occurred.[2]

Scholars propose different fulfillments. Many commentators, noting that Matthew, Mark, and Luke immediately follow this saying with the transfiguration account, understand Jesus to reference that event as a preview of his future return.[3] Others, following Calvin, Luther, and Barth, interpret “come in power” as referring to the revelation of heavenly glory through Jesus’ resurrection and the subsequent gift of the Holy Spirit—events described elsewhere in the New Testament as demonstrations of God’s power.[3]

The most measured interpretation suggests Mark 9:1 points to the kingdom’s imminence—its powerful arrival lies in the future, though not as distant as the Son of Man’s coming in clouds.[2] The saying ultimately confronts believers with Jesus’ expectation that God’s transformative reign would break into history within a generation, demanding urgent discipleship in light of that coming reality.

[1] John R. Donahue and Daniel J. Harrington, The Gospel of Mark, ed. Daniel J. Harrington, Sacra Pagina Series (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 2002), 2:272–273.
[2] Jey J. Kanagaraj, “Jesus’ Message of the Kingdom of God: Present and Future Tensions Revisited,” in Jesus and Paul: Global Perspectives in Honor of James D. G. Dunn for His 70th Birthday, ed. Mark Goodacre et al., Library of New Testament Studies (London; New York: T&T Clark, 2009), 414:32–33.
[3] James A. Brooks, Mark, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1991), 23:138–139.

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The Purpose in writing this blog

The authors are full-time ordained ministers and preachers in the Bible Presbyterian Church in Singapore. The goal of this blog is to encourage all Bible Presbyterian pastors, elders, and leaders, as well as the flocks they serve, to turn to the Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ. To unite under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and the Bible. Accepting our minor differences while focusing on the cross. Being described as one family under God the Father. We are called to be together in our diversity. Pride is the fault of all Bible Presbyterian Churches worldwide. Lust has blinded theologians at Far Eastern Bible College. It is at this heavy, serious, and gloomy moment in our Christian walk, rebuking these pastors and theologians, the remarks in this blog are heavy and severe in order to prompt them to repentance. May God help and bless us.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead; I believe in the Holy Ghost; I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end. And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. He proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. He spoke through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen.

LUTHER'S MORNING PRAYER

Errors in King James Version

Read Romans 8:26...the KJV has "the Spirit itself..." This is an error; the Holy Spirit is our God, and we must address Him correctly! How may "itself" be used to approach God, the Holy Spirit? "It" is used to address an item or an animal, not a person or God! The KJV translators had insulted the Holy Spirit! However, in another verse, the KJV translators used the term "him" to designate Satan. What an insult to KJV readers! Read Luke 11:18: "...if Satan also be divided against himself..." The KJV uses the phrase "himself..." when addressing Satan! The KJV translator used "it" for the Holy Spirit, but "him" for Satan!!! Mark 3:28 "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, Mark 3:29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"

One Another

Unity In Diversity for Bible Presbyterian Churches in Singapore Like a peal of bells the word allelon-'one another'-rings through the pages of the New Testament. 'Accept one another' allelon 'Serve one another' allelon 'Wash one another's feet' 'Confess your sins one to another' 'Pray one for another' 'Forbearing one another and forgiving each other' 'Teaching and admonishing one another' 'Comfort one another and build each other up' 'Bear one another's burdens' 'Love one another as I have loved you' Those who have the flow of mutuality in their relationship with each other need not be vocal or exuberant in expressing it.

John Calvin's consent

To new readers, I greet you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, may God grant us good theologians, humble servants of the Lord, and faithful believers in these last days, may God use this blog to call some one for self searching and repentance, and here we are blogging in theological debates. In 1547, Jacques Gruet, he was arrested by Calvin, tortured for a month and beheaded on July 26, 1547.. The civil court condemned him to death and, with Calvin's consent, he was beheaded. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Calvin) John Calvin consented to kill a man for his theological stand, but I rather use strong words to achieve that!

Statement

1. The authors of this blog do not believe that the KJV Bible is the perfect Bible. The KJV has problems and inaccuracies because it is a man-made translation. 2. The inerrant Bible is in the autograph. All subsequent copies of Hebrew and Greek manuscripts have God's Written Word. We have God's written Word preserved in the NIV, KJV, and ESV. 3. There is no such notion as Verbal Plenary Preservation on a single TR Greek Text underlying the KJV, and the authors do not believe that the entire Greek text underlying the KJV Bible, or the TR, is error-free. 4. The authors believe that the Bible was inspired verbally and plenarily preserved in NIV, KJV, ESV, NESB….other faithful Bible versions. 5. The authors recommend NKJV, NIV, ESV, and NLT New Living Translation. 6. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the living Word.