Where is God?

Why does everything remain the same?

[Where is the evidence that the prophecies of scripture are being fulfilled?
Doesn’t it seem like the opposite is true?]

These are the biblical questions being brought to the table in debate form from Peter Singer and Australian atheist philosopher, and teacher.

Below is how John Lennox’s addresses, Peter Singer’s concerns:

The King James Bible addresses the sentiment that “God is not returning” and “everything goes on the same as it did from the beginning” in several passages. These scriptures acknowledge the human questioning of God’s timing and apparent absence, and reaffirm His sovereignty and the certainty of His promises.

1. Scoffers Questioning the Promise of His Coming

• 2 Peter 3:3-4

  “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”

  This passage directly addresses the attitude of those who doubt God’s return, observing that they will claim “all things continue as they were…” 1

  [it is highly recommended that you read all of second Peter chapter 3, it is the last chapter we have of the record of Peter, the apostles words and print.]

2. “Nothing New Under the Sun”

• Ecclesiastes 1:9-11

  “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

  Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
  There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.”

  The preacher observes that history often seems cyclical and unchanging, echoing the feeling that “nothing changes.” 234

3. Assurance of God’s Return and Faithfulness

• 2 Peter 3:8-9 (just after the scoffer passage):

  “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward…”

  God’s sense of time and faithfulness surpasses human understanding. He is patient, not absent.

• Revelation 1:7

  “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.”

  A strong affirmation of God’s promised return. 567

4. God’s Presence, Even When Unseen

• Psalm 139:7-10

  “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
  If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there…”

  God is present everywhere, even when we feel distant from Him. 89

5. God Does Not Change

• Hebrews 13:8

  “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” 10

• Malachi 3:6

  “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” 11

Summary Table

The scripture where Jesus said, “some standing here will not taste death until…” is found in three places in the Synoptic Gospels:

• Matthew 16:28 (King James Version):

  “Verily 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.” 2679

• Mark 9:1 (King James Version):

  “And 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.” 510

• Luke 9:27 (King James Version):

  “But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.” 3

These verses record Jesus’ statement to his disciples about witnessing the coming of the kingdom within their lifetimes

Here is Jesus’s fulfillment of scripture that he quotes: and the following three verses after his prophetic word.

Matthew 16:28 – 17:3 (KJV) 28 Verily 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.

1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

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