-Matthew 24-34 and Luke 21.32.
-Revelation 1.3
-1 Corinthians 7.29
-Hebrews 1.2
-Matthew 16.28
-Mark 9.1
-Luke 9.27
-Revelation 22.6,7,10,12,20
-Matthew 23.36
-1Peter 1.20
-1 Peter 4.7
"These verses are relevant to the OP in establishing the context of the times, that of the prevailing expectation of the end of days in the lifetimes of the New Testament writers."
It is true -- I agree with you -- that, generally speaking, the prevailing expectation of the end of days was that they would occur in the lifetimes of the New Testament... well, hearers, not the writers. The same thing could be said of the "prevailing expectation" at any time over the past 2000+ years, and that will continue to be the case. And that's not a bad thing; we should all live now as if Jesus will make His return in the next five minutes.
However -- and making a point that here that I've already made at least a couple of times -- if I engage in a discussion with talk about... something, does/do the receiver/receivers of my comments get to determine the context in which my comments are meant? That's a rhetorical question, but of course the answer is no.
So, applying that to Matthew 16, Jesus did not have in view, in this particular passage, His second coming. At all. The whole of Matthew 16 is about salvation. And the point is made in three different ways, first to the Pharisees, who are unable to discern the times (because it has not been given them by God to do so), then to Peter, who is only able to confess that Jesus is the Christ because of God's opening his eyes and revealing it to him, and finally to the disciples as a group by telling all of them (although he addresses Peter specifically) what He must do to finish His work and make God's salvation possible.
"And Matthew 16.28 fits that context."
Clearly, it does not.
Could be wrong, but I doubt that the refutation you attempted for Matthew 16.28 would fit all those other verses, which combined create a very solid argument that "Matthew" as well as most of the other NT writers, (including Paul), and by extention, Jesus himself, were clearly mistaken in predicting the timing of the apocalypse.
Yes, you are wrong. I've already addressed some of the citations above, but I'll do so again while addressing the others also:
Revelation 1.3
You seem to be under the mistaken expression that Revelation is merely about Jesus's triumphant return (His second coming, as it were). That's not the case. "Prophecy," as it is used in the Bible, does not denote a prediction of future events; it denotes the the relating God's word to man -- "Thus says the Lord." Revelation is about the whole of human history from beginning to end. The time is indeed near -- even at hand -- throughout all the generations since John's writing. You're reading it in the Dispensational light, which is... well, the wrong light to read it in. Revelation is the story of history, from beginning to end, and that God is always in control (He is the Great I AM, after all), even though it may not seem that way at times, and that in the end, Jesus... wins. So in reading the words of Revelation 1:3, yes, because God knows what's happening and is in total control, coupled with the fact that no matter what happens, Jesus wins (and we are co-heirs with Him) in the end, we can be comforted and blessed right now, no matter when or in what generation that "right now" is.
1 Corinthians 7.29
The purpose of Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church is in large part to encourage Christians to attend to the kinds of daily affairs that would be -- would be -- unimportant if Christ were returning within weeks or months. Thus Paul provides practical teaching concerning marriage, what type of food to eat at a dinner party, collecting money for the needy, and future travel plans. Like other NT writers, Paul considers all of time from the Cross forward to be the "last days" and counsels Christians to live in the light of Christ's certain return at an unforeseen moment. Paul's point here is simply that the form of this world, or its day-to-day affairs, is not eternal. Christians should prioritize their human relationships, marital possessions, and worldly dealings accordingly.
Hebrews 1.2
Here, too, "last days" is all of time from the Cross forward. Nothing is to be read into that concerning how long this "last days" period really is, but merely that it is of utmost importance to always be living in light of Christ's death and resurrection and certain return.
Matthew 16.28
We've discussed this one at length. Christ is not speaking of His return.
Mark 9.1, Luke 9.27
Mark's and Luke's recounting of the same events Matthew is recounting in Matthew 16:27-28. Just as in Matthew 16, Christ's return is not in view, here, either.
Revelation 22.6,7,10,12,20
What I said above concerning these "last days" applies here, also. No need to repeat.
Matthew 23.36
What I have said above certainly relates here, also, but what Jesus is saying here is that, rather than respond to the unique opportunity to receive their Messiah (Him) and participate in the kingdom of heaven, the religious people of "this generation" would continue to spill innocent blood -- now that of Jesus and His followers -- and so face the wrath of God. Jesus's return is not in view here, either.
Are you sensing a pattern here?
1 Peter 1.20
"Last times" equals "Last Days" -- all of time from the Cross forward. See above.
1 Peter 4.7
"The end of all things is at hand" dose not mean Peter was expecting Christ to return in a few weeks or months (or even years). It means, rather, that all the major events in God's great salvation plan -- culminating in the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ and the outpuring of the Spirit at Pentecost -- had already occurred. Therefore Christ's return could happen at any time; it was "at hand" in Peter's day, and it still is today. But the imminent arrival of the end is not a call simply to look into heaven and wait for Jesus's return; instead, believers are to be self-controlled and sober-minded, so that they may be devoted to prayer and maximize their usefulness in God's kingdom.
You can keep on banging your head against that wall as long as you want, my friend. I'd stop it if I were you, but you are, after all is said and done, your own man.
