Truly, the "coming of Christ" well be literal at some future point. The "the two witnesses", and MUCH of the prophecy of Revelations is going on now. "which was, which is, which is to come".
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. Even so, Amen.
This is in the first chapter of the book. Is that literal? No doubt! But is that before the two witnesses and all the words of Revelations? No it's not.
1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first...
It is going to happen; but Revelations is a SPIRITUAL BOOK. We must never forget
"...The words that I speak to you are spirit, and [they] are life." (John 6:63)
Matthew 13:34-35
All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them...“I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world"
So whether prophecy or parables; they are one and they are spirit. Your thought of Elijah and John, well we are entitled to opinions and that's fine. But truly, they are all dead. Scripture confirms them dead
Hebrews 11:13, 38,39
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises...{and let's say Elijah, was/is still alive or didn't die}... they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise. {didn't receive the promise, died in faith}
As far as Mat 16:28; are you taking Christ words Literally and suggesting they are not yet dead? John never died on Patmos? Thats borderline pagan thinking
. I like it
, but still he is confirmed dead, because he was flesh, born man
1 Corinthians 15:21-22
For since by man [came] death, by Man also [came] the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die...
As far as the transfiguration, Jesus told them..."...Tell the VISION to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead." (Mat 17:9)
And went on to speak on Elijah...."Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist."
It was a vision, a transFIGURE of a higher truth which was, which is, which is to be fulfilled in Christ. So that leaves us John. We don't have a confirmed death of Mary Magdelene, or do we? Or Jesus father Joseph? It's speculated, but not confirmed. Or I could be wrong. The point is, all Man die, Jesus words are spiritual. I usually still have the concept of the Two Witnesses in my head from the "Left Behind" movies. That's kind of what this sounds like - two literal men prophesying dressed in sackcloth. They are spiritual. what tribes they are from - - are spiritual. "know no man after the flesh any longer" (2Cor 5:16). Whether John was from Judah doesn't matter. Even when Revelations mentions the tribes; THEY ARE SPIRITUAL. Spiritual Words, revealing spiritual truths for the Elect of God throughout the ages. Great thoughts still. We all grow from them
Eugene