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These verses are clearly showing how he believed to be living in the Jewish messianic era, and that all of the prophecies would happen before those people died.
(Mark 23:29-31 "Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away"
In this verse, just like the ones you quoted, he's reassuring the people around him that everything is going to happen soon. That they can expect it all to happen within there lifetime. Because Judaism doesn't have an installment plan for messianic prophecies. If someone doesn't finish the job and dies without doing them, Judaism gives up all hope on that person being messiah and that's what Jesus is saying isn't the case with him. That he was going to take care of all of it very soon before they die.
Are they still alive? No... they all died out.
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It is widely held that Jesus was referring to his coming Transfiguration in which he talked to Moses, Elijah, and God Almighty. It is not just Jehovah's Witnesses that believe that interpretation.
The wording can be confusing, but keep in mind, when Jesus was on this Earth, nobody every fully saw who Jesus is. God Almighty had to shield Jesus' glory. According to the Bible, Jesus' glory will be what lights the world when this earth and world is destroyed and God creates a new heaven and a new earth. There will be no sun or stars. We have the sun to give us light now; Jesus's glory will replace the sun as our constant light. There will be no night time, as Jesus's glory will shine constantly. Revelation 21:23, 22:5, Zechariah 14:6-7, and other scriptures on this topic.
One must read the Zechariah scripture very carefully and fully understand the context to correctly interpret it.
The point is that who Jesus really is and was was never seen. The Transfiguration was the closest anyone came to see who Jesus really is. Jesus certainly didn't mean that some of his disciples are still alive now like they were then. Jesus was basically saying that some of his followers would see his glory before dying. Most of them would have to die before they got to see his glory, which would be many years a way.
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The Answer of "who" is found by cross referencing John 8:51
Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”
The "how" is answered later in john 11:25-25
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
So i think this is one place where the specific wording is very important, Jesus promises the believer will not "Taste" death. or "see" death. Taste is used sometimes as a metaphor for "Intimate experience with".
So while Believers bodies will die, we will not "Taste" death. there will be no experience of "deadness" or "being dead". or as the old testament calls it, we will not be stuck "In the place of the dead". (sheol)
Just like the ancient Israelites we will be "Passed Over" by the Spirit of Death, having the Blood of the Lamb as our covering.
Also good to note that the Apostle Peter, in 2 Peter 1:16-17
16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
So here, Peter, who knows he will die for Christ (John 21- a great reference for this topic.) Explains that he is an eye witness of the coming of Christ, he counts himself as already having seen the glory to come, because of the brief previews he got during the transfiguration, and the voice from heaven.