The Mathew chapter 24 actually has two fulfilments . The transfiguration was a prophetic drama to aspects of one of them , the 'end of the world' , as some translations render it.
Two events were described in Matthew.
One
The Transfiguration
Matthew 17 (New International Version)
1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.
7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
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Observers: Peter, James and John the brother of James with Jesus.
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Two
Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.
Matthew 16:27 (New International Version)
27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done
Matthew 24:25-34 9New International Version) Highlights are mine
25 See, I have told you ahead of time.
26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.
27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
29 “Immediately after the distress of those days“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’[a]
30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.[c]
31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.
33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[d] is near, right at the door.
34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
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A future event to take place before this (that is the generation of that time) was to pass away.
Observers: All the peoples of the earth.
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This is clearly the description of a separate event which is clearly about 2000 years late.
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