Well Brian,,It seems you are disregarding the Books of Daniel & Revelation as well as nearly all the bible. You know that since the beginning we have looked for the Messiah to come,, and He did. He came to die,, And he told us that he would Come again.
I have ignored these allegorical references on purpose because I think that they are parables. As a parable they would be for the purpose that Jesus mentioned in Matt 13:11-12. That purpose being - to conceal the truths spoken of from unbelievers while revealing them to believers who understood the mysteries being spoken of. To me the simple straightforward truths are always to be the reference points in doctrinal interpretation. The allegorical references are parables designed to keep unbelievers from as Jesus put it "understanding so that He would heal them", Matthew 13:13-15.
Mt 13:11 And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. (ASV)
I consider the analogies and mysterious speech to be intentional misdirection by God. I simply use the clear verses to establish my understanding of the second coming. As you can see from the following references.
In Hebrews 9:28 (pasted below) we are told that Jesus comes for 2 reasons 1. to bear sin and 2. for salvation.
The first coming of Christ happened when Jesus went to the cross.
The second happens when we are saved (or accept Christ in my opinion).
Salvation is a very individual concept and does not happen to everyone at the same time.
And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:10,11)
To me this simply indicates that Jesus will come from heaven to mankind again.
Not necessarily in bodily form and seated on a cloud.The cloud I see as a symbolic reference.
The 2nd Coming is literal and visable: "Behold He cometh with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, even they who pierced Him." (Revelation 1:7)
First of all, in my understanding of the second coming I can see that every born again person can see or perceive Jesus coming into their hearts at the time of their conversion. This can be understood from the verse that says that Jesus and the Father will come and make their abode with the believer through the Spirit, John 14:23.
Secondly - in Matt 26:64 Jesus said that after that time (speaking to the unbelieving High priest) people would see Him coming on a cloud of heaven.
Mt 26:64 Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. (ASV)
So here we have Jesus telling the unbelieving High Priest that He (the High Priest) would see Jesus coming on the clouds of Heaven. Now keeping in mind that Jesus said that God reveals the mysteries to Jesus followers and not unbelievers, lets look at this statement of Jesus.
Jesus told the unbelieving priest that He would see Jesus coming on the clouds of Heaven after the crucifixion, but if the mysteries of God are not revealed to unbelievers then it becomes clear that Jesus was veiling His speech in this conversation with the unbelieving High Priest.
It can be see that Jesus reveals Himself to those who "look for Him", or as 2 tim 4:8 puts it "love His appearing", but He conceals the mysteries of God from unbelievers like the High priest. But Jesus also told the unbelieving High Priest that He would see Him coming on the "clouds of Heaven" it can be understood that this statement was spoken to unbelievers to conceal the truth.
So we know that after the encounter with the High Priest and the subsequent crucifixion we will all see Jesus coming on the clouds of Heaven. Without going into what the "clouds of Heaven symbolize in my opinion, I will concentrate on the statement that Jesus made to the unbelieving High Priest.
Given the fact that Jesus spoke to the unbelieving High Priest and said that He would see Jesus coming on the "clouds of heaven" it becomes clear that the veiled or symbolic language Jesus uses when speaking to unbelievers is not the way He speaks to His followers. This is seen from the following verses -
Mr 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables: (ASV)
So if Jesus was speaking to an unbeliever in Matt 26:64 and He used the words "coming on the clouds of Heaven" it is a parable or a form of intentionally veiled speech.
Of course He speaks to His followers and explains these dark sayings when He is alone with them according to - Mt 13:34 All these things spake Jesus in parables unto the multitudes; and without a parable spake he nothing unto them:
Mr 4:34 and without a parable spake he not unto them:
but privately to his own disciples he expounded all things.
(ASV)
So as you can see Michael my understanding is that Jesus intentionally veiled His speach when speaking to unbelievers. Since Jesus told an unbeliever that He Himself would be seen by that unbeliever "Coming on the clouds of Heaven" it follows that this statement was veiled.
While in the company of crowds or when unbelievers were present Jesus said nothing without using a parable or a form of veiled speech.
I don't quite understand why you have dismissed the Bible on these points.
You cannot understand the Book of Daniel and the Book of revelation without the guidence of the Holy Spirit. Just because they seem hard to understand is no reason to find another avenue of understanding. God placed both books in the Bible for a reason. If you have a question concerning either book,I would certainly be interested. And hopefully I can provide you an answer.
But,,I'm 100 % sure Jesus will appear in the clouds at His 2nd Coming.
Have a nice day Brian!
Respectfully - Brian
