The world is not expecting Christ to literally return to earth “with power and great glory”. But those who believe God and Christ, and believe what the Bible has to say do not doubt this. And the Second Coming may be much closer than we think.
Jesus said this in His Olivet Discourse: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30 cf Mark 13:26)
When we read just this verse several questions come to mind:
1. What is “then” in reference to?
2. What is the “sign of the Son of Man”?
3. Which “heaven” is involved here?
4. Why will “all the tribes of the earth mourn”?
5. Why will absolutely everyone see Christ at His Coming?
6. What are “the clouds of heaven”?
7. What is this “power and great glory”?
1. What is “then” in reference to?
We simply need to go back to verse 29 to see what must happen before Christ comes, and it is truly devastating: Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. This is speaking about earth-shaking cataclysmic cosmic events which will immediately precede the Second Coming, and are described in the 6th Seal of Revelation.
2. What is the “sign of the Son of Man”?
This is described in verse 27: For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. There will be a supernatural brightness or brilliance in the sky -- akin to lightning -- but far more intense. The sky will be lit up all across the globe in a manner never seen before, because Christ will be coming in the full brightness of His glory (as seen at the Transfiguration, and other times).
3. Which “heaven” is involved here?
Since the sky is in the “first” or atmospheric heaven, this is the heaven in which Christ will be seen by all the inhabitants of the world.
4. Why will “all the tribes of the earth mourn”?
The nations of the earth will mourn because they are now facing terrible divine judgment and wrath (Jude 1:14,15). This is described in Revelation 6:12-17: 12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
5. Why will absolutely everyone see Christ at His Coming?
Every eye shall see Him, because every knee must bow to Christ, and unbelieving Jews (“they which pierced Him”) must see their true Messiah and King. We have two key passages which are related to this: 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. (Rev 1:7) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:9-11 cf Rom 14:11). In Isaiah 45:22,23, it is God who speaks this about Himself, therefore that is more confirmation that Jesus is God: Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
6. What are “the clouds of heaven”?
Many will automatically assume that these are the ordinary clouds which bring rain. But since these “clouds” are seen in the third heaven (near the throne of God) that word is a metaphor for the saints and angels surrounding Christ at His Second Coming: I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of Man [Christ] came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days [God the Father], and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Dan 7:13,14) This is further confirmed by Christ thus: Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. (Mt 26:64 cf Mk 14:62)
7. What is this “power and great glory”?
When Jesus came to earth at His first advent it was in meekness and humility as the Lamb of God. That was when He came into the world to save sinners. But at His Second Coming He will come to destroy the enemies of God, Christ, Christians, and Christianity. As well as the unbelieving, the ungodly and the wicked. He will wield His absolute divine power and destroy “with the breath of His mouth” and “the brightness of His coming”. This is presented to us in these two passages below: And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day... And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (2 Thess 1:7-10: 2:8)
Anyone who has not obeyed the Gospel as yet needs to keep all these Scriptures in mind. God now commands all men everywhere to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)
Jesus said this in His Olivet Discourse: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30 cf Mark 13:26)
When we read just this verse several questions come to mind:
1. What is “then” in reference to?
2. What is the “sign of the Son of Man”?
3. Which “heaven” is involved here?
4. Why will “all the tribes of the earth mourn”?
5. Why will absolutely everyone see Christ at His Coming?
6. What are “the clouds of heaven”?
7. What is this “power and great glory”?
1. What is “then” in reference to?
We simply need to go back to verse 29 to see what must happen before Christ comes, and it is truly devastating: Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. This is speaking about earth-shaking cataclysmic cosmic events which will immediately precede the Second Coming, and are described in the 6th Seal of Revelation.
2. What is the “sign of the Son of Man”?
This is described in verse 27: For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. There will be a supernatural brightness or brilliance in the sky -- akin to lightning -- but far more intense. The sky will be lit up all across the globe in a manner never seen before, because Christ will be coming in the full brightness of His glory (as seen at the Transfiguration, and other times).
3. Which “heaven” is involved here?
Since the sky is in the “first” or atmospheric heaven, this is the heaven in which Christ will be seen by all the inhabitants of the world.
4. Why will “all the tribes of the earth mourn”?
The nations of the earth will mourn because they are now facing terrible divine judgment and wrath (Jude 1:14,15). This is described in Revelation 6:12-17: 12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
5. Why will absolutely everyone see Christ at His Coming?
Every eye shall see Him, because every knee must bow to Christ, and unbelieving Jews (“they which pierced Him”) must see their true Messiah and King. We have two key passages which are related to this: 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. (Rev 1:7) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:9-11 cf Rom 14:11). In Isaiah 45:22,23, it is God who speaks this about Himself, therefore that is more confirmation that Jesus is God: Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
6. What are “the clouds of heaven”?
Many will automatically assume that these are the ordinary clouds which bring rain. But since these “clouds” are seen in the third heaven (near the throne of God) that word is a metaphor for the saints and angels surrounding Christ at His Second Coming: I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of Man [Christ] came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days [God the Father], and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Dan 7:13,14) This is further confirmed by Christ thus: Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. (Mt 26:64 cf Mk 14:62)
7. What is this “power and great glory”?
When Jesus came to earth at His first advent it was in meekness and humility as the Lamb of God. That was when He came into the world to save sinners. But at His Second Coming He will come to destroy the enemies of God, Christ, Christians, and Christianity. As well as the unbelieving, the ungodly and the wicked. He will wield His absolute divine power and destroy “with the breath of His mouth” and “the brightness of His coming”. This is presented to us in these two passages below: And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day... And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (2 Thess 1:7-10: 2:8)
Anyone who has not obeyed the Gospel as yet needs to keep all these Scriptures in mind. God now commands all men everywhere to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
- Show all
