“I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 26:63-64
With all the discussion about end times theology and teaching have we lost the power and impact of this promise? Here is Jesus… arrested… beaten… scorned… mocked… humiliated… called by the High Priest Caiaphas to reply under oath of what His identity actually is. We can only guess at the atmosphere of this moment, but in my mind, I have a feeling that everyone shut up and all who could hear Jesus swallowed nervously. I have a feeling that He did not mumble or slur…that suddenly He was filled with the Holy Spirit and His mind was clear…I just have this feeling that there was a regal, powerful and undeniable strength in His voice when He made it plain, “you will see the Son of Man…coming on the clouds of heaven…”
I’d like to consider the Second Advent for the next several posts on Semper Reformanda. I’m not interested in theories on Raptures or bar codes or the European Economic Union…I’d just like to center our attention on the promise of His return.
By means of introduction…without commentary, let’s just read some scripture and let God speak for Himself regarding the Second Advent of Christ…
Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. Because of this, all hands will go limp, every man’s heart will melt. Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame. See, the day of the LORD is coming —a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger— to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. Isaiah 13:6-9 niv
For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near—a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. Ezekiel 30:3 niv
“The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head." Obadiah 1:15 niv
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11 niv
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 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 he has done. Matthew 16:26-27 niv
For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Matthew 24:27 niv
With all the discussion about end times theology and teaching have we lost the power and impact of this promise? Here is Jesus… arrested… beaten… scorned… mocked… humiliated… called by the High Priest Caiaphas to reply under oath of what His identity actually is. We can only guess at the atmosphere of this moment, but in my mind, I have a feeling that everyone shut up and all who could hear Jesus swallowed nervously. I have a feeling that He did not mumble or slur…that suddenly He was filled with the Holy Spirit and His mind was clear…I just have this feeling that there was a regal, powerful and undeniable strength in His voice when He made it plain, “you will see the Son of Man…coming on the clouds of heaven…”
I’d like to consider the Second Advent for the next several posts on Semper Reformanda. I’m not interested in theories on Raptures or bar codes or the European Economic Union…I’d just like to center our attention on the promise of His return.
By means of introduction…without commentary, let’s just read some scripture and let God speak for Himself regarding the Second Advent of Christ…
Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. Because of this, all hands will go limp, every man’s heart will melt. Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame. See, the day of the LORD is coming —a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger— to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. Isaiah 13:6-9 niv
For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near—a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. Ezekiel 30:3 niv
“The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head." Obadiah 1:15 niv
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11 niv
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 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 he has done. Matthew 16:26-27 niv
For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Matthew 24:27 niv
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:26 niv
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great.” Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. Revelation 19:11-21 niv
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20 niv
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great.” Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. Revelation 19:11-21 niv
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20 niv
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