The Coming of the Son of Man
Posted: January 6th, 2010, 1:38 pm
Here is a recent installation note in a series I posed on Facebook. Ya'll, my beloved homies, give me some FEEDBACK PLEASE!!!
I have plainly stated through this series that there has been a huge misunderstanding about the meaning of the phrase 'the coming of the Son of Man' in the clouds. Jesus was not referring to his return. He was alluding to Kingdom of God that would replace the four kingdoms in the vision of Daniel 7 in which Daniel saw four beasts arise from the sea. With the benefit of hindsight, we can easily identify these kingdoms as 1) Babylon, 2) Media-Persia, 3) Greece, and 4) Rome. The fourth beast was in power during Jesus' ministry. The claim of Jesus to be Lord and Savior was a direct affront to Caesar who laid claim to the same titles and demanded worship in the first century.
When Jesus told his disciples that they would then see the 'Son of Man' coming in the clouds he was alluding to the vision of Daniel 7. Jesus had claimed the be ushering in the Kingdom of God. The destruction of the temple would be a very public sign that would vindicate these claims and the claims of the disciples. Jesus further claimed that ll these events would take place within 'this generation'. Again, we must keep in mind that Jesus was speaking to his disciples in answer to their question of when the temple would be destroyed.
Just as Jesus predicted, in 70 AD Titus led the Roman army in a siege against Jerusalem. The residents were starved, the city burned, and the temple torn down to its foundation. The ancient historian Josephus provides a blow by blow description in his work 'The Wars of the Jews'. This event was the culmination of the 'tribulation' predicted by Jesus. He further told his disciples that, when this happened, the angels of God would gather the elect from the four winds.
Suffice it to say that if you have faith in Jesus Christ, you are one of God's elect being gathered by the angels. It is safe to read yourself into that scripture. You are a fulfillment of the prophecy made by Jesus in that verse.
John 11:49 Then one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is more to your advantage to have one man die for the people than for the whole nation to perish.” 51 (Now he did not say this on his own, but because he was high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not for the Jewish nation only, but to gather together into one the children of God who are scattered.)
See what I mean?
I have plainly stated through this series that there has been a huge misunderstanding about the meaning of the phrase 'the coming of the Son of Man' in the clouds. Jesus was not referring to his return. He was alluding to Kingdom of God that would replace the four kingdoms in the vision of Daniel 7 in which Daniel saw four beasts arise from the sea. With the benefit of hindsight, we can easily identify these kingdoms as 1) Babylon, 2) Media-Persia, 3) Greece, and 4) Rome. The fourth beast was in power during Jesus' ministry. The claim of Jesus to be Lord and Savior was a direct affront to Caesar who laid claim to the same titles and demanded worship in the first century.
When Jesus told his disciples that they would then see the 'Son of Man' coming in the clouds he was alluding to the vision of Daniel 7. Jesus had claimed the be ushering in the Kingdom of God. The destruction of the temple would be a very public sign that would vindicate these claims and the claims of the disciples. Jesus further claimed that ll these events would take place within 'this generation'. Again, we must keep in mind that Jesus was speaking to his disciples in answer to their question of when the temple would be destroyed.
Just as Jesus predicted, in 70 AD Titus led the Roman army in a siege against Jerusalem. The residents were starved, the city burned, and the temple torn down to its foundation. The ancient historian Josephus provides a blow by blow description in his work 'The Wars of the Jews'. This event was the culmination of the 'tribulation' predicted by Jesus. He further told his disciples that, when this happened, the angels of God would gather the elect from the four winds.
Suffice it to say that if you have faith in Jesus Christ, you are one of God's elect being gathered by the angels. It is safe to read yourself into that scripture. You are a fulfillment of the prophecy made by Jesus in that verse.
John 11:49 Then one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is more to your advantage to have one man die for the people than for the whole nation to perish.” 51 (Now he did not say this on his own, but because he was high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not for the Jewish nation only, but to gather together into one the children of God who are scattered.)
See what I mean?
