In Matthew 24:30,
Jesus warned the people of Jerusalem that,
They will see the Son of Man coming on
the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.
This is often misinterpreted as a
description of the second coming. The expression "coming on
the clouds" is not a description of the second coming of the
Lord. It is a phrase used by the prophets to describe the
judgement of a nation. In Isaiah 19:1, the Lord is described as
coming on a swift cloud to Egypt. The context makes it clear that
this is a description of the collapse of Egypt, and not the second
coming. The expression is used in a similar way throughout the Old
Testament (Is 13:6; Micah 1:3-5; Ps 97:2,3).
There is a good reason for the similarity
of these descriptions to the second coming. Individuals are judged
at the second coming, but nations are judged within history. When
God has a case against a nation or system, he will bring judgement
against it through the events of history. Although the timing is
different, both are judged on the same standard, so similar
language is used to describe them.
When Jesus speaks of "coming on the
clouds" in Matthew 24, he is saying that he will come in
judgement against Israel. The Jewish system has been tried and
found wanting, so it will be destroyed. There is a confirmation of
this interpretation in Matthew 26, where Jesus uses the same
expression. He said to the priests, who were trying him,
I say to you all; 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 (Matt 26:64).
The priests did not live to see the second
coming of Jesus, but they did see the destruction of Jerusalem and
the collapse of the Jewish system. They also saw Jesus being
vindicated by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the growth of
the church. Obviously Jesus was describing these events when he
spoke of "coming on the clouds".
Jesus is also referring back to Daniel
7:13,14, where one who comes on the clouds (into the presence of
God) is given authority and sovereign power over all nations. His
kingdom is everlasting and will never be destroyed. In the
interpretation, Daniel is told that this sovereignty will be given
to the saints (Dan 7:27). By quoting Daniel, Jesus was claiming
that he would be given sovereignty over the nations. He will rule
them from heaven, through his people on earth. The nations will
mourn, because they must submit to his power, and acknowledge his
glory. They know that if they refuse, they will be destroyed by
his judgements. The destruction of Jerusalem was a warning that
any nation or system that opposes Christ will eventually be
destroyed. |