The Second Coming: Daily Thoughts from Mark (Mark 13:24-27)

The great persecution of the Great Tribulation and the outpouring of judgment by God on those who do not believe, is leading to something, something wonderful.  Jesus is coming back!  Jesus, the king, is coming to establish his kingdom.

Jesus has been spending his last week in Jerusalem where he knows he will be killed but predicts he will be raised to life again.  He is continuing his teaching to his disciples about the last days before the end of this age.

“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. (Mark 13:24-27, ESV)

A major theme of the prophets of the Old Testament is the Day of the Lord (the Day of Yahweh).  It is a “day” in which God brings justice and judgment to His people and to the world and then restores His rule of prosperity and joy on earth.  This time is marked by devastating punishments from God that are typically spoken of as scary alterations to our sun and moon, shaking of what we thought were unshakable mountains, and retreat of the great waters of the earth.

Jesus is referencing these prophecies and signaling that after this time of tribulation the end will be marked by a shakeup in heaven, so to speak, when the evil angelic powers are defeated and judged.  He is also referring to the prophecy in Daniel 7 of a son of man who comes on the clouds and is given rulership of the world by God.  Then he gathers his people to himself and rules, not just Israelites, but all who believe.

His kingdom will be one of all nations, purified peoples who recognize his sovereignty and his calling to be God’s Messiah.  What an incredible day that will be!  Paul calls this our “blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).  This is what we are to be praying for.  Come, Lord Jesus.

It should be noted that Jesus does not mention a previous “coming in the clouds, not to earth” in which he resurrects deceased believers and gives resurrection bodies to living believers, what we have typically termed the rapture.  Paul tells us that this feature of Christ’s coming is a mystery that was revealed to Jesus apostles after his ascension (1 Corinthians 15:51).