The Son of Man Coming in the Clouds Aug. 31, 2024

Have we been teaching this wrong? Have we studied to show ourselves approved, rightly dividing the Scriptures? What do you think when you read Daniel? What was Jesus talking about when He called Himself “The Son of Man”? What did Jesus mean by, “Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”” (Matthew 26:64, NKJV)

Look at how this shows up in Daniel…

““I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire; A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.” (Daniel 7:9–10, NKJV)

““I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13–14, NKJV)

• Thrones were put in place.
• The Ancient of Days was seated on one of the thrones.
• One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds to the Ancient of Days.
• Where was the Ancient of Days seated? On one of the thrones that was set up for Him.
• The Son of Man came to The Ancient of Days riding on the clouds.
• The Ancient of Days received Him and gave Him dominion and glory and a kingdom and all peoples should serve Him.
• The Son of Man received Dominion - an everlasting Kingdom which shall not pass away. And His kingdom will never be destroyed.

The direction of the Son of Man coming in the clouds is the opposite of what we have been taught. He was not coming in the clouds to earth. He was coming in the clouds to heaven - to the Ancient of Days. He was given a throne and a kingdom and everlasting dominion. Doesn’t that sound like, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18, NKJV)

So Jesus was quoting Daniel about Himself when He was speaking to the priests. Study the words of Christ Jesus and answer this. Does Jesus often quote Scripture when He speaks? Does He often use Scripture to identify Himself to those who will believe and receive Him? Of course. Why did the priests want to kill him? Because they understood what Jesus was saying when He said, I am the son of man coming in the clouds.

Remember Stephen being martyred by Saul (Apostle Paul) and the pharisees. What did Stephen say as they were killing him? “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:54–60, NKJV)

It enraged them because Stephen was declaring what Jesus declared but from a present tense. Jesus said it in future tense, "Hereafter" or Soon, "You shall see The Son of Man coming with the clouds." Stephen declared it from present tense, “I see the Son of Man at the right hand of God.” Stephen was declaring that Jesus had been seated as God and king in heaven just as the Resurrected LORD Jesus had declared to His disciples.

Jesus came in the clouds to The Ancient of Days and received an everlasting throne and dominion and kingdom and all peoples shall serve and worship Him.

“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”” (Acts 1:9–11, NKJV)

Now look how he will return. "In like manner". He will return on a cloud. Christ Jesus is King of kings and LORD of lords. But people want to know when, right? Well, let's see what Scripture says about it.

This Prophesy about The LORD Jesus, The Son of Man, returning to earth shows up in Scripture Seven Times. "The LORD said to my LORD, sit here at my right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool." Let's read it in Hebrews 10:11-14.

“And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:11–14, NKJV)

The Son of Man, Christ Jesus, King of kings and LORD of lords will return on the clouds when all of His enemies are made His footstool.

Let's return again to Matthew 28:18, also known as "The Great Commission".

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” (Matthew 28:18–20, NKJV)

I believe, in this passage, Christ Jesus reveals how The Ancient of Days will make all of His enemies into His footstool. He shares His dominion with His family of followers, also known as, His disciples; and then He, as King of kings and LORD of lords, commissions them. This means He gives them authority to accomplish something. King Jesus commissions His adopted family to disciples the nations and teach them the culture of God's kingdom. As this commission is fulfilled, the sons of God are manifest, the nations submit to King Jesus, the earth is restored from it's futile bondage to wickedness, and Christ will return on the clouds. Yes, my narrative of this may sound different from what you have heard. But, I believe this is what Christ Jesus and His apostles were teaching.

Repent, for the kingdom of God is here. The kingdom of God does not come with observation. The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in The Holy Spirit. The kingdom of God is within you. The kingdom of God is not something we war in the flesh to receive. The kingdom of God is a free gift to those who believe. We are translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear Son. It is the Father's good pleasure to give us The Kingdom.

Repent, Think like Christ Jesus thinks. Think like God thinks. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. We have the mind of Christ. We have received The Holy Spirit. With Holy Spirit, we have received the Divine Nature of God. As the church, let us fulfill our commission. In this world, you shall face tribulation and persecution, but be of good cheer, Christ Jesus has overcome the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world - Our Faith.