Text: Mark 13:24-27 ESV
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,
25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
27 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
THE GLORIOUS COMING OF THE SON OF MAN
During the tribulation, false teachers and liars will become more apparent. They claim to be Christ and are deceiving people with counterfeit miracles (v.6, 22). The sun and moon will be darkened. The removal of light is always in the context of judgment. For example, in Isaiah 13:10, the darkness accompanies, at least in metaphor, the ruin of the Babylonian Empire. And, Ezekiel also in Ezekiel 32:7 refers to the destruction of Egypt. When Jesus is crucified, the land goes dark for three hours (Mark 15:33). This was the fulfilment of Isaiah 24:23 and Joel 2:10. Let’s remember that God is light. When light is taken away, so is God's blessing.
Luke adds a sordid picture, saying, "and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world" (see Luke 21:25-26). Despite the warnings in God's Word and the testimonies of the 144,000 and the two witnesses in Rev 7:4; 11:1-12, the people on earth won't listen. Judgment is upon them certainly (Isa 34:1-2).
Moreover, the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. This could mean a nuclear explosion causing debris to cover the sun, moon, and stars. Or, God is exerting powers over creation as in Jos 10:12-14 to halt the sun from movement. He holds the stars and He could unloose the same. Or, thirdly, the fall of evil spiritual forces. When Isaiah 14:12 talks about a fallen star, it means Satan. Isaiah 34:4 and Revelation 6:13 speak about the host of heaven falling. These powers in the heavens are demonic forces that exist in the spirit world but have influence on earth. Paul mentions mentions that we are fighting against "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."[Eph 6:12]. We are not sure but it’s possible that all these three will happen simultaneously.
However, Jesus' return will be much more glorious and powerful. The ‘Son of man’ will be coming in the clouds with great power and glory. Jesus alludes this to Daniel’s telling about the Ancient of Days to give "one like a son of man" an everlasting dominion, glory, and a kingdom over all the peoples, nations, and languages (see Dan 7:13-14). Thus, the ‘son of man’ appears majestic and victorious ultimately. Are you looking forward to His return? [Titus 2:13]
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