Pre- mid- or post-?
Submitted by chadrory on Sat, 2007-12-22 23:11.
I've been discussing the tribulation issue with some friends of mine this evening... We are all over the place. Every one of us supports one of the other. Me, well, I am of the opinion that Jesus is coming back. Plain and simple. I would love to hear your opinion.
Chad.
the Son of Man
Revelation 1.7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Jesus said the same thing to the High Priest at his trial:
Matthew 26.64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Jesus also talked about this majestic arrival with his own disciples:
Matthew 24.30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Jesus talks about the "Son of Man" very frequently--it's important to know what this Jewish symbol meant BEFORE he started using it, so that we understand when he uses it, and so that we understand it when John the Revelator uses it:
Psalms 80.15-17 And the VINEYARD which thy right hand hath planted, and the BRANCH that thou madest strong for thyself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the SON OF MAN whom thou madest strong for thyself.
These three terms are all metaphors in this psalm, word-pictures respresenting the nation of Israel in different lights. This is the Psalm that seems to have inspired Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Zecheriah to write so beautifully about Israel the Branch, and inspired Isaiah and Jesus to talk about Israel as a Vineyard, and also inspired Daniel to create this scene, which borrows language from the founding of Israel at Sinai and combines it with the Son of Man metaphor already long at play in the Psalms and Prophets:
Daniel 7.13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
John recreates this scene a number of times, in the "Revelation of Jesus Christ," revealing the Christ who told the priests that they would personally see the Son of Man appear in the heavens, and that Christ who told his disciples that the Son's arrival would be plain to all that look for him. And plain and obvious that arrival Son's arrival was, to them that looked for his appearing--they were, after all, his Temple and his Body.
When is Jesus coming back? "Where two or three are gathered in my name..."
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." John 5.39-40