The Coming of the Son of Man

INTRO

Events in Luke’s Gospel are building and moving to a climax. Luke 21:1–4 talked about the widow’s gift, the two tiny coins that she gave to the temple treasury. Then Jesus predicted the destruction of the temple in Luke 21:5–6, the signs of the end of the age in Luke 21:7–19, and the destruction of Jerusalem in Luke 21:20–24. But in this lesson, I want to unpack the remaining verses in the chapter.

TEACHING

Luke 21:25: Jesus described the events that would indicate His return was drawing near. The judgment God is going to send on the earth will happen in the last half of the time known as “Jacob’s trouble.”¹Jeremiah 30:7 says, “How awful that day will be . . . but he will be delivered out of it.” That means there is still hope for the Jewish people. The phrase “roaring seas and waves” appears in other verses. Psalm 46:1–6 says, “God is our refuge and strength . . . though the earth trembles and . . . its waters roar and foam . . . God will help her. Nations rage, kingdoms topple,” but God will establish Himself in the midst of the chaos around the world. We should expect the nations to be bewildered by the roaring seas and waves.

Luke 21:26: “People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the celestial powers will be shaken.” Matthew recorded a similar statement in his Gospel (Matthew 24:29).

Revelation 15—19 describes the judgment God will send on earth during the second half of the seven years of tribulation. In the first three-and-a-half years, the world will see peace. In the second half of the seven-year agreement (Daniel 9), the antichrist will break the agreement and move to Jerusalem to set up his image in the temple. When this takes place, all the things we just described will begin to take place. God will begin sending down His wrath. Will believers be a part of this tribulation time? In a pre-tribulation view, believers won’t be here on earth when this takes place. In a mid-tribulation view, believers will be here until the middle of this time; we’ll be here during the years of peace but will be taken out before the wrath comes. In a post-tribulation view, believers will be here on earth during all seven years of this time of tribulation. No matter which position you take, you better be ready for the Son of Man to come. Believers have to be prepared because we might have to go through this.

Luke 21:27: “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Compare this to Matthew 24:30, “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky.” Luke didn’t include that the sign of the Son of Man would appear first. No one knows what the sign of the Son of Man is, but as soon as it appears, everyone will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds. Something will catch the attention of all the peoples on the earth and cause them to mourn. According to Daniel 7:13–14, the sign will produce fear, “I saw one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven.” Daniel prophesied the Son of Man would come. Revelation 1:7 says, “Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him.” Whether you’re in Russia, America, Australia, China, Mozambique, every eye will see Him. Maybe this will be accomplished through media. We have no way to know for sure how this will happen.

Luke 21:28: “Stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near!” Psalm 24:7 says, “Lift up your heads . . . then the King of Glory will come in.” The same mentality was demonstrated in the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man was head down, more concerned with material and temporal things. But when your head is up, you’re looking for the Lord in everything. Psalm 111:9 says, “He has sent redemption to His people . . . His name is holy and awe-inspiring.” Isaiah 63:4 says, “For I planned the day of vengeance, and the year of My redemption came.” We can expect tribulation and redemption.

Luke 21:29–33: Jesus put all these things together by telling a parable. In verses 29–30, Jesus used the example of the tree that put out leaves to indicate summer is near. In Matthew 24:36, Jesus said that no one knows the time when the Son of Man will return. Even when Jesus was on earth as the Son of Man, He did not know. Mark 11 said the same thing. It might actually take place near summertime, based on verse 30.

In verse 31, Jesus said the kingdom of God would be near when they saw “these things.” What things? The signs, Son of Man coming on the clouds, celestial powers shaking, people fainting from fear and expectation of things coming, anguish on earth among the nations. Jesus was clear: There is a now kingdom of God and a future kingdom of God. This is talking about the future kingdom of God, when Jesus comes back to implement the kingdom of God. Nelson’s Commentary said that when we see cosmic signs and earthly chaos, then we will see a spiritual change.²Isaiah 27:12–13 says, “On that day . . . you Israelites will be gathered one by one . . . and they will worship the Lord at Jerusalem on the holy mountain.” We will see revival among the nation of Israel. Matthew 24:31 says, “He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather His elect.” We will begin to see the gathering of His chosen people. Matthew 24:32 says, “I assure you: This generation will certainly not pass away until these things take place.” One generation will see this unfold. What if we’re that generation? What if we experience these seven years of crazy chaos, peace, turmoil, transition, the antichrist showing up, and the Son of Man coming back? What if we get to be a part of this ridiculous journey? We’re supposed to live like we will. Our heartbeat should be, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

Luke 21:33: “Heaven and earth will pass away.” The universe will literally be gone and then we’ll see a new Israel, a new structure, a new earth, and a new heaven. “But my words will never pass away.” Jesus confirmed what was written in Isaiah 40:8, “The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.” Luke 16:17 says, “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter in the law to drop out.” Everything in the Old Testament has to come to fruition and fulfillment in the New Testament, the New Covenant. God’s Word always stays true to what He said in the beginning. Every one of the 66 books of the Bible points to the Messiah. Jesus didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17).

Because of all that is described in Scripture, what if we are part of seeing the Son of Man return on the clouds? What if we get to witness the coming of the Messiah? What if we get to see, as Wiersbe said, “the nations gather in the valley of Megiddo in Israel and fight the antichrist in Jerusalem, then see the sign of Christ, and then the Son of Man return to earth, defeat His enemies, be received by the Jews, and see the kingdom of God established here on earth”?³What if we got to see this reign on earth of 1000 years take off?

Are we ready to see the church live out Luke 21:34–38, “Be on your guard so . . . that day doesn’t come on you unexpectedly like a trap . . . Be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things.” As the church, we should pray now that we will have the strength to endure the tribulation so that we can stand before the Son of Man. Likewise, 1 John 2:28 says, “So now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears, we may have boldness and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” Imagine if this was the challenge all of us took. This is a reality that will take place. Our calling is to get people ready for His return. What if the first step is to start praying for the strength to sustain the end times?

CLOSING

Jesus gave several instructions for preparing for the return of the Son of Man. We should be aware of what is happening because our redemption is near (Luke 21:28). When we see these things happening, we should recognize that the kingdom of God is near (Luke 21:31). We should be on guard (Luke 21:34), so we don’t go back to the rich man’s ways, the earthly things. We have to keep our minds on the eternal things. We should be alert at all times (Luke 21:36). One of the ways to remain alert is to pray for strength.⁴As the body of Christ, we have to strengthen our faith. To do that, we pray for faith. We have to be ready for the Son of Man’s return.