Monday: The Son of Man Returns
Revelation chapter 14 contains the key texts in regard to the Lord’s last-day message to His people and to the world. Central to it all is the return of Jesus, the fulfillment of His promise that “you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven“ (Mark 14:62, NKJV).
Read Revelation 14:14. What title is used to describe Jesus as He returns to earth? Why do you think John uses this title for Jesus?
Image © Lars Justinen at Goodsalt.com
Jesus used the term “Son of Man” to refer to Himself 82 times in the Gospels. It was one of His favorite titles. He used it as an expression of endearment to identify with us. He is a Savior who understands us, has experienced our temptations, and has passed through our trials. He is the “Son of Man” who is returning to take us home. The Jesus who comes for us is the same Jesus who lived among us. He is qualified to redeem us because He became One of us, and yet, as one of us, He met the full fury of Satan’s temptations and, yes, was victorious.
What do we learn from the following Bible verses in Matthew about Jesus, the Son of Man?
Matthew 16:27
Matthew 24:27,
Matthew 24:30
Matthew 25:31-32
Notice some elements in these passages: (1) Jesus, the Son of Man, is coming in glory with His angels. (2) He will divide the sheep from the goats (basically a judgment). (3) The destiny of the nations and all humanity will be decided for eternity.
| Think about the term “Son of Man” and what it says of Christ’s humanity. Though God, He became one of us, just like us, but unlike us, He never sinned. What amazing hope does this offer to you in terms of (1) knowing God’s love for us; (2) knowing that He can relate to your struggles and give you victory over them? |
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Our Church's name is Seventh-day Adventist and that implies that we believe in the second coming of Jesus. And, we like to quote these texts and draw word pictures of what it will be like. From my earliest childhood days I can remember singing.
Sometimes I wonder if we are so fixated by the physical coming of Jesus that we have forgotten that hidden among the climactic, grand, and fearful, there is a subtle spiritual message that we are overlooking.
We can predict that Jesus is coming again but it is meaningless to most people if we cannot show that Jesus has come again in a spiritual sense in our lives. When our lives are a reflection of his coming, only then will others believe what we say about the future.
I am writing this comment about one kilometre from where Ellen White wrote the "Desire of Ages". I could walk over this morning and see the very chair she sat in as she wrote. (It is probably a bit more comfortable than the one I am sitting in right now) While Ellen White is well known worldwide for her writings, here in Cooranbong she was known as the American lady who helped people. It was difficult to argue with a woman who would turn up on your doorstep with a couple of loaves of bread when you did not know where your next meal was coming from. There are families in this district today whose ancestors responded to that sort of evangelism.
The evidence of a returned Christ in our lives is the most powerful witness we have that the three angels' messages have a special meaning for our time. I sometimes hear folk saying that we are not preaching "judgment" and "Babylon has fallen" enough. In actual fact, the secular media is doing a pretty good job of broadcasting that message already. In the famine of spirituality, we need to turn up on the doorsteps of the suffering with a few loaves of bread.
It is somewhat fitting in this context that the judgement scene in the Bible asks questions like this:
We need to pray for the soon return of Jesus - into our lives.
Into my heart, Into my heart. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Come in today, Come in to stay. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.
Out of my heart, Out of my heart. Shine out of my heart, Lord Jesus Shine out today, Shine out always. Shine out of my heart, Lord Jesus.
Thank you, Maurice, for the insight I did not see. And praise be to the Son of Man that is here waiting to come into my heart. I want to open my heart for him. Rev 3:20
Hello, Maurice. Please help me. How can we live a life that reflects JESUS' coming? ! Am getting confusion on that...Help, please.
If we have a loving relationship with Jesus our actions towards one another will reflect that love.
I am married and the loving relationship I have with Carmel is reflected in the little things we do for and with one another. I do not need to buy her expensive presents to show my love. It's the little things, like bring her a drink when she asks, or vacuuming the house without her reminding me that it needs doing. We work together in love.
In our spiritual journey, if we have that loving relationship with Jesus, we will work for the best good in others. That reflects Jesus coming into our lives.
I rather doubt Christ will reward us more if we bring more people to him. He will reward us according to our works which is our daily devotions to Him not the number of works we do. If we allow Christ to be our righteousness. That is our works, and the way we work out our own salvation. I have the parable of the laborers working in the field in mind.
Matthew 16:27.
Philippians 2:12-13.
Matthew 20:12.
Now the four Matthew texts, all together, tell us how Christ's second coming is to take place. Very vital for us to keep a grip on, in light of some of today's modern misconceptions. Revelation 1:7 also tells us how he will come, which is also important to remember.
The most vivid and powerful explanation about who God really is we can learn through the life of Jesus. Jesus represents our most incredible connection with divinity. Jesus represents God willing to reveal Himself to humanity. And Jesus suffered much more than us, so we could find a God Who truly understands what you and I struggle with.
John is using the term "Son of Adam" to tell those who are waiting for him that, "He is surely coming" just like how he promised. Knowing that he is really coming, the one who died for us, it gives us new hope to keep waiting for him and never get tired.
But on the other hand, John is telling those who reject him, that, "the one you rejected, he is the one who is coming", "the one you said, "he can't be GOD, he is the one who is coming" So decide now!!! It is just like a final message of mercy to those who reject Christ.
Be Blessed.
“Behavior is a language”….Dr. John Delony
Matt 25:31-32
Toda'ys lesson starts with the idea that Revelation 14 has the "Key Texts" to God's last-day message to His people and the world. So what do the last 8 chapters of Revelation have for God's people and also the world? For example, what does Chapter 18:4-10 mean that Babylon's judgement comes in "One Hour" and for God's people to "Come out of her..." etc.?
God's verdict for each human that has ever lived or will ever live will be a verdict of condemnation, period! unless we have Jesus' merits to claim in our place of that verdict and that verdict of "Total Pardon because of Jesus," is freely offered to every human that has ever lived or will ever live.