WITH POWER AND GLORY 

WITH POWER AND GLORY 

Luke 21:27 NET.

“Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory.”

The prophets predict Christ’s advents.

Numerous prophets predicted many aspects of the birth and life of Jesus Christ.

• His virgin birth was predicted in Genesis 3 and Isaiah 7.
• He would descend from Abraham according to Genesis 12.
• He would descend from Isaac according to Genesis 17.
• He would descend from Jacob according to Numbers 24.
• He would belong to the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49).
• The timing of his coming was during the Roman Empire, according to Daniel 9.
• The killing of the children in Bethlehem was predicted in Jeremiah 31.
• His family’s escape to Egypt was predicted in Hosea 11.
• God would declare him to be his Son according to Psalm 2.
• God made him a priest of the order of Melchizedek, according to Psalm 110.
• He would begin his ministry in Galilee, according to Isaiah 9.
• He would be a prophet in Israel, according to Deuteronomy 18.
• He would have a ministry of healing and deliverance, according to Isaiah 61.
• His nation would reject him, according to Isaiah 53.
• He would enter Jerusalem triumphantly riding on a colt (Zechariah 9).
• He would be betrayed by a familiar friend (Psalm 41).
• He would be sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11).
• He would be accused by false witnesses (Psalm 35).
• He would remain silent at his trial (Isaiah 53).
• He would be beaten and spat upon (Isaiah 50).
• His suffering would not be for his sins, but for ours (Isaiah 53).
• They would pierce his hands and feet and side (Zechariah 12).
• Soldiers would gamble for his clothing (psalm 22).
• He would be buried with the rich (Isaiah 53).
• He would rise from the dead (Psalms 16 and 49).
• He would ascend to God’s right hand ((Psalm 68).

Some of the prophecies describe both Christ’s first coming and his second coming.

• “For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. His dominion will be vast, and he will bring immeasurable prosperity. He will rule on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom, establishing it and strengthening it by promoting justice and fairness, from this time forward and forevermore” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
• “As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, seemingly insignificant among the clans of Judah — from you, a king will emerge who will rule over Israel on my behalf, one whose origins are in the distant past” (Micah 5:2).

The New Testament picks up where the Old Testament left off. Jesus himself predicted his return numerous times. We examined many of those predictions when we looked at the eschatological discourse over several weeks this year. Today’s text is part of that eschatological discourse. It is in the context of Jesus answering the specific question of his second coming. The disciples had asked what would be the sign of his coming (Matthew 24:3). Jesus said that there would be many signs in the sun and moon and stars and that the world would be in distress, anxious over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves.

People will faint from fear and from expectation of what is coming because the powers of the sky will be shaken. There will be many signs, but these will not be preliminary signs. There will be signs that it is too late. That is why the world will panic.

The angels announce Christ’s advents.

The angels appeared to the shepherds in the fields and to Joseph, Zechariah, and Mary in the birth narratives of the Gospels. They also announced his second advent. They said, “This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

Jesus said that when he returned, “he will send his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other” Matthew 24:31. He also said that “When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne” (Matthew 25:31).

Whenever God does something significant, he brings his angels along. It is right for us to celebrate the miraculous birth of Christ. We should also herald the second coming because it, too, is a long-awaited event. Heaven itself looks forward to the day when the rightful heir takes back his kingdom from the one who stole it.

The stars announce Christ’s advents.

The wise men found a star in the sky and knew that it meant a new

king had been born. They followed the sign in the sky to Jesus. Signs in the sky will also announce the second coming. Jesus said that there would be many signs in the sun and moon and stars and that the world would be in distress, anxious over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves. People will be fainting from fear and from the expectation of what is coming in the world because the powers of the sky will be shaken.

Some think that it is human destiny to expand into the stars. They wonder if there is life on other planets and in other solar systems. Some think that our lives are controlled by the stars associated with the month of our births. They think that they can get wisdom by reading their horoscope every day.

The truth is there is a message that the stars have to tell us. It is an ancient message about the Son of God coming to earth. The star announced his first coming, and the stars will signify his second coming. But God’s wisdom is for those who look past the sign and pay attention to what it signifies. The wise men rejoiced when they saw the star because they knew that it meant a king had been born. They let the sign lead them to Jesus. That is what we should be doing as well.

The shepherds announce Christ’s advents.

We recently looked at the story of the shepherds again. When they learned from the angels that Jesus had been born, they left in a hurry to find him. After they met Jesus, they did not run back to their day jobs. They had to go into the villages and tell people about Jesus. We would do well to follow their example.

In fact, those of us who are shepherds of God’s flock today have it as our primary task to take care of his sheep. One of the major responsibilities we have is proclaiming the gospel to everyone. The next major prophetic event that will happen is the return of our Lord, and we must make sure that everyone is ready for that event.

The apostle Paul described himself as set apart for the gospel of God. Paul was capable of many things—things he could do—but he must do only one thing: get the good news out.

Jesus said that when he returns to this planet, its inhabitants will see him arriving in a cloud with power and great glory.” That will be the moment when the unbelieving world will be forced to admit that they have rejected the only truth that ultimately matters. They will see him. They will know for real that he exists. They will come face to face with the king of the universe and recognize that no matter what nation they live in, he is their king. But they will know that they have rejected their king. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. They will know that God had a wonderful plan for their lives, but they rejected that plan. They told God that they would not have his Son rule over them.

When he comes, it will be in a cloud. The angels’ prophecy will be fulfilled. Just as Jesus disappeared into the clouds when he ascended, he will return in the same way that he left. And everyone will see him – even those who pierced his hands, feet, and side at his crucifixion. Many live their entire lives today, actively ignoring Jesus Christ. On that day, no one will have the privilege of ignoring him. They will be calling for the mountains to fall on them to hide them from his presence. But there will be no hiding from him ever again. Adam and Eve tried to hide from God in the Garden of Eden. But when he came, they could not hide. When our Lord comes again, everyone will stand before him. He will decide their fate and reveal their destiny. Some will experience the destiny of permanent death in the lake of fire – the second death. Others will be welcomed into eternal life in his forever kingdom.

He came at first as a humble child lying in a borrowed manger. When he comes again, it will be with power and great glory. Those who welcome him into their lives today will share in that power and glory. No matter what lowly standards we live by today, every believer has a glorious inheritance bought and payed for by the blood of Christ. The Bible says that Jesus had to suffer many things before he returned to glory. We will also suffer many things in this life. But we will share in the glory of his return. On that day, and forever afterward, we will forget all our suffering because of the joy of the new life we will have. Our king will come and take his glorious throne. That day will be a glorious day for him and us.

As we celebrate the first Advent of Christ, we can also focus on the second Advent. His coming into power and great glory is a gift we can all anticipate. It won’t be under the tree this Christmas, but hopefully, it will come soon. Hopefully, we will all be ready.