The Jews were looking for their conquering Messiah. Many, including His disciples, believed that Jesus was the One for whom they were looking.
When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, and others Elijah, but still others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the living God."
Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He is the Messiah.
(Matthew 16: 13-16 20)
Jesus wanted to hide the fact that He was the Messiah, He preferred to be called the "Son of Man".
The people answered him, we have heard out of the law that Christ abides for ever: and how do you say, the Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?
(John 12: 34)
Who Is This Son Of Man?
The people did not know what that phrase meant. They were looking for a conquering hero but Jesus was about to undertake the role of the suffering servant.
The two concepts seemed to contradict each other and it would take about 2000 years for their heroic figure to appear.
This knowledge would dash their hopes so He spoke the truth and introduced Himself only as the Son of Man because their concept of the Messiah was incomplete, tolerating only a "Son of God".
But who is this son of man?
The Son of Man is the suffering Messiah.
What Is Written About The Son Of Man?
And he answered and told them, Elias truly comes first, and restores all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.
(Mark 9: 12)
Jesus said that the scriptures prophesied about the Son of Man and One Who would suffer and be rejected.
So let us examine the references to the term, "Son of Man".
- Ezekiel. This book has the most references to the phrase "Son of Man".
Ezekiel prophesies about a temple that exists while the Son of Man is the High Priest for sinners.
Is every command to Ezekiel a set of instructions to Christ who would encounter a similar situation?
Ezekiel could be seen only as a warning to those facing captivity in Babylon, but it is Ezekiel 12 that enlarges the scope of the warnings.
These warnings will apply in the day when the prophecies are no longer delayed.
Every prophecy came through at the crucifixion. Even those that prophecy about the destruction on the Day of the Lord because Jesus suffered the wrath that the righteous would have received at the end of time.
No More Delay.
Son of man, what is that proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision fails?
Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he sees is for many days to come, and he prophesies of the times that are far off.
Therefore say to them, "Thus says the Lord God, None of My words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be performed", declares the Lord.
(Ezekiel 12: 22,27-28)
- Daniel. Some references in Daniel clearly point to the son of man as a powerful King, the Messiah.
King of The World Forever.
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 to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away; and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.
(Daniel 7: 13-14)
Jesus returned from earth with the clouds of heaven after the resurrection as our new representative and presented Himself to God to be inaugurated as High Priest and be crowned as King (Acts 1: 9)
Son of God.
He said, "Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!"
(Daniel 3: 25)
Therefore, after establishing this connection between the Son of Man and the Son of God, Jesus could legitimately say that other things that were written about the Messiah must also be about the Son of Man. That connection is the basis of many of the claims that Jesus made about the Son of Man.
- Other Prophets. Job and Psalm make references that can be applied to Jesus as He shared the fate of humans.
Worm.
How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?
(Job 25: 6)
Strong Right Hand of God.
Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself.
(Psalm 80: 17)
Jesus' References To The Son Of Man
Almost every statement that Jesus made about the Son of Man was about One who would suffer.
Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
(Luke 18: 31)
- The Son Of Man Is A Reject of Society.
- Homeless. The Son of Man would be a homeless drifter.
And Jesus said unto him, the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head.
(Matthew 8: 20)
- Associates With Worthless Men. The Son of Man is a worthless man.
| Suffering Messiah | Conquering Messiah |
|---|
| Son of Man | Son of God |
|---|
| Rejected | Suffer | Killed | Resurrected |
Conqueror | Judge | King |
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
(Matthew 11: 19)
- The Son Of Man Is On An Important Mission With An Important Message.
The Son of Man keeps the covenant for God. First, He must eat the scroll of God and become the word of God, then He will become flesh and sent to the world as the prophet from God.
In the beginning was the Word and the word was with God and the word was God.
And the word became flesh and dwelt among us ...
(John 1: 1, 14)
Eat The Scroll.
But you, son of man, hear what I say unto you; Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house: open your mouth, and eat what I give you.
(Ezekiel 2: 8)
Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that you find; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.
And he said unto me, Son of man, cause your belly to eat, and fill your bowels with this roll that I give you. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.
(Ezekiel 3: 1, 3)
Good Shepherd. The Son of Man is the Good Shepherd.
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus says the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
For thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out."
(Ezekiel 34: 2,11)
Give My Life.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
(John 10: 11)
Gives Life.
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
(John 6: 53)
Pays The Ransom With His Life.
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
(Matthew 20: 28)
Finds the Lost Sheep.
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
(Matthew 18: 11)
Spokesman.
And he said unto me, Son of man, I send you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.
(Ezekiel 2: 3)
And he said unto me, Son of man, go, you get unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.
Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears.
(Ezekiel 3: 4, 10)
Teach.
He answered and said to them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man.
(Matthew 13: 37)
Watchman.
Son of man, I have made you a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
(Ezekiel 3: 17)
Warn Jerusalem.
Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations.
(Ezekiel 16: 2)
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold your house is being left to you desolate.
(Matthew 23: 37-38)
Jerusalem Punished.
Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and drop your word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,
Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:
Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon your thigh.
(Ezekiel 21: 2,9,12)
Jerusalem Destroyed Three Times.
Therefore you, son of man, prophesy, and smite your hands together and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which enters into their privy chambers.
(Ezekiel 21: 14)
Jerusalem is attacked four times but it is only destroyed three times.
- Babylon (586 BC). Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the city and the temple.
- Rome (70 AD). Titus destroyed the city and the temple.
- Babylon The Great (Future). The king of the north corrupts the temple in Jerusalem and they are destroyed at the Second Coming. This punishment will be doubled at the fall of Babylon.
Double Punishment. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double to her double according to her works: in the cup which she has filled, fill to her double.
(Revelation 18: 6)
The double punishment is applied at the third and fourth event when God fights for us.
- New Jerusalem (Future). The righteous New Jerusalem will not be destroyed.
A Place in the North of the City (Golgotha).
Also, you son of man, appoint yourself two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose you a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.
You shall mark a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and to Judah into fortified Jerusalem.
(Ezekiel 21: 19-20)
This prophecy appears to predict a breach and destruction coming from a place in the north of the city.
The Romans breached the walls and attacked from the north after a three year siege.
Christ was also crucified in the north of the city just outside the Damascus gate. (See map).
The sword of Rome came to Him at two places. The last was the sword in His side on the cross in the north of the city. The first was the over 400 armed soldiers who arrested Him in the garden of Gethsemane in the east of the city.
Unite Israel.
The Son of Man is on a mission to unite the two branches of Israel under His leadership.
Moreover, you son of man, you take one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and for all the house of Israel his companions:
Then join them for yourself one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand.
(Ezekiel 37: 16-17)
- The Son Of Man Will Suffer. The people will not respond favorably to the message.
Thorns and Scorpions.
And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with you, and you do dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
(Ezekiel 2: 6)
- Betrayed and Killed. The Son of Man would be betrayed by one who would give Him to the chief priests and to other men who would crucify Him.
Betrayed.
The Son of man goes as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born.
(Matthew 26:24)
Betrayed With A Kiss.
But Jesus said unto him, Judas, do you betray the Son of man with a kiss?
(Luke 22: 48)
Arrested and Tied Up.
But you, O son of man, behold, they shall put bands upon you, and shall bind you with them, and you shall not go out among them:
(Ezekiel 3: 25)
Given to Men.
And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
(Matthew 17: 22)
Given to Sinners.
Then comes he to his disciples, and says unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
(Matthew 26: 45)
Condemned to Death.
Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
(Matthew 20: 18)
Death by Crucifixion.
You know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
(Matthew 26: 2)
Silent Before His Accusers.
Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus says the Lord GOD; Are you come to enquire of me? As I live, said the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.
(Ezekiel 20: 3)
The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly.
Then Pilate questioned Him saying, "Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!"
But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.
(Mark 15: 3-5)
Bitter Weeping.
Sigh therefore, you son of man, with the breaking of your loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.
(Ezekiel 21: 6)
Bread and Water.
Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and with carefulness.
(Ezekiel 12: 18)
On the cross He was the broken bread, trembling under the pain and muscle seizures, drinking bitter waters.
A study of when He chose to drink or refuse to drink shows that He carefully chose His water to symbolically coincide with the bitter or bland taste according to the sequence of the Passover Seder.
Israel was supposed to recognize many signs, but they did not because they did not ask questions.
The prophet was carrying all His belongings out of the city and He was lifted up like the serpent on the staff.
Moving By Day: Carrying The Cross.
Therefore, you son of man, you prepare stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and you shall remove from your place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house.
No Curiosity. Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto you, What are you doing?
(Ezekiel 12: 3,9)
It is a sin to be deliberately stupid. When the evidence tells you to investigate further you cannot let the collective conscience of the crowd or one overpowering bully dictate your response or decide your course of action.
- Rejected. The Son of Man would be rejected by all the people who think they are important.
The people would not recognize Him as the Prophet sent by God.
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
(Mark 8: 31)
Not Recognized.
But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
(Matthew 17: 12)
- Three Days. The Son of Man would be resurrected after three days of intense suffering and death.
Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
(Luke 24: 7)
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
(Matthew 12: 40)
- The Son Of Man Will Triumph. The Son of Man will triumph over adversity, rejection and the reproach heaped upon His good name.
- The Rejected Stone. He is the rejected stone that became the chief corner stone Who crushes His enemies.
For this is contained in scripture: Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes in him will not be disappointed.
This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner stone."
(1 Peter 2: 6-7)
- The Mistreated Donkey. He is the donkey that we burdened, kicked and mistreated who will one day become a white stallion at the head of an invincible army (Revelation 19).
- The Enslaved Ox. He is the bull Whom we enslaved under the yoke of sin Who will bring everything under His subjection.
... by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
(Philippians 3: 21)
- The Lord's Goat. He is the goat on Whom we transferred our sins and killed. He then conquered sin and death and will crush the scapegoat.
- The Serpent. He is the one we treated as an evil serpent, who will heal us of our fatal diseases.
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.
(John 3: 14-15)
- The Son Of Man Has Power. The Son of Man has great authority.
Power to Forgive Sin.
But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (then says he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up your bed, and go unto your house.
(Matthew 9: 6)
And whosoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
(Matthew 12: 32)
Created the Sabbath.
For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.
(Matthew 12: 8)
Blessed is the man that does this, and the son of man that lays hold on it; that keeps the Sabbath from polluting it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.
(Isaiah 56: 2)
Power Over Resurrection.
And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, you know.
Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus says the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
(Ezekiel 37: 3,9,11)
And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.
(Matthew 17: 9)
High Priest.
The Son of Man is the High Priest on a throne who will abolish sin and death.
... and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man.
(Ezekiel 1: 26)
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the chest with a golden girdle.
(Revelation 1: 13)
Rapture.
What and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
(John 6: 62)
Authority in Heaven.
And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
(John 3: 13)
Authority on Earth.
For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
(Mark 13: 34)
Authority Over Angels.
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.
(Matthew 13: 41)
- The Son Of The Right Hand. The Son of Man will have the most important position next to God.
Jesus said to him, you have said: nevertheless I say to you, Hereafter shall you see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
(Matthew 26: 64)
And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
(Acts 7: 56)
- He Is Coming Back To Earth. The Son of Man will return and reward the righteous.
Coming From The Eastern Skies.
For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
(Matthew 24: 27)
Coming With Angels.
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
(Matthew 16: 27)
- He Is Coming Unexpectedly.
Therefore you be also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes.
(Matthew 24: 44)
Coming At Any Time.
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes.
(Matthew 25: 13)
People Will Not Be Prepared.
But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
(Matthew 24: 37, 39)
No Faith.
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?
(Luke 18: 8)
Not Enough Time.
But when they persecute you in this city, flee into another: for verily I say unto you, you shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
(Matthew 10: 23)
Although the end will not come until the Gospel is preached to the whole world, this prophecy seems to say that we will not physically travel to every city.
Fortunately, modern technological capabilities show how both conditions are possible.
- King And Judge. The Son of Man will sit on a throne to judge the world.
And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that you which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
(Matthew 19: 28)
And has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
(John 5: 27)
- Ladder To Heaven.
And he said to him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
(John 1: 51)
The Son of Man is a bridge between heaven and earth. This image is from Jacob's dream.
The Ladder.
He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
And behold the Lord stood above it and said, "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants.
(Genesis 28: 12-13)
The Sign Of The Son Of Man
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.
(Matthew 24: 30)
At the end of time a sign will appear in the heavens that will be recognized as Messianic. What could it be?
Before we speculate on what the sign could be, let us see if there are other statements that might refer to the sign of the son of man.
- Sign Of Jonah ("Three Days And Nights"). Jesus said that this sign for that generation would be the three days and nights trapped in terror. However, this could not be seen as a sign in the heavens unless the sign was the darkness that occurred.
That darkness was symbolic of being in the grave. The real sign was the resurrection.
For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
(Luke 11: 30)
The Sign of Jonah.
But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet;
For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
(Matthew 12: 39-40)
- The Banner Of God ("Lifted Up On A Cross").
When the Hebrews marched through the desert, each tribe had a sign. A banner is usually held flat, not like a flag.
So it could be carried on a horizontal bar held by two people on either end. It could also be carried by one person if the banner is placed on a cross shaped structure.
Christ hints that when He is lifted up like a banner or sign, then He will be recognized.
Lifted Up.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
(John 3: 14)
Lifted Up Like A Sign.
Then said Jesus unto them, When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you shall know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things.
(John 8: 28)
Tav or Tau Cross. In the ancient Hebrew script IVRI, used by Moses, the last letter of the alphabet is Tav. It means sign, seal or covenant and it is shaped like a cross.
The Jews also believe that the sign placed on Cain to protect him was a Tau.
So for thousands of years people have viewed the cross as a sign.
So when crucifixion was invented either in 600 BC by the Phoenicians or the Persians in 400 BC, it must have really symbolized a terrifying sign, the ultimate response of terror. The sign of this last letter was the final word on enemies of the state.
Although many Christians use the cross as a symbol, it was not used by the early church.
When He was born the sign was a star in heaven. In fact, Genesis 1: 14 says that the heavenly bodies are created to maintain times and season and to be used for signs.
So the sign in the heavens must involve one of these objects in the sky in a display that causes fear and could be seen as a Christian sign.
The question is, although it is terrifying, will this be a sign that evil will be collapsing or will the sign be that God is in control?
- Sun. The sun is a sign of the light from God. An eclipsed sun is a sign that God's light is being blocked by evil.
So a sign that God is being more active would be a larger sun or supernatural light at night.
We have never seen that so it would cause fear. The only known way for the sun to get larger is for it to go supernova or become a red giant.
Either scenario would cause fear because it is the death of the sun.
A Great Awakening.
After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory.
(Revelation 18: 1)
Accompanying a great spiritual awakening could be a physical sign in the sun.
| The Signs In The Heavens |
|---|
| Object | Good | Evil |
|---|
 | Sun | Enlarged | Dark sun |
|---|
 | Moon | Full moon | Blood moon
Dark Moon |
|---|
 | Star | New stars | Falling stars |
|---|
 | Rainbow | Light, green | Darkness |
|---|
 | Comet | Bright | Collision |
|---|
 | Cloud | Shape | Dark, Shape |
|---|
|
- Moon. The moon is a sign of the light from the church. So a full moon is the sign of a church at its best. A blood moon is a sign of a persecuted church and a new moon is a sign of a church in apostasy.
None of these are unusual and none would cause fear unless a miracle occurs that causes a phase of the moon to persist longer than it normally does.
Each phase lasts one day and takes about seven days to transition to the next phase.
So a full moon that lasts for days or weeks would be a fearful sign.
- Stars. Falling stars are used as signs of the fall of evil. The appearance of many new stars or many old stars becoming significantly brighter would be a sign of the covenant that the righteous will be as fruitful as the stars during the last great period of evangelism.
- Rainbow. It is the sign of the covenant that God will not destroy the earth by a flood. A green rainbow sits over the throne, it would be unusual and it would be a sign of God. So when God comes in the cloud He will be covered with a rainbow and the earth will be destroyed by fire this time, not water.
The Global Covenant.
And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
The Bow In The Cloud. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
(Genesis 9: 11-16)
The Glory In The Clouds.
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
(Mark 13: 26)
- Comet. A comet or asteroid on a collision course with earth would be a terrifying sight.
A sword can be shaped like a cross. So a very large comet shaped like a cross or a blazing sword would definitely be seen as a sign.
When Jesus comes He has a sword in His mouth.
From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the winepress of the fierce wrath of God Almighty.
(Revelation 19: 15).
The fierce wrath is the seven last plagues. The "rod of iron" may come before.
- Star And Scepter (Pillar Of Fire). Balaam the prophet may have indicated what the sign is at the end of time. He indicated that the sign at the beginning would be a star. At the end the sign is a scepter.
The Star of Jacob. I see him but not now; I behold him but not near. A star shall come forth from Jacob,
The Scepter of Israel. a scepter shall rise from Israel, and shall crush through the forehead of Moab, and tear down all the sons of Sheth.
(Numbers 24: 17)
When the name Jacob is used it indicates the unconverted Israel who deceived their Messiah. When the name Israel is used it indicates the converted people of God who will greet their Messiah at the end as He comes through the forehead of Moab in the east.
| Star | Suffering Messiah | Conquering Messiah | Scepter (Fire) | Cloud | Night |
|---|
| Son of Man | Son of God |  |
| Millennium |
|---|
| (Jacob The Deceiver) | (Israel The Prince of God) |
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| Birth | Rejected | Suffer | Killed | Resurrected |
Judge | Conqueror | King |
The best evidence is that an extremely large comet with a long tail and a big head, visible by day, will appear in the eastern sky. It is shaped like a scepter, but might also be seen as a sword or a cross. The big head may even look as if it is studded with jewels.
Radiospectrum analysis might show that the core is composed of iron to fulfill the prophecy that He will come with a "rod of iron" (Revelation 19: 15).
» Crush Moab. It may also be preceeded by pieces that will strike the earth in the region of ancient Moab (Jordan) and across the wilderness of Kadesh.
The world is also symbolically waiting in the land of Moab (south east) on the borders of the Promised Land, ready to cross over.
This is the Rock that will crush us if we do not fall on Him first.
And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.
(Matthew 21: 44)
- Pillar Of Clouds. Christ is coming with the clouds. It could be the formation of angels around Him. But a series of unusual cloud formations before He comes would be terrifying.
» Pillar of Fire and Cloud. At the first exodus, He led them by the Angel of the Lord with a pillar of cloud and fire, just as He will lead us in the last exodus with a visible pillar of cloud and fire in the heavens.
» Timing of the Sign. The story of the pursuit of Pharaoh during the exodus, gives us information about the signs.
The angel of God who was going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them.
So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus the one did not come near the other all night.
(Exodus 14: 19-20)
Christ will intervene when the forces of war gather during the sixth plague.
He will move the pillar of cloud and fire between us and the evil horde, creating the sign of His coming and interrupting the battle.
He comes in the seventh plague and separates the two groups for one long night which lasts 1000 years.
» A Global Sign.
It was easy for God to create this sign between two armies camped within a few square miles on the shores of the Red sea.
How could He recreate this sign on a global scale?
If we understand that the constellations are created to be the signs in the heavens, then we can see them as a prophecy of the future of the world and we can guess what God might do.
The autumn sky holds the signs of the last days. A symbol of the separation between the good and evil can be accomplished by a sign between Draco or Serpens (the dragon or the serpent) and Virgo (the maiden), possibly in Libra.
Hercules may be the constellation that acts as the angel of God who also stands between the two groups.
So the scepter might first appear in this region of the sky as the global pillar of fire.
The Creation Of The Son Of Man
Let us examine how the important events in the history of planet earth mimic the creation of the earth.
Those who were chosen as landmarks and signposts in this timeline all suffered through a significant test that we described in a lesson
called "The Paths of Righteousness".
In this lesson we show how the righteous suffer a series of events that are related to the tribes and the sanctuary and the suffering of Christ.
All the heroes of faith, sons of man, suffered through some of these tests, but a few followed the entire path. These few inaugurated a new day in the Plan of Salvation which will create a new creature who is resistant to sin.
- Light (Adam). This is the perfect creation. When Eve was promised a son who would rescue her, this was also a ray of light. The Promised Son is a fulfillment of this covenant.
- Air, Water And Rainbow (Noah). Rainbows are formed in the presence of light, air and water. The earth was destroyed by water and the covenant sign appeared as a rainbow.
- Earth And Trees (Abraham). Abraham was the righteous tree that God planted. His seed would populate the earth and bear the fruits of righteousness. The Promised Son was now a seed.
- Sun, Moon And Stars (Israel). Light comes to show the way in the darkness. According to Joseph's dream Israel is the sun, his mother is the moon and the stars are the children of Israel.
Through this nation God would return light to the world plagued by the darkness of sin through the Promised Son.
- Fish And Birds (Joseph And The Coat Of Many Colors).
Fish and birds are covered with a coat of many colors. Joseph's coat becomes a sign that the fourth period had begun. Like Noah he was sent ahead to build a system that would rescue Israel from certain death.
While they were in Egypt it was as if they were imprisoned in an ark riding on the rough seas.
» Birds (Moses). At the end of their time in Egypt, God sent Moses to take them to the Promised Land.
Like the bird sent out by Noah, Moses was sent out of Egypt to find dry ground and return to the ark to tell them that it was time to exit.
When they left Egypt, under a cloud of water and fire, Israel received the covenant on Mount Sinai just as Noah saw the covenant in the rainbow on Ararat.
- Animals (Daniel). In Daniel's vision, the nations are represented as a series of wild beasts ruling the earth.
» Man (The Son Of Man). Daniel's visions culminate in the coming of the Messiah - the Son of Man. Jesus was the first human born of a woman who successfully resisted sin.
» Woman (The Church Named Israel). Israel is the woman who came out of this new man. She is destined to be the bride of Christ.
» The Birth Of The Son Of Man.
When did Yeshua (Jesus) become the Son of Man?
He became the Son of man at His conception and birth when He took on the form of humanity and at the crucifixion when He took on the likeness of sinful man.
Becoming A New Creature.
Have this attitude in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
The Naming Of The Son. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name.
(Philippians 2: 5-9)
With the naming of the Son, all humanity who became no more than wild beasts will also receive a new nature and a new name.
» Who Is The Son Of Man?
Finally, we see the complete answer to the question when we view His coming in the light of the order of creation.
The Son of Man is the child promised to Eve who will have enmity with sin (Genesis 3: 15). He is the perfect seed born of a woman who is the first born of a perfect new creation who can never sin.
- Sabbath (Rest From Sin). After the Son of Man came we received rest from sin. We have no more desire or love of sin. Now we are on the final exodus to the Promised Land to live with God forever.
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Study to show yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2: 15
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Time: 40 minutes
Print: 8 pages |
Copyright
First Created : 6 December 2008
Credits:
Author: Laverna Patterson. Editor: Patterson (December 2008)
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