We have reached the concluding sections of Mark’s account of the Olivet Discourse. Having considered the Prelude to the Address (13:1-4), the Perils of the Age (vv5-13), and the Period of Affliction (vv14-23), we now turn to the Point of Arrival (vv24-27). In our next article we will consider the Parables of Anticipation (vv28-37).
The Point of Arrival (vv24-27)
In His instruction to the disciples about the Great Tribulation period (vv14-23), the Lord anticipated much deception about His coming. Some would say, “‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’” (v21 ESV). The disciples must not believe such claims. Matthew records that “as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Mat 24:27).1 The arrival of the Son of man would not be a private matter; it would be a public manifestation.
Note first the Timing of His coming. It will take place “in those days, after that tribulation” (Mar 13:24). His coming will be at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Details of that period have been given by the Lord already (vv14-23).
Then there are the Tokens of His coming. His arrival will be heralded by disturbance in the heavens: “The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars of heaven shall fall” (vv24-25). These cosmic disturbances precede His coming as the Son of man. Joel predicted, “And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come” (Joe 2:30-31). In addition to these physical changes, the Lord states that “the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken” (Mar 13:25). This may refer to growing panic in the demonic realm as they anticipate their imminent defeat (cp. Mat 8:29; Jas 2:19).
Next, consider the Triumph of His coming. “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds” (v26). According to John, “Every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him” (Rev 1:7). His arrival will be publicly witnessed by the world, and this will elicit a response from all. The remnant of Israel, repentant and regenerate, will look upon the One whom they pierced and mourn (Zec 12:10-12), realising that He was “wounded for [their] transgressions” (Isa 53:5). They will see Him coming as their Saviour: “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob” (Rom 11:26). At the same time, the nations, unrepentant and unregenerate, will see Him coming as their Judge: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war …. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Rev 19:11,15).
Notice also the Title of His coming. All will see “the Son of man.” This title, while in no way diminishing the truth of the deity of Christ, links Him with humanity. He is the ideal man destined to rule over the earth as God intended for man from the beginning. He is the only man perfectly fitted to restore all that Adam lost in his rebellion against God’s authority in the garden. The Lord’s coming “in the clouds” looks back to Daniel’s vision of one like the Son of man who approaches the Ancient of Days “with the clouds of heaven” and is given “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” (Dan 7:13-14).
As the Son of man, He will come with “great power and glory” (Mar 13:26), in contrast to His first coming in apparent weakness and with His glory veiled. It will demonstrate His invincible might and incomparable majesty, as He puts down His enemies and sets up His kingdom.
Finally, there is the Treasure of His coming. He will be accompanied by angelic hosts who will be deployed to “gather together his elect” (v27). The “elect” are His chosen ones – a term of special affection for those who are His people. In the context, this likely refers primarily to the remnant of Israel, dispersed among the nations. Isaiah refers to this regathering at the coming of the Messiah. He “shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth” (Isa 11:12). The Lord’s special people, His by covenant, will be of first concern to Him, as He returns to set up His kingdom. “And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels” (Mal 3:17).
The Son of man will come. He will arrive after the darkest period of Israel’s history. His coming will be preceded by cosmic and demonic agitation. When He arrives, there will be no mistaking His coming. In full view of a watching world, He will assert His authority, destroy His enemies, deliver His people and set up His kingdom. The crowning day is coming, by and by!
These predictions were made in the shadow of Calvary. Shortly after this, the Lord was betrayed, forsaken, denied, rejected and crucified. The world last saw Him crowned with thorns, crucified between thieves; they will next see Him “coming in the clouds with great power and glory” (Mar 13:26).
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV unless otherwise noted.
