Title: The Second Coming of Jesus

Scripture reading: Mark 13:24-27

“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.”

Main idea: Persecution will occur, but God knows about it and controls how long it will take place. He will not forget his people.

Mark 13: 24-27, describe the Tribulation at the end of the present age, and the Second Coming that will follow it. The Second Coming is the climax of the Olivet Discourse. Parallel to this passage found in (Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 21:25-28).

“After that tribulation” (Mark 13:24-25).
After that tribulation, there will be startling disturbances in the heavens. The sun will be darkened (Rev 6:12), the moon will not give its light (Rev 6:12), and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken (Rev 6:13-14). Cosmic judgment will signal that the end has come. In heaven and on earth, the cosmos will be shaken as God prepares to come in judgment in the person of the Son (Isa 13:9-10; 34:4-5; Ezek 32:7-9, 15).

The second coming of Jesus (Mark 13:26).
Son of Man is the term Jesus uses to refer to himself, evoking Daniel’s prophecy of “one like a son of man” who comes into God’s presence on the clouds and is given everlasting dominion and glory (Dan 7:13-14). Then the world will see the Son of Man returning to the earth, not now as the lowly Nazarene but as the glorious Conqueror. He will come in the clouds, accompanied by angelic beings and of glorified saints. It will be a scene of overwhelming power and dazzling splendor.

It is his coming at the end of time, when evil will be vanquished once and for all and Jesus will be seen by all in his full power and glory, the glory that was revealed to three disciples at his Transfiguration in (Mark 9:2-3). Jesus will no longer appear primarily as the Suffering Servant, but as the glorified “Son of Man” coming with great power and glory”! (Revelation 19:11-16).

All the people on earth will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds.” The “clouds” are pictured as the Son of Man’s royal chariot, bringing him from heaven to earth in the Second Coming. To the Jews, clouds signified divine presence (Exodus 13:21; 19:9; Psalm 97:1-2; Daniel 7:13). He will arrive to defeat Satan, judge all people, and set up his kingdom (Mark 8:38).

“Gather together His elect from the four winds” (Mark 13:27).
Who are the “elect”? In the Old Testament, “elect” referred to Israel, particularly those faithful to God (1 Chronicles 16:13; Psalm 105:43; Isaiah 65:9, 15). In the New Testament, “elect” refers to the church (Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12; 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Peter 1:1-2).

The elect spoken of here refers to believing Israel and others believed in Jesus during the time of tribulation. He will dispatch His angels to gather together His elect, that is, all who have acknowledged Him as Lord and Savior during the Tribulation Period. All Jews will be gathered up and brought home as the Tribulation comes to a close and the kingdom is established at last. Mark 13:27, also describes the regathering of Israel from the nations to which they have been scattered throughout the world. When the time of suffering comes, the important point for the disciples and all believers to remember is that God is in control.

In the Old Testament, the four winds designate the four points of the compass, the distant places to which the people of Israel were scattered in exile but from which God promised to bring them back (Ezek 37:9, 21; Deut 30:3-6; Isa 11:12; Jer. 31:7-9). Jesus is speaking of the fulfillment of this long-standing hope of Israel. There is a glorious future for Israel is stated by Paul in Romans 11:1-36. From one end of the earth to the other, they will come to enjoy the benefits of His wonderful thousand-year reign on earth. His enemies, however, will be destroyed at the same time.

Israel’s future

Application
The warnings of this message in Mark 13 may be applied to our own lives: Take heed that you are not deceived (Mark 13:5, 23); take heed that you do not become discouraged and quit (Mark 13:9); take heed, watch and pray (Mark 13:33). “And what I say unto you I say unto all, ‘Watch’” (Mark 13:37). Jesus will come again to gather His people. What a day of celebration that will be. Our Lord, the Son of Man, will bring to the earth the kingdom He has received from the Father.

Jesus’ second coming marks the core of the Christian hope. When he comes, the whole world will know that Jesus is Lord, and Christians’ hope and faith will be vindicated.

Let’s pray together
Heavenly Father, our hope is resting upon the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ our Lord. When all these things happen, we know that You are in control and you will never forget Your people. In Jesus Name Amen.