When the tribulation is over, the Son of man Jesus Christ, who came to the earth the first time some two thousand years ago to suffer and die on the cross (ref. Isaiah 53) so that the world might learn of the power of the resurrection and be saved (ref. 1 John 3:8), will come to the earth the second time, in the clouds of heaven (ref. Mark 13:26, Matthew 24:10), out of the direction of the east (ref. Matthew 24:27), with “great power” (ref. Mark 13:26) and “great glory” (ref. Luke 21:27). Today, I would like to focus on the words “great power” and “great glory”.
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
Mark 13:26
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luke 21:27
On the day of the LORD, everyone who is alive on planet earth will see Jesus Christ returning to the earth (ref. Revelation 1:7).
On that day, a new nation will be born (ref. Isaiah 66:8): the kingdom of God. This kingdom will be like no other because the king will be the Son of God himself, and furthermore apart from the army of angels, there will be a new army (ref. Jude 1:14-15), the 144000 saints of the 12 tribes of Jacob (ref. Revelation 14:1-5).
Once all of the promised land has been taken (ref. Genesis 15:18), the saints will spread out in all directions, consecrating even more to the LORD like the stretching forth of the curtains of a tabernacle.
Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
Isaiah 54:2-3
Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.
Micah 4:13
Revelation is clear that Jesus Christ will “smite the nations” and “rule” the world “with a rod of iron”, for he is the King of kings.
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. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies [two] which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 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.
Revelation 19:11-15
Because of his “great power”, at some point, all nations shall come into the fold, a commonwealth of Israel.
… Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Revelation 15:3-4
Isaiah 9:6-7 puts it this way: of the increase of his government there shall be no end.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 9:6-7
As more of the world come under Christian rule, the phenomenon of evil will diminish. Eventually, Satan’s rebellion will be stopped in every part of the world.
For he [Jesus Christ] must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1 Corinthians 15:25
This is the holy war to come.
Since the “kingdom of God” is the chosen of Jacob, the “kingdom of heaven” can be thought of as the same Jacob plus the other nations of the world (ref. Revelation 21:24) that accept Jesus Christ as the King of kings.
The Bible explains that God the Father has chosen the Son of God, Jesus Christ, to judge and recover the world, a world that has been led astray by rebellious angels.
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
Job 38:12-13
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
John 5:22-23
When this work is over, there will be worldwide peace.
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Psalms 46:9-11
Because of this peace, armies across the world will disarm and disband, and no nation will learn war anymore.
And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Isaiah 2:3-4
The “great glory” of this victory of good over evil will belong to God the Father, and especially to his Son, but also in part to his saints, his angels, and even his other servants across the ages who have contributed to the cause of Christ.
Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
Psalms 149:5-9
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…
Ephesians 4:11-12
When this victory is accomplished, the world will sing in joy, and praise God.
A Psalm. O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him victory.
Psalms 98:1
The entire world made properly Christian! A world filled with righteousness! This is what is meant by the “great power” and the “great glory” of Jesus Christ.