What does Mark 13:26 mean by "the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power"? Text “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.” — Mark 13:26 Immediate Context: The Olivet Discourse Mark 13 records Jesus’ private briefing to Peter, James, John, and Andrew about “the end of the age.” Verses 1–23 describe wars, earthquakes, persecutions, the desecration of the temple, and unprecedented tribulation. Verse 24 telescopes to “those days, after that tribulation,” when cosmic signs precede verse 26. The flow points unmistakably to a future, climactic arrival of Jesus following a global upheaval that eclipses the localized judgment of A.D. 70. Old Testament Background: Daniel 7:13–14 Daniel prophesied: “I saw One like a Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven… To Him was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom” . Jewish hearers knew “clouds” were Yahweh’s chariot (Psalm 104:3). By invoking Daniel, Jesus equates Himself with the Divine King who receives everlasting sovereignty. Clouds in Biblical Theology 1. Shekinah Presence – Exodus 13:21; 16:10; 40:34. Clouds veil yet reveal God. 2. Judgment & Deliverance – Isaiah 19:1; Nahum 1:3. Clouds announce decisive intervention. 3. Ascension & Return – Acts 1:9–11: the cloud that received the risen Christ will also accompany His return “in the same way.” Revelation 1:7 echoes the motif: “Every eye will see Him… on the clouds.” “Son of Man”: Identity and Authority While “Son of Man” can mean “human,” Jesus loads the term with Danielic grandeur. • Authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:10). • Lord of the Sabbath (2:28). • Judge of humanity (8:38; John 5:27). At Mark 14:62, under oath, Jesus repeats the “coming with clouds” claim; the Sanhedrin calls it blasphemy, confirming they understood Him to claim deity. “Great Power and Glory”: Divine Theophany The phrase combines dunamis (raw ability) and doxa (radiant splendor). Throughout Scripture, only Yahweh appears in this fashion (Exodus 24:16–17; Ezekiel 1). Jesus therefore presents His return as nothing less than Yahweh’s own arrival, answering His prayer in John 17:5 to be glorified with the Father’s glory “which I had with You before the world existed.” Prophetic Framework: Partial and Ultimate Fulfillment 1. A.D. 70 – Jesus’ foresight of the temple’s ruin (Mark 13:2) was literally fulfilled; archaeology confirms Titus burned and dismantled Herod’s complex, vindicating Jesus as a true prophet. 2. Future Parousia – Verses 24-27 transcend the first-century crisis: universal celestial disturbances and global visibility were not realized in A.D. 70. Scripture harmonizes this with other end-time texts (2 Thes 2; Revelation 19). Thus conservative exegesis holds a dual-stage panorama: near judgment on Jerusalem prefiguring the ultimate judgment and restoration. Historical Credibility of Jesus’ Prophecy Secular historians Tacitus (Annals 15.44) and Josephus (War 6.5.3) independently record the temple’s fiery destruction and unprecedented tribulation, corroborating Mark 13:1-2, 19. The precise forecast strengthens confidence that His future-looking words in verse 26 will likewise come to pass. The Resurrection Link Jesus’ bodily resurrection (cf. the “minimal facts” data: empty tomb, post-mortem appearances, and disciples’ transformation) demonstrates His power over death—exactly the “great power” He will deploy openly at His return. An exalted, risen Christ qualifies to execute global judgment and salvation. Practical Implications for Believers • Hope: Assurance that evil and suffering are temporary (Titus 2:13). • Holiness: Motivates purity (1 John 3:2–3). • Evangelism: Urgency to proclaim reconciliation before the Judge appears (2 Corinthians 5:10-20). • Worship: Directs glory to the coming King (Revelation 5). Warning to Unbelievers Acts 17:31 states God “has set a day when He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed, having furnished proof to everyone by raising Him from the dead.” Refusing the risen Son now means facing Him later as Judge rather than Savior. Summary Mark 13:26 predicts a literal, visible, universal return of Jesus, “the Son of Man,” enveloped in theophanic clouds that signify Yahweh’s presence. Rooted in Daniel 7, verified by Jesus’ fulfilled prophecy of the temple’s fall, preserved by an unbroken manuscript chain, and guaranteed by His resurrection, this coming will display incomparable power and glory. It constitutes the believer’s blessed hope and the unbeliever’s sober warning. |
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