Which Old Testament prophecies align with the imagery in Luke 21:27? Reading Luke’s Picture “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (Luke 21:27) Everything in that short sentence—“Son of Man,” “cloud,” “power,” “great glory”—echoes well-known Old Testament scenes. Jesus is reaching back to prophecies Israel already cherished and saying, “That’s about Me, and you’ll see it with your own eyes.” Daniel’s Vision: The Bedrock Prophecy • Daniel 7:13-14 – “I saw One like a Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven… He was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom… His dominion is an everlasting dominion.” – Same title: “Son of Man.” – Same vehicle: “clouds of heaven.” – Same outcome: universal, unstoppable rule filled with glory. – Luke 21:27 is essentially Jesus quoting Daniel about Himself. Yahweh Riding the Clouds Throughout the Old Testament, clouds aren’t merely weather; they are God’s mobile throne room. That background frames Jesus’ statement: • Psalm 104:3 – “He makes the clouds His chariot; He rides on the wings of the wind.” • Isaiah 19:1 – “Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt.” • Psalm 97:2-3 – “Clouds and darkness surround Him… Fire goes before Him.” By stepping into that imagery, Jesus openly identifies with the LORD who rides the clouds—an unmistakable claim to deity and authority. Glory Revealed to All Flesh • Isaiah 40:5 – “The glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together.” • Ezekiel 1:26-28 – Ezekiel sees “the likeness of the glory of the LORD,” radiant, blazing, and enthroned above the expanse. Luke’s phrase “great glory” ties the Messiah’s appearing to these visions of overwhelming divine splendor. The LORD Coming with His Holy Ones • Zechariah 14:3-5 – “Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him.” – The scene is end-time, worldwide, and earthshaking—just like Luke 21’s context. • Deuteronomy 33:2 – “The LORD came from Sinai… He shone forth… With Him were myriads of holy ones.” The Messiah arrives accompanied by heavenly hosts, reinforcing the idea of “power and great glory.” Mourning and Recognition • Zechariah 12:10 – “They will look on Me whom they have pierced… and mourn.” – Luke records global distress (21:25-26) right before the Son of Man appears. – Zechariah foretells a moment of seeing, recognizing, and responding with deep emotion—exactly what Luke 21 anticipates when the nations witness His arrival. Cosmic Disturbance as a Prelude While Luke 21:27 focuses on the actual appearing, the preceding verses describe signs in sun, moon, and stars. Those signs recall: • Joel 2:30-31 – “I will show wonders in the heavens… The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.” • Isaiah 13:10 – “The stars of heaven… will not show their light; the sun will be darkened.” Old Testament prophets consistently pair celestial upheaval with the Lord’s visible arrival, matching Luke’s sequence. Putting the Pieces Together 1. Title: Daniel 7 names the coming ruler “Son of Man.” 2. Vehicle: Clouds signify the Lord’s personal presence (Psalms, Isaiah). 3. Audience: “All flesh” will see His glory (Isaiah 40). 4. Companions: Heavenly armies accompany Him (Zechariah 14, Deuteronomy 33). 5. Atmosphere: Cosmic signs unsettle the world (Joel 2, Isaiah 13) leading straight into the appearance. Every element in Luke 21:27 is anchored in these earlier texts. Jesus isn’t inventing new imagery; He’s claiming the fulfillment of prophecies Israel already held as sacred and literal. When He comes in that cloud, it will be the long-promised, unmistakable day when Daniel’s Son of Man and Isaiah’s revealed glory converge—God Himself stepping into history in full public view. |
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