The Return of the King - Part 1

The Return of the King - Part 1

Matthew 24:29-35

Introduction

As we continue through the Olivet Discourse in Matthew’s gospel, we come to another challenging portion of the text.

For here we see what appears to be a description of the Second Coming of Jesus.

While this may seem to be the plain reading of the text, there are at least two elements that make this interpretation a challenge.

First, the context is that Jesus has been describing the event of the judgement against Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple - an event that was fulfilled in 70 AD - although He has made references to His return as well.

Second, Jesus says in verse 34, “”this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

If what He describes concerning the heavenly events and His appearing are a description of the judgement against Jerusalem, then verse 34 is not a problem - for we know what happened in 70 AD.

However, the description seems to describe His Second coming - something that didn’t happen - at least not literally - at that time.

So either way, in order to understand the language we must either employ a literal interpretation to some parts and either a metaphorical or allegorical interpretation to others. 

That, then, is where our challenge lies. 

We must take great care to interpret carefully and consistently. 

I will immediately rule out the notion that Jesus meant His return would literally happen within this generation (at least as far as we understand this generation to mean the literal years ahead). 

Those who have taken such a position are those who would then claim that Jesus was wrong. 

We can be certain, as the sinless Son of God, that Jesus was not wrong.

For as He said in verse 35, “.”Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away 

That leaves two possibilities for us to consider.

First, there are those who see this description as metaphorical for Christ coming in judgment - an act they see as being fulfilled in the judgment against Jerusalem. 

I respect this position for at least two reasons.

It maintains the context of what Jesus has been saying about the immediate judgment that would come in 70 AD.

And it fulfills His words that this will happen before this generation passes away.

The second possibility is that Jesus interweaves this immediate event with the later return in His Second Coming - something that will take place at the end of the age.

By interweaving these two events, Jesus is showing how the judgment against Jerusalem foreshadows the final judgment at the end of the age.

This means that His promise of these events happening within this generation must either be understood that this promise only applied to the first judgment and not the second, or that His use of “this generation” is figurative and speaks in general of a people and not of time. 

That Jesus is interweaving the two events is where I land in understanding this passage, for I believe the description that He provides here so closely aligns with other Scripture in describing His return at the end of the age. 

If all of this sounds overwhelming or confusing, then stick with me as we dive further into the text, that we might with all diligence and in dependence on the Spirit’s illuminating power, understand clearly what God has for us to know and apply from His word today.

II.The Return (29-31)

Looking now at verse 29, we read Jesus say, “” Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Jesus has been describing a time of distress before the coming judgment against Jerusalem.

There would be wars, natural disaster, false teachers, and claims of the Messiah’s secret appearance. 

Jesus says not to be alarmed and not to believe the reports of His return at this time. 

He then adds that when He does return, everyone will know it for it will be visible to all.

But as we saw through these descriptions, there was also a foreshadowing of this event of His final return.

At that time, the same signs will be present - wars, disasters, false teachers, and claims that the Messiah was here.

For that reason, it is plausible that what He is referring to now when He says, “” is now referring to the end of the age.Immediately after the tribulation of those days… 

(1)For tribulation and distress endure throughout the time of the last days, which is language for the entire period between the ascension of Christ and His Second Coming.

(2)Yet we know from His description, as well as that of Paul in his epistles, and John in the book of Revelation - that there will be an increased intensity of these distresses before He returns.  

Jesus then describes cosmic events of the sun being darkened, and thus the moon also losing its light, as well as the stars falling, and the powers of heaven being shaken. 

I think most people read such descriptions and think of a literal cosmic event - this is certainly a possibility. 

However, one commentator provides a helpful warning here, “” (Hendriksen & Kistemaker) In connection with this apocalyptic picture strict literalness must be avoided. Until this prophetic panorama becomes history we shall probably not know how much of this description must be taken literally and how much figuratively. That at least some of it must be taken literally is clear from 2 Peter 3:10. There will indeed be a “new heaven and earth” (Rev. 21:1).

The reason I say that this is helpful is because we see the same such language used in other passages of Scripture to describe judgment. 

(1)The prophet Isaiah, speaking of the judgment against Babylon, writes,. (Is 13:10) For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light

(2)And in speaking of judgment against Edom, he writes,. (Is 34:4) All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree

(3)Likewise, Ezekiel spoke prophetically of judgment against Egypt, writing,. (Ezek 32:7–8) When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens and make their stars dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its light. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over you, and put darkness on your land, declares the Lord GOD

(4)These few examples from other prophecies show how such language is used to describe God’s judgment against nations.  

So while Jesus uses such similar wording leaves open the possibility of a literal description or a figurative description - something we won’t know until it happens. 

(1)Either way, the judgment of God is certain and will be decisive.  

(2)It will have a real and sure impact - just as the judgment against those other nations in history past did.  

(3)Yet we know that at that time, the skies were not rolled up like a scroll because they are still here - so some of it was metaphorical.

(4)There is also room, however, for those prophecies to be a foreshadowing of these literally happening at the end of the age.

The bottom line from these words of Jesus is that judgment is certain, and we must be prepared to face this judgment - every one of us.

For at the time of these events - however they appear to those living at the time of the return of the King - He, Himself, will then appear as we read in verse 30, “” Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

The sign in heaven isn’t specified and have left some to believe there will be a cosmic sign in the sky. 

However, this is not necessary. 

For the sign of the Son of Man may simply be His appearing as Jesus describes here, “”coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 

Whenever this appearance happens, Jesus says that all the tribes of the earth will mourn.

Some take the word “tribes” to mean only the Jewish people.

However, by adding “,” I believe it is plausible that Jesus means every person on the earth - both Jews and Gentiles.of the earth 

(1)Those who have rejected Jesus as their Savior and Messiah will mourn, for they will see His glory and understand His coming judgment.  

(2)They will mourn not only their rejection, but also their sins and trespasses against the Holy King.

(3)Believers, too, will mourn as well, however.

(a)For Jesus will come in judgment against all people, who will give an account for every thing they have done. “” (Mt 12:36–37) I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

(b)Yet, for believers, our mourning will be short-lived.  

(c)For when the King returns, He will lift up the heads of His people and declare righteous all who have put their trust in Him.  

As terrifying as the descriptions of judgment, or tribulation, and even of His appearance are to us - we are also to be comforted by His promise to His people, “” (Jn 3:16–18) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned.

When He returns, believers can take comfort that there is no condemnation for those who trust in Him.

At the time of His return, Jesus then adds in verse 31, “” And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

What is clearly visible in the return of the King will be accented by a great sound - a loud trumpet call. 

Just as Jesus said that every eye will see Him like lighting across the sky, now He says that every ear will also hear.

The sound will be that of a trumpet, or like that sound - something that will be unmistakable.

And with this sound, He will send forth His angels as the instruments of His harvest.

The angels will gather His elect - those who have believed in Him - from every corner of the planet.

None will be missed - from one end of heaven to the other.

And we remember the words of Jesus, “” (John 6:39, 10:28-29) And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day…I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Again, we see the great comfort for those who are trusting Jesus in the face of such startling descriptions of coming judgment. 

You and I are not saved from this judgment by any good works we have done - for none of us are righteous. 

Instead, you and I are called today to fall on the mercy of the King by trusting wholeheartedly in the death of Jesus for our sins.

And when, by faith, we trust in Him alone - He forgives our sins and washes us clean - declaring us righteous in the face of the coming judgment. 

III.The Fig Tree (32-35)

Jesus then presents a parable using a fig tree as an image in verse 32, “” (32-33) From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

Many of the trees in and around Jerusalem were evergreen, and did not lose their leaves.

So the fig tree stands out as an object lesson from which the disciples are to learn.

As Winter fades and Spring arrives, the branches of the fig tree would become tender and its leaves would appear - a sign that summer is coming.

Winter can easily represent the times of distress and tribulation that precedes the return of the King, and I once again think of C.S. Lewis’ .Chronicles of Narnia

(1)The White Witch represented Satan’s reign, as she cursed the land with never-ending winter.

(2)Mr. Tumnus described the land as “always winter and never Christmas.”

(3)But Aslan was coming back - the Christ-figure in this story - and Mr. Beaver spoke as a prophet in his rhyme, “” Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight, At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more, When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death, And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.

The fig tree was the image given by Jesus to encourage the disciples that Spring, soon followed by the glory of Summer, would arrive soon after.

At this sign, Jesus says He will be near, at the very gates.

Jesus is saying this to provide more than mere information. 

He is preparing His people to know and be ready - to live with anticipation that He might come at any time.

(1)In some sense, believers throughout the Church age have seen both signs of distress and signs of budding leaves - the Kingdom coming.

(2)No person knows the time of His return, so we are called - everyone in every age - to be ready.

(3)We are to live prepared - not to be caught off guard.

(4)We are to steward our days with readiness of His appearing at any time.

(5)And we are to make this known to all people everywhere, that others might be prepared for the return of the great King.

Jesus then adds in verse 34, “” Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

We would all agree that if Jesus is speaking of His Second Coming in the preceding verses, then His use of “this generation” must mean something different than those alive at that time.

Since Jesus will shortly (v 36) make the statement that no one knows the time of His return, it answers part of the question we have here.

His return cannot be linked to this literal generation, in terms of the disciples in this day.

For we know that Jesus didn’t make a mistake with His words, or He wouldn’t have remained perfect and therefore His atonement for our sins would not have been effective. 

Therefore, Jesus must have meant one of two things here.

First, “,” referred only to the tribulations and signs before the coming destruction of Jerusalem - that is one possibility.these things 

Another option is that Jesus’ use of “” speaks to a type of person - particularly the unbelieving person.this generation

(1)We see such uses of the word for generation used in a general sense in a number of Scripture passages - both positively and negatively.

(a)Psalm 14:5. God is with the generation of the righteous

(b)Psalm 24:6. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob

(c)Jeremiah 7:29. For the LORD has rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath

(2)We might also consider how Jesus spoke in 23:35 of the people of that generation having killed Zechariah who lived hundreds of years before.

I would make neither of these a hill to die on, but simply make the point that Jesus is claiming the certainty of all these things happening.

We can look back on the judgment against Jerusalem and see that this is true - judgment came and it was decisive. 

So we can be certain that judgment will come again when the King returns - and we must be ready.

For as Jesus then makes clear in verse 35, “” Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

All temporal things will come to an end - that is all created things - in heaven and in earth.

They will come to an end that the new heavens and new earth may be ushered in at the return of Christ.. (2 Pet 3:10) But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed

And just as certain as this will happen, so it is also certain the eternal word of God will never err nor pass away.

Everything Jesus says is true and will come about. 

We cannot be certain exactly how it will happen, but He tells us enough that we may be prepared. 

The point is not that we need an exact description or roadmap, but that we know He is trustworthy, He is King, and He will sovereignly carry everything to its rightful end.

IV.Conclusion

And so, our hope and our confidence must be placed in Christ the King alone if we are to face His return without despair.

In speaking of the end and the hope of the resurrection, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15,. (1 Cor 15:16–26) For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death

Thinking again of the story C.S. Lewis told, captures our experience of waiting,

Aslan is on the move. The Witch’s magic is weakening.

Soon Winter will be over and Spring will come bursting in like good news, with green shoots pushing through the snow and the whole land awakening.

Even as we see the signs of distress increasing, may we also see the buds breaking forth with the hope of the resurrection - that Jesus is building His Church.

For just at the King was raised from the dead, so you and I will follow and be made alive with Him forever.

He will deliver the Kingdom to His Father, and we will reign with Him forever - our King and our Savior - who has destroyed the last enemy and granted all who believe in Him, everlasting life.