Articles by Edward Thomas

The coming of the Son of Man is a phrase used by Jesus in the gospels and other places in the New Testament. It does not refer to a specific day, but instead of a period of time. It is the same period of time as the “Day of the Lord”. We will examine some instances of this phrase in Matthew 24 and what it means regarding the sequence of events when Jesus comes back physically to earth in power and great glory.

Timeline of History (Creation, Old Testament, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, Church Age, Rapture, 7 year tribulation, 1000 year reign of Christ, Eternal Age)

There are several phases of the  coming of Christ:

Coming as a baby (born in Bethlehem between 2-4 BC to eventually die on a cross and save us from our sins in AD 30 or 33)

Coming for the church at the rapture (meet Lord in air and he takes us back up to the place he has prepared in His Father’s house-I Thess 4:13-18)

Coming privately as a warrior to save the remnant and to defeat armies in the campaign of Armageddon – no one knows what day your Lord will come (implies that He comes to different people at different times during the many battles during Armageddon) In Revelation 19 as Jesus descends to earth for battle, verse 13 says His robe is dipped in blood.  From where?  It is not symbolic of His redemptive blood shed for our sins, but rather blood from a previous battle.  Isaiah 63:1 mentions the results of this future battle where Jesus rescues the remnant of Israel and that His robe is stained with crimson.  This is all part of the “coming of the son of man”.  It is not a single day, but a sequence of days.  Jesus comes to save the remnant at Bozrah.  Jesus comes at various times to defeat the armies at Armageddon. Jesus comes to deliver Jerusalem where half of the inhabitants are trapped.  Jesus comes to defeat the beast and false prophet, and throw them into the lake of fire. Jesus comes to the Mount of Olives and it splits in two.  All of these are part of the coming of the Son of Man.  It is bloody and unpredictable!  That is why Jesus says in Matthew 24 to not believe reports that He is in the wilderness or in an inner room. He is moving around as quickly as lightening flashes from the East to the West. You will know where He has been by observing where the carcasses are.  That is why He can say that you do not know the day “your” Lord will come because it will be different for everyone.  If you are a gentile fighting in the valley at Megiddo, it will be a different hour than if you are a Jew trapped in Jerusalem or Bozrah or another part of the world.  (Matthew 24:24-28)

Coming in Glory and power to wage war and to gather the Jews from the four corners of the earth and to judge the nations (the nations mourn, foot touches Mt of Olives)-note: He comes in Glory after the distress of those days, after the final battle (Matthew 24:29-30)

Coming for the Church (I Thess. 5:19) No one knows the day or the hour (refers to start of tribulation, not the rapture)

Old Testament prophecies tell about His coming such as Zechariah 14:4 and Isaiah 9:6.

1. -coming to rapture the church
2. -coming to free those at Bozrah
3. -coming to free the remnant protected in Jordan
4. -coming to free those trapped in Jerusalem
5. -coming to win different battles during the campaign of Armageddon
6. -coming to defeat anti-christ and false prophet during final battle
7. -coming to put foot on Mount of Olives