Coming on the Clouds of Heaven - Gospel of Matthew - Part 70
Coming on The Clouds of Heaven
Matthew 24:29-35
Immanuel – 4/13/25
Typically, Palm Sunday is the day we remember and celebrate Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. On that day the Jewish crowds confessed Jesus as their Messiah, the Son of David. In ecstasy of praise they shouted, “Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” They worshipped God, for the prophesied King of kings had finally ascended Mount Zion!
But the praises of Jerusalem were short lived. When Jesus entered the temple he flipped the money changers’ tables and called it a “den of robbers.” That was Monday. On Tuesday morning, as soon as Jesus entered the temple, he was accosted by the Jewish religious leaders. They publicly oppose and reject him.
Through a series of polemic parables, Jesus tells the religious leaders they neither know God nor live in obedience to him. Therefore, the kingdom of God has been taken from them and given to another people. He proclaims woes over the Pharisees and their followers, laments the obstinance of the Jews, and reveals Jerusalem’s temple to be desolate.
Never again would Yahweh dwell in temples made by man (Acts 17:24). Jesus, God in the flesh, leaves the temple out of the East Gate and ascends the Mount of Olives. When he reaches its height, he sits down and looks over the city and temple.
As I said two weeks ago, Tuesday evening approaches, and I imagine the setting sun casts a fiery hue over the city. With all this apocalyptic backdrop, the disciples approach Jesus and ask the question burning within them:
“Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” -Matthew 24:3
The disciples want to know when the judgment of that generation, and the destruction of the temple, will occur. What follows is the Olivet Discourse, chapters 24 and 25. It is Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ question. The entire discourse is prophetic.
When the disciples asked Jesus their question about timing – When would these things happen? – they also made two associations.
1. Judgment for the temple would arrive at Jesus’ coming.
2. The destruction of the temple was the end of the age.
For the past two weeks I have talked about how the destruction of the temple meant the end of the Mosaic age. A new covenantal age had dawned in Jesus Christ. Jesus called it the kingdom of God. Many today call it the Church Age. And the covenant of this new age was ratified in the blood of the Messiah.
The disciples also made the association that the temple’s destruction would signal Jesus’ coming. For two weeks I have hinted at Jesus’ coming in 70 AD, when the Romans burned Jerusalem and tore the temple apart – stone by massive stone.
Purpose
Today I want to answer two questions.
1. Why were the disciples correct in associating the destruction of the temple with Jesus’ coming?
2. What did Jesus prophesy would happen after the temple was destroyed?
Before we get into it, let’s remember what apocalyptic literature is: Apocalyptic literature is filled with vivid symbols and images, Scriptural motifs, and hyperbolic (exaggerated) language. Our passage today is typical apocalyptic literature.
Read vs 29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days. The apocalyptic images and the coming of the Son of Man would occur immediately after the tribulation of those days. Again, those days refers to the terrible sufferings of the Jews in the first century, especially during their war with Rome in the 3.5 years before 70 AD. Jesus expected some sort of cataclysm immediately following those events, not millennia in the future.
Old Age Decreation
And what follows immediately is language of decreation: the sun going dark and stars falling out of the sky. But we must not take these words literally, as if God were destroying the cosmos, as if Jesus were prophesying the end of time. Rather, these prophesies need to be interpreted literarily – it is apocalyptic literature. Let me show you that this is language of an Old Testament motif symbolizing judgment.
When Ezekiel prophesied judgment was coming against Egypt, this is some of the language he used:
“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.”
-Ezekiel 32:7-8
Similarly, Isaiah prophesies against Babylon.
“Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. 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.” -Isaiah 13:9-10
Again, Isaiah, but this time a prophecy for the surrounding nations:
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.
-Isaiah 34:4
God was not undoing the universe in each one of these judgments. He did not remove the stars from the sky in three separate instances. Instead, hear the apocalyptic, de-creation motif: the darkening of the sun and moon, stars falling from the sky, even the heavens are shaken. All these images are associated with a coming judgment.
But the motif gets even more specific. In the ancient near east, it was common for rulers and religious leaders to be symbolized by the heavenly bodies: sun=king, moon=a queen or powerful ruler, stars=nobles and religious leaders. In an ancient world that had no concept of separation between church and state, a kingdom was both religious and political. The heavens in which the heavenly bodies dwell is a symbol for a political and religious kingdom in which rulers have dominion.
Without explanation, the most obvious example of this symbolism is Joseph’s dream where the sun, moon, and stars were bowing down to him.
Now, let me bring the pieces together. Jesus was prophesying an imminent judgment coming to Jerusalem. The sun, moon, and stars being darkened meant the removal of Jerusalem’s leaders. The powers of the heavens being shaken is the removal of Israel’s governing covenantal system – which was both a kingdom and a religion.
God had created old covenant Israel. Now in judgment – for the rejection of his Son, he was de-creating it. We continue in the apocalyptic literary style.
Read vs 30
The sign of the Son of Man: Jesus is directly answering one of the disciples questions. What will be the sign of your coming?
I grant that this sounds very much like the bodily return of Christ. It is so similar that the majority of Christians in the West think Jesus is talking about his Second Coming at the end of history. Truly, it is ok if you believe that. But, because of the context of the Olivet Discourse, and the presence of apocalyptic literature, I believe there is something else going on. It only takes a little digging to realize that Jesus is again employing an Old Testament motif of judgment. Here are just a few examples.
An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. -Isaiah 19:1
God rides to Egypt on a cloud, like a chariot, bringing judgment with him. This verse explicitly says that God will come to Egypt. But Yahweh did not physically appear to the Egyptians. Instead, a civil war broke out in Egypt, and that war was God’s judgment.
Behold, he comes up like clouds; his chariots like the whirlwind; his horses are swifter than eagles— woe to us, for we are ruined! O Jerusalem, wash your heart from evil, that you may be saved. -Jeremiah 4:13-14
God comes to Jerusalem, riding the clouds like horses, bringing judgment. Again, God was not literally appearing to the people of Jerusalem. This is a prophesy about an army invading from the north. In fact, it is in a section of Isaiah called “Disaster from the North.” This was fulfilled when the Babylonians invaded and destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 586 BC. The literal judgment was a military invasion. The symbol of judgment was God coming on the clouds.
“Coming on the clouds” was such a familiar motif to the Jews that it became an apocalyptic trope, almost formulaic. Jews heard these words and instantly knew they were dealing with symbols of invasion and war and destruction. They knew Jesus was saying that he – the Son of Man – was coming in judgment.
But, there was one more Old Testament image about a divine Son of Man coming on the clouds. In Daniel 7 we find this:
I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. -Daniel 7:13-14
The title Jesus most often applied to himself was “Son of Man.” Jesus was identifying himself with the divine figure of Daniel 7. The Son of Man had the appearance of a man, but he rode upon the clouds like God. The Ancient of Days gave the Son of Man an everlasting kingdom. He was also given great glory and authority – another word for authority is power.
In verse 30, Jesus says the Son of Man will come on the clouds of heaven in power and glory. It’s a direct reference to Daniel 7.
Earlier I said I would answer the question: Why were the disciples associating the destruction of the temple with Jesus’ coming? Because in some sense, the disciples already believed Jesus was the divine Son of Man. They knew he was King who had authority over Israel. Therefore, when Jesus prophesied the destruction of the temple, the disciples understood it would be a judgment coming from King Jesus. This is why they asked about the sign of his coming.
Using apocalyptic language and ancient motifs, Jesus answers the disciples question. The sign of his coming – what will signal to the disciples that he has come in judgment – will be the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, the removal of its religious systems, and all this by war.
There is another phrase in verse 30 we have yet to consider: All the tribes of the earth will mourn. I mentioned a translation issue two weeks ago. The Greek word gē can either be translated as “earth” or “land.” I believe verse 30 should be translated, All the tribes of the land will mourn.
Not only do I believe this because the judgment had to do with the Israel’s rejection of Jesus, but also because Jesus is making an allusion to one of Zechariah’s prophecies.
When they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him…The land shall mourn, each family by itself. -Zechariah 12:10,12
The passage then goes on to list various families and tribes in the land of Israel. It is the tribes of the land – the Promised Land – that mourn at the coming of the Son of Man, for it is he whom they have pierced. It is not all the tribes of the earth that mourn, but the tribes of the land, the tribes of Israel. That generation was receiving judgment for crucifying their King.
Read vs 32-34
Here Jesus speaks more plainly, though still using illustrations. When you see the signs of spring, you know summer is near. Similarly, when the disciples see the signs of the end, know that the Son of Man is near – at the very gates – ready to break into Jerusalem and render his judgment.
Then, in the most explicit terms possible, Jesus answers another one of the disciples’ questions: When will these things be? They were asking, “When will Jerusalem be judged and the temple fall?”
Jesus answers, Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” In other words, Jerusalem’s judgment will come within the disciples’ potential lifetime.
Plenty of modern scholars, who want to place the fulfillments of Jesus’ prophesies in our future, attempt to make generation mean something else. They say Jesus is not referring to the generation of his time, but a future generation. I think you have to serious stretch the text to get to that point. Others say generation can mean a people group (the Jews will not pass away before these things take place) or a state of mind (wickedness will not pass away before these things take place).
But I think these interpretations fail. Because apart from this verse, the word generation is used 12 times in the Gospel of Matthew and 42 times in the New Testament. Without exception generation means the people born and living within the same time frame. And when Jesus says this generation, he means the generation he is talking to.
And if this seems obvious to you, it is not so obvious to others; so I labor the point. The generation in which Jesus and the disciples lived would see the destruction of Jerusalem, the felling of the fig tree.
Read vs 35
In no way is Jesus making a statement about the destruction of the universe. Rather, he is making a statement about the indestructability of his words. As timeless as the heavens and earth appear, the words of Christ are eternal. Nothing will thwart them. Jesus has prophesied, and so it shall be.
Now, let’s go back to 70 AD. Last week we heard Josephus make an appeal to the Jews inside one of Jerusalem’s last standing walls. Josephus, a Jew become Roman historian, who was there for these events, recorded what happened next. I’ll paraphrase.
After many attempts, the Romans breeched the inner walls of Jerusalem. In a crazed fury and wild bloodlust, they killed every Jew as they streamed into the Temple. Josephus writes, “Most of the slain were peaceful citizens, weak and unarmed, and they were butchered where they were caught. The heap of corpses mounted higher and higher about the altar; a stream of blood flowed down the Temple’s steps, and the bodies of those slain at the top slipped to the bottom.”
Titus wanted to keep the temple intact as a great tribute to his conquest, but the soldiers were so enraged and frenzied that threw torch upon torch into and upon the Temple. Titus ran around shouting and trying to stop his soldiers, even having some of them beaten. But the soldiers did not, or could not, hear. They burned everything. Observers from a distance said that the temple looked like it was engulfed in one giant flame.
As the soldiers continued to kill, they plundered the temple. They filled their pockets with whatever treasures they could lay their hands on. They tore apart its walls and melted the gold off them. For nine more days they burned and leveled Jerusalem. Every person they found, if they were not sold into slavery, was mercilessly killed. Josephus records that 1.1 million Jews were killed by the time the Romans were finished.
Titus then gave the order to level the city. The soldiers not only leveled every building, and threw down every stone, but they dug up their foundations also. Thus, Jesus’ words were fulfilled exactly, “There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” (Matthew 24:2)
The day the temple was destroyed was the 9th day of Av, August 30th, the exact same day the first temple was destroyed by the Babylonians 656 years earlier. The 9th day of Av, in 70 AD, was the day that Jesus came on the clouds of judgement and poured His indignation upon Israel.
New Age Expectations
You may have thought I skipped a verse as we progressed through our passage, but I did not. I saved it because it answers the question: what did Jesus prophesy would happen after the temple was destroyed?
Read vs 31
Many modern Christians think this verse is talking about a future rapture, but I don’t think that’s right. Instead, let me show you another Old Testament motif: the promised gathering of the elect. Remember that the people of God are no longer just Jews, but anyone who places their faith in Jesus Christ. There are dozens of passages I could turn to now, here is just one.
“Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them…I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them.
I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.” -Jeremiah 32:37-41
God is promising a new covenant for a new age. Of course, this is the covenant established in Christ. Anyone who trusts in Jesus for life, who makes Jesus the King of their life, God brings you into that covenant.
Then with all of his heart and all of his soul, he pours his everlasting love upon you. People from every tribe, tongue, and nation will find blessing and life as they are gathered to Jesus. And Jesus did say, in John 12, that when he is lifted up (crucified) he will draw all people to himself.
But how are the nations gathered? How are people drawn to Christ? Is it not through the message of the gospel, the very message that each one of us carries?
Indeed, we disciples are the angels send to the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. The Greek word for angels is the same word for messengers. Jesus commissions us to go out as his messengers, to make disciples of all nations, to gather in the elect. And just incase you don’t think Jesus meant messengers, but was really talking about angels, consider what Paul says to the Galatians.
You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God. -Galatians 4:13-14
The Galatians were so blessed by the message of the gospel, that they honored Paul as if he were an angel sent from heaven. There is something heavenly, even angelic, about the person who first introduced you to Jesus Christ. How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! (Romans 10:15)
Jesus commissioned his disciples to go out, but before the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, Jerusalem was something like the capital of the faith. It had the largest Christian church in the world. It is where Christianity began. Even in the Book of Acts, Jerusalem is the epicenter of Christianity.
But in 70 AD, when that temple was torn to the ground, it was like a trumpet blast: no city could claim the kingdom of God. The destruction of Jerusalem was the decisive decentralization of the church. In the kingdom of God, Christians would not gather to a single city, or even country, but they would spread to the four winds.
Just as Jesus promised, the kingdom of God would be found among people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. And upon hearing our gospel message, in their distant places, without needing to step one foot from their door, they will be gathered to God in Christ Jesus.
This Palm Sunday we celebrate that Jesus has come as King! All authority has been given to him. He has judged Israel, and the old covenant kingdom is no more. But the dominion of Christ is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, nor shall it ever be destroyed! And all peoples, nations, and languages will serve him.
This Missions Sunday, we remember what Jesus prophesied would happen in this new covenant age. For how shall the nations come to know that Jesus is their King? How shall they know what it is to serve him? Though our gospel-obedience to the King. For the King has told us,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” -Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus has laid out the expectation for this age so clearly. If you are his follower, then you are his messenger. Go, make disciples, and teach them. This is not a commission for someone else. Jesus is speaking to you!
Just yesterday a number of us went into our community to tell people about King Jesus. How we desire to be obedient to Jesus! How people need to hear where forgiveness and life can be found! We’ll do it again on Saturday the 26th, think about joining us.
But on whatever day, don’t allow your silence to hand Satan the victory. People are dying without the gospel, tell them. I’m going to paraphrase a friend of mine: “We don’t want the gospel to be in the back of our minds. We work to keep the gospel in the forefront of our minds.”
You are an ambassador, given the message of reconciliation. Open your mouth in gospel-obedience and tell them that the King has come! It is what this covenantal age is all about! Aren’t you glad someone told you who is King over your life?
