Paul Kautz
September 2011

"and they shall see the Son of man
coming in the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory"
(Matthew 24:30)

In the Question and Answer section of the December 2009 Christian Science Journal, p8, the following question was presented:

Jesus speaks to his disciples often about an imminent day of judgment, and describes what it will be like when the Son of man will come in clouds with power and glory (see Matt 24:30). There is an apocalyptic message in the gospels that involves God's judgment, and yet Mary Baker Eddy stated that 'no final judgment awaits mortals...' (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p.291) since the judgment is ongoing. Why did Jesus speak of this final judgment in such a dramatic manner? Was he simply reassuring his disciples that their work and sacrifice would be rewarded so they didn't get discouraged?

There were three answers presented, but none of the three answers really spoke to the two questions in the two final sentences of the question, nor touched on the verse from Matthew 24 or its context. At the time I did not get to write to the editors, and now I think that is no longer timely. However, I did do some significant thinking through and research in the Bible context, which I found greatly illuminating, and in view of conditions in today's world, worthy of sharing.

I have found repeatedly that to assess the answers to these monthly questions and answers in the Journal, I must ask myself, "How would I answer this question?" In the present case, I found the first thing I had to do was look at the context of the Matthew 24 verse. That context sheds much light.

The context is a three chapter discourse by Jesus to his disciples, Matthew 23, 24, and 25, 136 verses. These chapters occur two days before the Passover meal (Last Supper) following which Jesus is crucified (see chapter 26, verse 2). Chapter 24 occurs in the Temple, Chapters 24 and 25 upon leaving the Temple (for the final time) and on the Mount of Olives. The descriptive page headings for the three chapters are as follows (in one of my Bibles): "Denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees, Destruction of the temple foretold, The parable of the ten virgins, and of the talents amd the last judgment [the sheep and the goats]." Chapter 24, verse 30 is almost precisely in the middle of these three chapters.

He bids his followers do as the Pharisees say, but not as they do, "for they say, and do not" (23:3). He denounces their works as evil, and denounces them as hypocrites twelve times in the most scathing and uncompromising terms. At the end of chapter 23 he states, "Behold your house is left unto you desolate." At 24:3 he foretells the destruction of the temple in these words, "There shall not be left here one stone upon another, which shall not be thrown down." This actually occurred approximately 37 years later, in AD 70.

He speaks of false Christs, false prophets, false teaching and great sin, together with consequent great tribulation, but also says at 24:13, "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." At 24:24 he says, "...if it were possible, they [false Christs and prophets] shall deceive the very elect." Accordingly, he speaks about the need for persistent watchfulness.

24:30 speaks of "the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with clouds and great glory." But at 24:36 he says, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, ...but my Father only." In the next three verses, 37-39, it can be postulated that he compares the time of this coming to the time of Noah's leaving the ark after the flood had destroyed all the evil-doers and then the waters had receded. So perhaps it may be said that the time of the coming will be when all sin has been destroyed.

Chapter 25 comprises three major parables, each speaking to the rewards of the obedient and watchful, and the punishment of the disobedient, and each making reference to the kingdom of heaven.

So perhaps we can finally answer the two questions. Jesus used dramatic language because the consequences of great pervasive sin are horrifyingly dramatic, and the destruction of all sin, enabling the Christ to finally be seen in His full glory, will be beautifully redemptive. Was Jesus simply reassuring his disciples? Well, wasn't he warning them of very difficult times to come, but also reassuring them that the reward of obedience would be eternal life, regardless of what our trying experiences in this world might be?

And do not we in our present times have many signs that we are likely to have difficult times before us? Thus, are not these three chapters in Matthew timely for us today?

Two days later, immediately after the Last Supper, before going out to the Mount of Olives, knowing that the crucifixion was imminent, and before praying for himself, he gave comfort to his disciples in another extended discourse -- see John, chapters 14-17.