The Coming of the Son of Man

The point: Do not listen to anyone who claims to know the precise time of Christ's coming, as they speak falsehood.

The analogy of looking at mountain peaks from different compass points illustrates how predictive prophecy establishes definite sequence but indefinite time, with history revealing the time periods between events.

You will remember those who were with us that in our introductory overview of the Olivet Discourse, I stated that this discourse illustrates one of the vital principles of predictive prophecy in Scripture. And the principle is that predictive prophecy establishes definite sequence, but it does so in terms of indefinite time. Predictive prophecy most frequently gives us a sequence of events, but it gives us an indefinite time reference with respect to those events. And the classic illustration is that of the mountain, the mountain range. Looked at from one point of the compass, we may see that ...

14:08 - 15:24 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin describes the startling accompaniments of Christ's return: celestial darkness (sun darkened, moon without light) and cosmic disruption (stars falling, heavens shaken). He…

The analogy of a wedding, where bridesmaids and music precede the bride, illustrates how celestial darkness and cosmic disruption will be the 'startling accompaniments' and precursors to the Son of Man's majestic entrance.

But then notice how our Lord describes in the second place the startling accompaniments of the coming of the Son of Man. Now in this building, we've had a number of weddings. My own daughters have been married in this building. And we've had many marriages since then, and it looks like some others are about to happen.

19:50 - 20:13 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But my friend, listen. At his second advent when the Son of Man comes in his second advent not only will the world twitch the sun shall be done. The moon shall not give her light and the powers in the heavens shall be sh…

Martin describes Christ's first advent as occurring without any cosmic disruption or widespread notice, with the world continuing 'business as usual,' to contrast with the dramatic, universe-altering nature of His second coming.

And the event itself will be the infallible interpreter as to how much literalism is to be understood but this much is clear and this is the point that is vital. The first advent when the Son of Man came through Mary's womb to take up His residence among us to live out His life of voluntary humility to effect that obedience to the law of God as the representative head of the new humanity that obedience which was even now carrying Him to death and rejection and to the cross and to the tomb and to glorious resurrection. May I say it reverently, the Son of Man came into the world the first time a...

28:26 - 29:22 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Dear people, though the coming of the Holy Spirit is an epical and glorious and advancing event in redemptive history, to confuse the coming of the Spirit with the personal coming of the Son of Man, is to turn the Bible …

Martin uses the metaphor of God 'slipping His Son into the world by stealth' at the first advent to emphasize its quiet, unnoticed nature, contrasting it with the universally visible second coming.

They shall see Him, unlike His first advent, when God, as it were, slipped His Son into the world by stealth, as I was wrestling with words to describe it. I said, Lord, is that irreverent to describe it? I said, Lord, is that irreverent to describe it? I said, Lord, is that irreverent to describe it? I said, Lord, is that irreverent to describe it? I said, Lord, is that irreverent to describe it? I said, Lord, is that irreverent to describe it? I said, Lord, is that irreverent to describe it? And I said, no, I don't think it is. He slipped His Son into the world by stealth. He was here and no...

40:03 - 40:49 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin continues describing the dominant characteristics, emphasizing that Christ's coming will be majestic and awesome, 'in clouds with great power and glory,' a public…

Martin explains the significance of the cloud in biblical imagery, referencing the cloud over the tabernacle and on Mount Sinai, to convey the majesty and special presence of God associated with Christ's return 'in clouds'.

And with great power and glory. And Matthew adds the word great to the word glory. Mark omits it, but Matthew adds it. So we have every reason to say that our Lord's full word was that the Son of Man will come in clouds and with great power and great glory. And those words reformed. So, we are going to have to refer to what I am calling the majesty and the awesomeness of His coming. He will come in clouds. Revelation 1.7 says, with the clouds. The disciples saw Him ascending up into heaven. And it says, a cloud enveloped Him and took Him out of their sight. Why all this emphasis upon the cloud...

44:23 - 45:24 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not let lesser and secondary issues sidetrack you from the clear truths about Christ's coming; do not give ear or eye to prophetic nonsense.

Martin shares a personal anecdote about his weariness and reliance on an alarm clock after a long day of ministry, to illustrate the future state of believers having glorified bodies that can serve Christ without sleep or dullness.

And we'll have bodies in which we can serve Him without sleep. We won't have to feel what I felt this morning when after fighting up early yesterday, prayer meeting, elders meeting, fighting traffic, preaching in New York, getting home after 10.30, getting to sleep about 11.30, an alarm clock went off at 5, 5.30, I said, oh no, six hours can't go that fast.

64:04 - 64:29 Read in full sermon