The Son Already Returned
When they persecute you in this town, flee to the next, for truly I tell you, you will not have finished going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.
Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Indeed, truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of Elohim.
Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of Elohim has come with power.
All three gospels go on to talk about the Transfiguration, which is why I’ve included the context of what Yeshua was talking about: coming back in power and glory, with angels. That’s not the Transfiguration, nor was this fulfilled at Pentecost.
Yeshua said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!”
Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him...
Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
It is true that in the Aramaic, the word for “generation” can also mean “tribe” or “people”. This verse is included in this study for completeness; and besides, we do know from the rest of this study that “this generation” really was the correct meaning here, and not “this tribe”.
No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
Peter clearly believed he was living during the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy (Joel 2:28-32) and of the day of the Lord in the “last days”.
After the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing, and the troops of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. He shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall make sacrifice and offering cease, and in their place shall be a desolating sacrilege until the decreed end is poured out upon the desolator.
Here we see that the desolating sacrilege and the one-week tribulation were fulfilled at the destruction of Jerusalem (“the city and the sanctuary”) after the crucifixion (“an anointed one shall be cut off”). It is interesting to cross-reference this with Revelation 12:14-15, which was another prophecy about the same time (and which also mentions a flood):
But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to her place where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. Then from his mouth the serpent poured water like a river after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood.
See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts. Remember the teaching of my servant Moses, the statutes and ordinances that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse.
This short chapter is an amazing fulfilled prophecy. Here we can clearly see the coming of Elijah associated with the “day of the Lord”. This was fulfilled in John the Baptist. “Leaping like calves from the stall” reminds us of the disciples when Yeshua sent them out. “You shall tread down the wicked” was fulfilled in Luke 10:19.
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand [near].
The end of all things is at hand [near]; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers.
I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one takes away your crown.
And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, for the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place. See, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work.
The one who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
The word “soon” is Strong’s G5035:
G5035 (Strong) ταχύ tachu takh-oo’
Neuter singular of G5036 (as adverb); shortly, that is, without delay, soon, or (by surprise) suddenly, or (by implication of ease) readily: - lightly, quickly.
Note that there is no Scriptural basis for the “suddenly” definition. Confirm it for yourself with a concordance!
And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.”
Contrast this with Daniel 12:4. It seems that Revelation was written for the generation that received it.
But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and the book sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be running back and forth, and evil shall increase.”
A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.
Actually, this is probably talking about the resurrection.
“Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
I have heard claims that the disciples were asking three separate questions: when will the temple be destroyed, what will be the sign of Yeshua’s coming (or presence), and what is the sign of the end of the age? After this Bible study, however, we can see that these three things were to happen around the same time.
But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!