Power and Great Glory

From: Messages of God's Love: 1946

Narrator: Chris Genthree

Duration: 3min

Luke 21:20-38²⁰And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. ²¹Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. ²²For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. ²³But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. ²⁴And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. ²⁵And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; ²⁶Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. ²⁷And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. ²⁹And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; ³⁰When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. ³¹So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. ³²Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. ³³Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. ³⁴And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. ³⁵For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. ³⁷And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives. ³⁸And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him. (Luke 21:20‑38)

We like to see beautiful clouds: there is a “cloud of glory” mentioned in the Bible, which was different from all other clouds.

A cloud was over the people of Israel all the way of their journey across the Red Sea and for forty years in the deserts, but not called “a cloud of glory”, only when the glory filled the tabernacle, Ex. 20:20-22²⁰And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. ²¹And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. ²²And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. (Exodus 20:20‑22); Ex. 40:34-38³⁴Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. ³⁵And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. ³⁶And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: ³⁷But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. ³⁸For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. (Exodus 40:34‑38).

When God spoke to Moses on Mt. Sinai the cloud of glory abode upon the mount six days. When the great temple, or “House of God”, was finished in Jerusalem, the cloud of glory filled it (2 Chron. 5:13, 14¹³It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; ¹⁴So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God. (2 Chronicles 5:13‑14)).

When three disciples were with Jesus on the mountain and God spoke to them, “a bright cloud overshadowed them” (Matt. 17:5⁵While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (Matthew 17:5)).

There is an event to come, and a cloud and glory, so great it cannot be described, we can only give the Lord Jesus’ words: “And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

The Lord’s coming will be unexpected to people, as “a snare” is sudden to a bird or animal. More is written of how sudden: “As lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall the coming of the Son of man be” (Matt. 24:27²⁷For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:27), Luke 17:24²⁴For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. (Luke 17:24))

More also is told of the troubles bore, for those who believe God, and of the judgments to those who do not believe. But it is important to notice that in this, no time is given; only that when Christ comes, He will be seen of all, and there can be no mistake.

Then none can reject the Lord Jesus and after that His promised righteous rule will begin, for He said, “Then know ye that the Kingdom of God is at hand.” (v. 31).

These words were later told the disciple John to write,

“Behold He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.” Rev. 1:7⁷Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7).

It was written of the cloud of glory over Mt. Siani; “The sight of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire... in the sight of the children of Israel.” Ex. 24:16, 17¹⁶And the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. ¹⁷And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel. (Exodus 24:16‑17).

How much greater the cloud of glory will be when Christ comes and all on earth see!

About the same time Jesus told of that great coming, He told those men who believed and loved Him that He would “come and receive them unto Himself.” John 14:3³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3). And it was written to the early Christians that all who believe shall be called into the clouds to meet the Lord, which is their hope, before His coming in power and glory to judge (see 1 Thess. 1:13-18). This also will be quickly and no time is set.

The Lord is now waiting for all who will trust in Him their Saviour, and confess His name now.

ML 01/13/1946

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