Daily Devotional for Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Please Help Us Keep These Thousands of Blog Posts Growing and Free for All

$5.00

What Will the Coming of the Son of Man in a Cloud with Power and Glory Mean for the World?

A Daily Devotional on Christian Living Based on Luke 21:27

“And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” — Luke 21:27

In Luke 21:27, Jesus presents a decisive, awe-inspiring statement about His return—a promise that serves as both a warning to the rebellious and a comfort to the faithful. This verse occurs within Jesus’ prophetic discourse on the Mount of Olives, often called the Olivet Discourse, where He speaks of future events, including the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. and the broader framework of eschatological fulfillment concerning His second coming. Here, in unmistakable terms, Jesus declares that “they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

Image illustrating “The Coming of the Son of Man in a Cloud with Power and Glory.”

This declaration directly links to Old Testament imagery and prophetic expectations regarding divine judgment and the vindication of the righteous. The language of the “Son of Man coming in a cloud” is drawn from Daniel 7:13–14, where the prophet Daniel describes “one like a son of man” approaching the Ancient of Days, receiving dominion, glory, and an everlasting kingdom that will never be destroyed. Jesus applies this prophecy to Himself, affirming both His identity as the promised Messiah and His role as the appointed judge of all the earth (Acts 17:31).

The significance of Luke 21:27 lies not only in its apocalyptic power but also in its call to readiness, faithfulness, and hope. For those who reject God’s authority, the coming of the Son of Man will be a moment of terror and judgment. For those who serve Him in obedience, it will be the long-awaited day of deliverance and joy. The majesty and certainty of this future event serve to remind believers that history is moving toward a divinely appointed conclusion and that Jesus, not human powers, holds the final word.

This devotional will explore the meaning of Christ’s coming in a cloud, the nature of His power and glory, the Old Testament roots of this imagery, and how these truths shape the believer’s life in anticipation of that day.

The Coming of the Son of Man: Prophetic Fulfillment and Divine Authority

The title “Son of Man” (Greek: ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ho huios tou anthrōpou) is Jesus’ most frequent self-designation in the Gospels. While it emphasizes His humanity, drawn from the Hebrew term בֶּן־אָדָם (ben-‘adam), it carries deeper Messianic significance through its association with Daniel 7:13–14. There, Daniel sees in a night vision:

“Behold, with the clouds of heaven one like a son of man was coming, and he came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion, honor, and a kingdom, so that all the peoples, nations, and populations of all languages might serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and his kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.”

By using this title in the context of His return, Jesus explicitly identifies Himself as the one to whom universal authority has been given by the Father. This is not the meek and humble Servant of His first coming but the conquering King and righteous Judge, fully vindicated and returning in triumphant glory.

The “coming in a cloud” reinforces this identification. In biblical theology, clouds are often associated with divine presence and majesty. Jehovah descended upon Mount Sinai in a thick cloud (Exodus 19:9, 16; 24:15–18), symbolizing His holiness and unapproachable glory. The tabernacle and temple were filled with the cloud of God’s glory, known as the Shekinah (Exodus 40:34–35; 1 Kings 8:10–11). The cloud imagery signifies divine authority, judgment, and revelation.

When Jesus ascended into heaven, “a cloud received Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). The angels present declared to the disciples that “this Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Thus, the coming of the Son of Man in a cloud is not mere poetic symbolism—it is the demonstration of divine glory manifest in real, historical space and time.

With Power and Great Glory: The Unmistakable Triumph of Christ

The phrase “with power and great glory” further emphasizes the majesty of this event. The Greek words used, δύναμις (dynamis, power) and δόξα (doxa, glory), describe divine might and splendor. This will not be a secret or quiet return. It will be an event of cosmic significance, visible and undeniable.

Jesus’ return will not be like His first coming, marked by humility, obscurity, and rejection (Philippians 2:5–8). Instead, it will be with sovereign authority, bringing judgment upon the wicked and salvation to the faithful (2 Thessalonians 1:7–10). All earthly rulers, systems, and powers will bow before Him, whether willingly or in submission to judgment (Revelation 19:11–16).

The “power” of His coming is seen in His capacity to judge, to destroy His enemies, and to vindicate His people. The “glory” of His coming reflects His divine radiance, holiness, and honor—the full display of His exalted status as King of kings and Lord of lords.

This will be the moment when every eye sees Him (Revelation 1:7), and there will be no ambiguity about His identity or authority. Jesus’ return will fulfill the promise that “every knee will bow… and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10–11).

The Impact of Christ’s Coming: Judgment and Redemption

The coming of the Son of Man as described in Luke 21:27 carries both warning and hope. For the unrepentant, this return signifies judgment. Jesus declares that many will mourn at His appearing (Matthew 24:30), and the nations will be gathered before Him for separation—the righteous from the wicked, as sheep from goats (Matthew 25:31–46).

But for the faithful, those who endure in obedient trust, the coming of Christ is the long-awaited deliverance. Immediately following Luke 21:27, Jesus encourages His disciples: “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). This is not a day of dread for believers but of joyful expectation—the culmination of all hope, the fulfillment of every promise.

The dual aspect of judgment and redemption reflects the justice and mercy of God. Christ comes to execute righteousness, to punish sin, and to vindicate His saints. For those who have obeyed the gospel, being baptized into Christ and walking in faithful perseverance (Romans 6:3–4; Matthew 24:13), His coming is the moment of reward, resurrection, and entry into everlasting life (zōē aiōnion, ζωήν αἰώνιον).

Living in Light of the Coming Son of Man

The certainty of Christ’s return calls every believer to live in readiness. The return of Jesus is not a speculative doctrine for theological curiosity—it is a vital truth that shapes daily conduct, priorities, and hope.

Be Alert and Watchful: Jesus repeatedly exhorts His disciples to stay awake, be sober, and remain vigilant (Luke 21:34–36; Mark 13:33–37). The believer must not be entangled in the distractions of worldly life but should live with an eternal perspective.
Pursue Holiness: Knowing that the Son of Man will come to judge the living and the dead, Christians are called to lives of purity and righteousness (1 Peter 1:13–16). Sin must not reign in our mortal bodies (Romans 6:12).
Endure Through Trials: Jesus speaks of tribulations preceding His coming (Luke 21:12–19). The promise of His return encourages perseverance in suffering, trusting that vindication belongs to the faithful (James 5:7–8).
Proclaim the Gospel: The return of Christ means time is limited for repentance. The urgency of evangelism flows from the certainty of future judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10–11).
Encourage One Another: Paul instructs believers to “comfort one another with these words” regarding the return of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:18). The hope of Jesus’ coming provides strength and encouragement for the church.

Conclusion: Awaiting the King Who Comes in Glory

Luke 21:27 stands as a majestic proclamation of hope and accountability. The Son of Man will indeed come in a cloud, with power and great glory. This is the assurance of divine victory over all evil, the fulfillment of all that God has promised, and the consummation of the kingdom foretold by the prophets.

The believer’s response to this truth must be readiness, faithfulness, and joy. Those who have obeyed the gospel and live in expectation of His return will not be caught unaware but will lift their heads, knowing their redemption draws near.

May every Christian live with eyes fixed on this promise, hearts purified by hope (1 John 3:3), and hands ready for the work of the kingdom, until the day when the Son of Man is revealed in all His power and glory.

You May Also Enjoy

How Should We Respond to God’s Indescribable Gift?

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).