George Affleck
TOL Subscriber
Matthew 24:30 KJV
(30) And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
There's no indication that the whole world say the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and if so how did all the tribes of the earth mourn? Did China mourn? What about Egypt? Did the Roman Empire see the sign of Jesus in the sky and mourn in 70 A.D.? Why would Jesus say this if it didn't apply?
It is extremely important that what is said is adhered to very precisely.
The text does not say that the whole world saw the sign of the Son of man in heaven. It says only that the sign would appear. The next word "then" tells us that this would set the stage for and make possible what comes next.
But this was not a sign in the heavens of the Son of man. It was a sign of "the Son of man in heaven", or, a sign from the Son of man who was seated in heaven. It was a sign that Jesus had reached heaven and that He was ruling the affairs of men from there. Luk 22:69KJV It was a sign, specifically to the Jews and, to the whole world, that He was accomplishing the works He said He would. Mat 24:2KJV He would destroy the temple and the city and complete the days of vengeance Luk 21:22KJV within that same generation that crucified Him. The destruction of Jerusalem according to His prophecy was the sign which appeared from the Son of man in heaven.
What comes next is the realization, by the 12 tribes of earthly Israel, of what they have lost - the Shekhina glory, the temple, the holy city, the theocracy, their entire way of life. This sign to them was like death itself and produced the mourning. Some will mourn realizing Jesus was the Messiah, some will not; but they will all mourn their unspeakable loss, even thousands of years later.
(Note: If someone can find the word "tribe" in the New Testament that does not refer to the 12 tribes of Israel, I will admit that it could refer to the whole world. If not, I must use the scriptural meaning of the word.)
And, as a people, they witnessed the rising of Christianity and the continuing, personal appearances of Christ to individual people, the increase of the Church of Jesus Christ; some Jews, some Gentiles. Mat 24:31KJV By His Spirit calling them to receive the gift of faith which is not of this world.
Mar 14:62KJV