The phrase “the sign of the Son of Man” refers to an event described by Jesus in Matthew 24:30, part of his teaching about the end times and his second coming. In this passage, Jesus states:
“Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30 ESV)
Based on the context of Matthew 24, we can understand several key things about this sign:
- It will appear in the heavens and be visible to people on earth (v. 30)
- It is connected to the second coming of Jesus, happening around the same time (v. 30)
- It will precede a time of mourning among the peoples of the earth (v. 30)
- It has to do with Jesus coming on the clouds in power and glory (v. 30)
From these details, it seems “the sign of the Son of Man” refers to some celestial sign or visible manifestation of Jesus’ power that will serve as a prelude to his return. Various interpretations have been offered about the exact nature of this sign, but some possibilities include:
- A special star or other astronomical phenomenon
- A vision of Jesus himself appearing in the heavens
- A visible display of God’s glory in the sky, reminiscent of the Shekinah glory
- A significant event involving the sun or moon
- A miraculous appearance of angels or heavenly beings proclaiming Christ’s return
The imagery Jesus uses connects back to Old Testament passages about the coming of the Son of Man in clouds and glory, such as Daniel 7:13-14. So this sign is likely intended to hearken back to these prophecies and signal their imminent fulfillment through Jesus.
The mourning of the tribes of the earth also fits biblical prophecy about those who reject Christ grieving when they see the Son of Man coming in judgment (see Zechariah 12:10-14). So the sign will be a visible confirmation of Christ’s power and lordship before he returns to judge the world.
In summary, the sign of the Son of Man is a supernatural heavenly sign that God will display as a prelude to the second coming of Christ. It will signal the imminent return of Jesus in glory to judge the world. When people on earth see this sign, they will mourn as they recognize the prophecy being fulfilled and Christ’s judgment approaching. The exact nature of the sign is not defined, but it will be a visible manifestation of God’s power and Jesus’ identity as the glorious Son of Man who reigns over all.
Key Details About the Sign of the Son of Man
Let’s explore some of the key details we can gather about this sign from Matthew 24:
1. It will appear in the heavens
Matthew 24:30 states the sign will appear “in heaven.” This suggests it will originate from the sky or space beyond the earth. It’s something God physically places in the visible heavens where people on earth can see it.
2. It is connected to Jesus’ second coming
The sign appearing in heaven is immediately followed by Jesus coming on the clouds of heaven. This pairs the sign with Christ’s second coming. It is a heavenly announcement and confirmation that Jesus is returning to earth imminently.
3. It precedes a time of global mourning
After the sign appears, Matthew says “all the tribes of the earth will mourn.” This connects the sign with a period of grieving and remorse among people globally. Seeing the sign prompts them to mourn, likely a result of their realization of Christ’s lordship and coming judgment.
4. It relates to Jesus’ power and glory
The sign of the Son of Man is paired with Jesus arriving in power and great glory. The sign points to His authority and majesty as the exalted Lord of lords.
These key details help us recognize the sign is more than a random occurrence. It is a miraculous heavenly affirmation of Jesus’ identity meant to alert the world to His imminent return in glory.
The Immediate Context of Matthew 24
Looking at the broader context of Matthew 24 is also helpful for understanding the sign of the Son of Man. Jesus’ discussion of the sign comes in the middle of His teaching about the destruction of the temple and His second coming at the end of the age.
Prior to mentioning the sign, Jesus describes general signs of the end times – wars, famines, false prophets, persecution, betrayal, lawlessness (Matthew 24:4-14). He then shifts to specifically warn those in Judea to flee when they see the “abomination of desolation” spoken of by Daniel (Matthew 24:15-28).
After this, Jesus transitions to discussing His return. He notes astronomical signs like the sun and moon darkening (Matthew 24:29). Then we get the statement about the sign of the Son of Man appearing in heaven followed by Jesus’ coming on the clouds (Matthew 24:30).
Understanding how verses 29-31 connect is important. The cosmic signs transition into the sign of the Son of Man, which ushers in Christ’s return. This sequence indicates a series of back-to-back heavenly omens pointing to Jesus’ imminent appearance.
So the sign of the Son of Man is best seen as the culminating, most direct warning before Jesus himself arrives. It is a final notice from heaven that everything Jesus predicted is about to be fulfilled upon His return.
Parallels to Daniel 7
In describing the sign of the Son of Man, Jesus seems to allude to passages like Daniel 7:13-14. Here the prophet Daniel sees one “like a son of man” coming “with the clouds of heaven.” He is given authority to reign over a kingdom that will never end.
This apocalyptic Son of Man imagery clearly shapes what Jesus says in Matthew 24:30. He borrows the poetic language to reinforce that He is the fulfillment of this prophecy – the Son of Man Daniel envisioned who receives power over all nations. The sign ties Jesus’ return to this prophetic expectation.
It also connects back to Jesus’ favorite self-designation – the Son of Man. He uses this title to emphasize both His humanity and divine authority. The sign of the Son of Man affirms His rightful reign as the representative Man who will judge the world and rule forever.
So the sign is a dramatic reminder of Jesus’ identity as the glorious Son of Man prophesied in Scripture. It signals the fulfillment of these prophecies is at hand with His second coming.
Contrasts with False Signs
Earlier in Matthew 24 Jesus warns about false signs and false prophets misleading people (Matthew 24:4, 11, 23-27). So we know deceptive, counterfeit signs will pop up in the end times.
But the sign of the Son of Man will be a true, authentic heavenly sign no one can fabricate. As Jesus says, it will appear “in heaven” for all to see, not something false prophets can manipulate or conjure up. It culminates the other signs by ushering in Christ Himself in plain view of the whole world.
This contrast shows we must be discerning. While false signs and claims will arise, the true sign of Jesus’ return will be unmistakable and profound, visibly displayed by God Himself.
Relationship to the Great Tribulation
Matthew 24 ties the sign of the Son of Man to the concept of the Great Tribulation. After describing people mourning when they see the sign, verse 29 states this occurs “immediately after the tribulation of those days.”
This time of unparalleled distress and trial will precede the sign and second coming. The sign indicates the tribulation has ended and the stage is set for Christ’s return.
The Great Tribulation represents God’s final outpouring of judgment on an unbelieving world. The sign of the Son of Man follows this as a dramatic heavenly announcement that Jesus is coming to establish His kingdom and execute the judgment He warned of earlier in Matthew 24.
A Clear Supernatural Sign
Given the details in Matthew 24, it is clear the sign of the Son of Man will be an unambiguous, supernatural sign from God in the heavens. While its precise form is uncertain, we can expect:
- It will be visible worldwide – not localized or regional
- It will be clearly miraculous, not a normal astronomical event
- It will be awe-inspiring and fearful, not subtle or mundane
- It will be unmistakably connected to Jesus and Christianity
As a divine sign and final warning, it will be impossible to ignore or misinterpret. It signals the wrapped up conclusion of God’s plans and prophecies regarding Jesus’ return.
A Call to Repentance
The purpose of signs in the Bible is ultimately to draw people to repentance and righteousness. Although many will mourn at the sign of the Son of Man, it remains an opportunity for salvation.
Those who perceive its meaning can still turn to Christ in faith. Jesus’ own preaching was a call to “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). The sign of the Son of Man essentially escalates this same message.
It is a final plea to the people of earth – the kingdom you have longed for is here, your King is returning, turn away from sin and believe the gospel while there is still time. It urges watching and readiness for every person (Matthew 24:42-44).
While the sign comes partially in judgment, it is also a final demonstration of God’s mercy, giving clarity and a call to salvation before it is too late.
A Reason for Hope
For believers, the sign of the Son of Man is ultimately a reason for hope and anticipation. It marks the yearned for return of our Lord and Savior to make all things right.
The book of Revelation expands on this expectation. The saints who endure persecution cry out “How long?” until God’s justice is brought about (Revelation 6:10). The sign of the Son of Man will emphatically answer that it is coming without delay.
The sign transitions the world from the brokenness of sin and judgment to the kingdom reign of righteousness under Christ. All creation eagerly awaits the revelation of the children of God and their final redemption into glory (Romans 8:18-23).
So for those who love His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8), the sign of the Son of Man will be met with expectancy rather than mourning. Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!
Various Views and Opinions
There are a variety of perspectives among theologians and Bible scholars on the precise nature of the sign of the Son of Man. Some of the main views include:
- A supernatural light or shekinah glory – Some think it could be a visible display of God’s splendor and presence, like the shekinah glory that filled the tabernacle. This would remind people of God’s majesty.
- The cross – A less common view is that the sign is the cross itself, which points unambiguously to Jesus’ power and redemption.
- The gospel preached worldwide – Some take the sign fulfilled in the spread of the gospel across the earth by the early church.
- A literal visible sign – Many futurists think the sign will be a future literal, astronomical sign of some kind prior to Jesus’ return.
- Angelic proclamation – Some believe it may be a pronouncement from angels visible worldwide announcing Christ’s return.
While debate continues, these views share belief that the sign of the Son of Man will decisively point people toward Jesus in a time of climactic fulfillment of end time events.
Summary of the Sign of the Son of Man
Pulling this all together, we can summarize the key points:
- The sign of the Son of Man is a visible, heavenly sign that precedes Jesus second coming
- It will appear in the sky where all can see it
- It signals the imminent return of Christ to judge the world
- It causes mourning across humanity as judgment nears
- It connects symbolically to Jesus’ reign as the Son of Man
- It follows the Great Tribulation at the end of the age
- It relates to other apocalyptic signs like cosmic disturbances
- It culminates false signs and alerts people to Jesus’ true return
- It calls everyone to repentance and righteousness
- It represents God’s glory and fulfillment of prophecy
The precise nature of the sign remains a mystery and subject to debate. Nevertheless, it will be a profound, unmistakable sign from heaven that signals the wrap up of human history under Jesus’ return in power and glory.
Conclusion
The sign of the Son of Man is a brief but important reference by Jesus to a heavenly sign that will point unmistakably to His second coming. As described in Matthew 24, it will appear visibly in the heavens, cause global mourning, and represent Jesus’ authority as the Son of Man coming on the clouds to judge the world.
This sign will be the final divine notice that Christ is returning to fulfill biblical prophecy. It serves as a call for humanity to repent and believe before facing judgment. And it reminds believers our redemption is near and the Lord we love is returning soon.
The precise nature of the sign remains somewhat ambiguous. But clearly it will be a spectacular, supernaturally orchestrated event that no one will be able to ignore or misinterpret. It will arrest the attention of the entire planet in dramatic fashion at the climax of human history.
Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!
