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“And then they will see the Son of Man arriving in the clouds with great power and glory.”
Jesus spoke these words after describing the perpetual hardships of all humans and the persecutions his followers will face. History will not get better and the general human experience will not improve with time according to Jesus.
On the eve of his crucifixion, Jesus promised his followers that they too would suffer just as he is suffering—but this suffering does not mean defeat nor does suffering have the final say. Just as Jesus endured suffering and overcame by his resurrection from the dead with a new body, so too will his followers overcome their suffering and death by resurrection with a new body.
Before this happens, however, Jesus will appear to all people—both Christians and non-Christians—to manifest his true authority. It will happen at the end of time.
Throughout history, we see rulers doing what they wish with their authority by using it for themselves and not to serve. When Jesus manifests his authority in his new body, he will demonstrate his power to the whole world. He will also demonstrate the truth that this world does not ultimately belong to those who abuse their authority.
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I remember hearing a story, once, about a lawyer who manipulated the defendant by threatening to prosecute his family. The lawyer received the confession he looked for and the potentially innocent man, who confessed to protect his family, was sentenced to prison. The lawyer felt compelled to do what he had to in order to get a confession and uphold his own reputation in the town.
Stories like these make you grateful for those in authority who use their power to serve others and they make you angry toward those who don’t. Stories like these also make you look forward to the day when the True Authority will manifest his power and rule the world so that peace, truth, and justice are all we know.
As Christians, we can give people a taste of what the new world will be like by using whatever authority we have to serve others.