Son of Man

Who is the “Son of Man” (John 5:27) to whom Jesus is referring?
Himself, and the four gospels record Jesus calling Himself “Son of Man” no fewer than 78 times.

Are we sure Jesus is calling Himself, “Son of Man”?
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do people say that I, the Son of Man, am?” (Matthew 16:13).

Why does the Son of God call Himself, Son of “Man”?
“Son of Man” is how prophet Daniel referred to God the Son at the throne of God the Father, whom he called “Ancient of Days,” in heaven: “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven. He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one that shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14). The Jews were well-versed in the Old Testament and would have recognized right away Jesus’ declaration of being the “Son of Man” whom Daniel had described.

What is Jesus saying about the Son of Man and “life” in John 5:26?
He isn't talking about the power to exist, which wasn't “granted” by God the Father to God the Son, but which both always have had. Jesus is talking about the “everlasting life” (John 5:24) that He has the “authority” to give to those who believe in Him, as well as to “execute judgment” (John 5:27) on those who don't.

Where is the Son of Man now?
Back in heaven, as Stephen testified just before becoming the first Christian martyr: But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes on heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (Acts 7:55-56)

Will the Son of Man remain in heaven?
He will return to us: “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory” (Mark 13:26).

What will the Son of Man do upon His return?
He will judge people from “all the nations” to grant them either His “kingdom” or the “everlasting fire” of hell: “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. And all the nations will be gathered before Him. And He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come you, the blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world... Then He will also say, to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’ ” (Matthew 25:31-34, 41)

When will the Son of Man return and do this?
3 And as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Watch out that no one may lead you astray. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened; for all these things must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of great sufferings. 9 Then they will hand you over to be afflicted and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away, and will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will become multiplied, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:3-12)

What are the signs of Jesus’ impending return and “the end of the age” (Matthew 24:3)?
“Wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6), “famines, pestilences and earthquakes” (Matthew 24:7), Christians being afflicted, killed and “hated by all nations” (Matthew 24:9) for the sake of Jesus' name, many falling away, betraying and hating “one another” (Matthew 24:10), false prophets arising to “lead many astray” (Matthew 24:11), escalating “lawlessness” (Matthew 24:12), etc.

When does that sound like?
 

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