Two Olive Trees

The Two Faces of the Messiah in the Tanakh

The Tanakh presents two seemingly distinct portrayals of the Messiah, leading to diverse interpretations. These can be broadly categorized as:

1. The Reigning, Glorious Messiah (Daniel 7):

• Daniel 7:13-14: “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And 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, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”
  • This passage depicts a figure, “one like a son of man,” coming with the clouds of heaven, receiving dominion, glory, and an everlasting kingdom. This portrayal emphasizes the Messiah’s royal authority, universal rule, and eternal reign.
  • This figure is seen as a heavenly figure, given authority by God.
  • This is the picture of a conquering king.

2. The Suffering, Sacrificial Messiah (Isaiah 53 and Daniel 9:26):

• Isaiah 53: This chapter describes a figure known as the “suffering servant,” who is:
  • “Despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).
  • “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4).  
  • “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5).
  • “He was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people was he stricken” (Isaiah 53:8).  
  • This is the picture of a suffering servant.
• Daniel 9:26a: “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself”
  • This verse speaks of the Messiah being “cut off,” suggesting a violent or premature death.
  • This verse combined with Isaiah 53, gives the picture of a messiah that will die.

Reconciling the Two Portrayals:

• Throughout history, there have been different attempts to reconcile these seemingly contradictory portrayals.
• New Testament theology sees these as two separate comings of the same Messiah, Jesus.
• Jewish tradition generally views these as different aspects of the Messiah’s role or as descriptions of two distinct messianic figures (Messiah son of Joseph and Messiah son of David).
• It is important to remember that the interpretation of these verses is a source of ongoing discussion.

Building on our understanding of the Messiah in the Tanakh, let’s explore the New Testament’s portrayal of His final coming.

3. The Promise and Certainty of Jesus’ Return

📖 John 14:3 – “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

• Jesus promised that He would return to gather His followers and take them to be with Him. This is a certainty that believers hold fast to.

📖 Acts 1:11 – “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

• The ascension of Jesus is not the end, but a precursor to His return in glory, in the same way He departed.

📖 Jude 14 – “It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousand of his holy ones.’”

• The second coming of Jesus has been foretold since the time of Enoch, reinforcing the certainty and long-standing nature of this promise.

4. The Glory and Power of His Coming

📖 Revelation 1:7 – “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.”

• Jesus’ return will be personal, visible and undeniable. Every person, regardless of their stance towards Him, will witness His glory and power.

📖 Matthew 24:27 – “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

• The return of Jesus will be sudden, spectacular, and unmistakable, like lightning that lights up the sky.

📖 Psalm 50:3 – “Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest.”

• The Second Coming will be marked by divine power and majesty, as God will come with fire and storm to execute judgment.

📖 Revelation 6:14-17 – “The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.’”

• The power of Messiah’s return will cause even the greatest and most powerful people to fear His judgment. There will be no escape for the unrepentant.

5. The Resurrection and Transformation at His Coming

📖 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 – “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”

• At the Second Coming, there will be a dramatic transformation: believers will be resurrected, and those who are still alive will be changed, receiving imperishable bodies fit for eternity.

📖 Matthew 16:27 – “For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.”

• Jesus will come in glory to judge the earth and reward or repay each person according to their deeds, both good and bad.

6. The Judgment of the Wicked and the Righteous

📖 Matthew 13:37-43 – “He answered, ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.’”

• Jesus explains that at His return, the wicked will be separated from the righteous, and the wicked will be thrown into the fiery furnace, symbolizing their eternal death (second death) and destruction.

📖 Matthew 25:31-46 – The separation of the sheep and the goats at the final judgment is another vivid picture of how Jesus will judge the living based on their treatment of others, particularly the needy.

• The righteous, who have lived according to His will, will inherit eternal life, while the unrighteous will face eternal death.

7. The Hope and Comfort for Believers

📖 Isaiah 25:9 – “It will be said on that day, ‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.’”

• The return of Jesus brings ultimate salvation, and believers are called to rejoice in the fulfillment of God’s promises.

📖 Revelation 22:11-12, 17-20 – “Let the one who is righteous still do right, and the one who is holy still be holy. Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”

• The Bible ends with a cry for Jesus’ return. Believers eagerly anticipate the day when Jesus will come and finalize the salvation He has promised.

8. The Urgency of Readiness

📖 Matthew 24:42-44 – “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

• Jesus warns His followers to be ready and vigilant, for His return will come at an unexpected hour.

📖 2 Peter 3:10-12 – “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God?”

• The certainty of the coming day of judgment calls believers to live holy and godly lives, hastening the return of the Messiah by spreading the good news.

Conclusion:

The Second Coming of Jesus is an event that all believers eagerly anticipate. It marks the fulfillment of God’s promises to restore His creation, establish His eternal Kingdom, and bring ultimate redemption. While it will bring judgment for those who reject Messiah, it promises reward, joy, and peace for those who faithfully follow Him. As we await His return, we are called to live holy and righteous lives, with our hope firmly rooted in the assurance of His coming.

The certainty of His return should inspire us to live in readiness, holiness, and anticipation, keeping our eyes on Jesus. May this anticipation motivate us to live faithfully, share the hope of the gospel with others, and prepare ourselves and others for His glorious return, when He will make all things new.

Discussion Questions:

1. How does the promise of Jesus’ return provide hope and comfort to believers today?

2. How does the concept of judgment in the Second Coming challenge or comfort us as believers?

3. In what ways can we remain prepared for Messiah’s return, according to Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 24:42-44?

4. How does the knowledge of the Second Coming shape our actions, decisions, and relationships with others?

Dr. Richard Elofer, D.I.S.
(Fuller Seminary, School of Intercultural Studies)
Pastor, Hebrew Professor, Writer