No, and neither did the Pharisees have scaly skin because Jesus called them snakes!
If Daniel 7:13 is the Second Advent, then there would be need for Jesus to re-enunciate Dan. 7:13 (in Mt 24:30). Jesus must repeat it for the same reason Isa. 65:17 must be repeated in Rev.21:1. The destiny of Israel predicted by the prophets was cancelled by the faithlessness of the nation at the time of Christ's coming. Thus the need for Matt. 21: 43.
That the 7th chapter of Daniel is dealing with the time of history from Daniel's time to Jesus in Israel is not only our view but also the view of most credible Christian interpretation. Stating that Daniel 7:13 is dealing with the Second Coming is, in fact, out context.
The context is the history leading up to the First Coming. Remember Jesus said, "For all of the law and prophets prophesied until John."
The 4th kingdom in the 2nd chapter (of Daniel) is the same 4th kingdom in the 7th chapter, that is Rome. Prophecy does not have to be fulfilled as stated because prophecy is conditional to man's portion of responsibility (see Jeremiah 18:7-9 which is underscored by the examples of Jonah in Nineveh, Isaiah and Hezekiah). This was prophecy of glory and of the primary destiny that the nation of Israel was to fulfill, but because of their failure, these prophecies are to be fulfilled by a New Jerusalem. It is for this reason that there are parallels between the Old Testament prophecy and the book of Revelation. It is not because the OT is already pointing to the Second Coming, it is because Israel's destiny that was to be fulfilled was not and is now extended forward to the future New Israel (and thus, Isa. 65:17, for example, is repeated in Rev. 22:1 or Daniel 7:13 is repeated in Matt. 24:30 by Jesus). Parallels in Old and New Testament prophecy are a reflection of the phenomenon of Dispensational Time-Identity, not absolute predestination.
Why, indeed. For Jesus came down from heaven, went up to heaven and was, in that very moment, in heaven as recorded in John 3:13. He will come down from heaven in the same way, not from the sky, which is why the angel was correcting the men of Galilee who were, in fact, looking in the sky, which was the wrong place to look.
Not a lie! The truth! Just as Malachi 4:4-5 was not a lie when Elijah came back in the "spirit and power" through John the Baptist. When Jesus proclaimed that John was Elijah who is to come the Pharisees also accused Jesus of calling the scripture a lie. The consternation and anger you feel about what you heard here in Korea is the same feeling the Pharisees had toward Jesus and His apostles.
Don't let that feeling dominate you, because it is not from God. Just remember the good experiences you have had here put aside the difficult ones for now. Just pray and give the Spirit time to lead you to the right conclusion about what you heard here. See John 3:13; Jesus explains how He came down went into Heaven.
As I explained in my presentation, Acts 1:11 does not mean that Jesus is going to come from out of the sky. The angel "Why are you looking into the sky?" indicating that what follows this inquiry will be a correction for people who are looking into sky. That Christ will come the same way as you've seen Him go is more closely linked to how Jesus comes down in John 3:13 as opposed to the coming out of the sky.
This was not physical experience, but a spiritual experience. Just as Jesus described in John 3:13. The many bodies of the saints who were raised and "appeared" to many (but not all; Matt. 27:52-53) were also the glorified spiritual bodies of the saints. They were perceivable to only the faithful eye of the spirit.
There is no record in the history that mentions the revered physical return of the OT saints in Israel. Christ's return will be the same way... He came to Rev. Moon in 1935. Jesus appeared in His spiritualized body. He is appearing as vividly as He did after His resurrection until His Ascension. This is happening and will continue all the more.
Malachi 4:5 also emphatically states that it will be Elijah that will return. However, it most fundamentally meant that the role of the named figure will return. That the angel is saying "why are you looking up into heaven?" is to indicate that what follows is a correction for people who are looking into the sky. Therefore Christ will come in the same way, refers more to John 3:13, then it does to the sky. Thus we see Rev. 12:5, a child receives the role of Messiah from Jesus (Rev. 2:26-27) and He will have a "new name" (Rev. 3:12; 2:17) and Jesus will be with Him (Rev. 2:28 with 22:16).
Heaven does not mean sky. See again John 3:13. To meet the Lord in the "air" also does not mean "sky". See Ephesians 2:2.... satan is not in the sky, he is a spirit. I recommend you to study the Divine Principle chapter on the Resurrection and The Last Days.
Ephesians 2:2 calls satan the ruler of the Kingdom of the air. Is satan in the air? If so, we'd better take the train home. Pray about the meaning of "meeting the Lord in the air". Remember also what side the "literalists" fell on at the time of Jesus... those who were expecting the literal return of Elijah are still waiting for him to this day. Let us pray with the seriousness of Anna the prophetess.
It does make good sense, but so does Elijah's coming from the sky in a chariot of fire make good sense too. I think it makes good sense that Daniel 7:13 had a relevance to the First Coming. I think to suggest that "air" does not mean "sky" is also good sense, in relation to Ephesians 2:2 which is clearly not inferring that satan is in the sky. I recommend that you study the Divine Principle chapters on Resurrection and The Last Days, which we did not have time to cover in this conference. For us, the resurrection is of the spiritualized and not the natural or physical body (1Cor. 15:44). The appearance of Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration was in their spiritualized bodies, not their flesh bodies. Those that raised from the dead after Jesus' resurrection were raised in their spiritual bodies not their physical bodies (they appeared to many, but not all...there is no historical record in Jewish archives of the physical return of their revered forefathers at that time of history). Of course, Matt. 27:52-53 is a real event, it is, however, not a physical event perceivable with the physical eye. It was a spiritual event perceived by the faithful. It will take place again (and is taking place right now) and the faithful will be caught up into the same cloud that "surrounded" the apostles in Hebrew 12:1. Physical death is not the death that Adam and Eve experienced at the fall. God said on the very day you eat thereof will die. They did not die physically, but rather spiritually.
Meeting the Lord in the "air" does not mean "in the sky". Ephesians 2:2, satan is not in the "sky". Being caught up is referring to the spiritual resurrection, not the resurrection of the decomposed physical body or the physical elevation of those on earth at the time of Christ (see the Divine Principle Chapter on Resurrection and the Chapter on The Last Days).
It should also be noted that Paul apparently was predicting I event within his earthly lifetime. He says "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep..." Paul is addressing a concern of the believers about those that have already died believing in Christ, and therefore, have not experienced the Second Coming. Paul goes on to say in the 15th verse of 1 Thes. Chapt. 4..."According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the Coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep." Here, Paul is making distinction between "those who have fallen asleep" (the bodily dead and "we who are alive" (Paul and the other believers with him s in the flesh).
That Paul was expecting the rapture for himself and those other believers of his age is made clear by the 17th verse "...after that (the rapture of the earthly dead) we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. In that Paul imperfect with regard to the timing of the event of the rapture, we must consider the possibility that Paul could, likewise, be imperfect with regard to the content of the phenomenon of the rapture.
"Descending from Heaven" does not mean "from the sky" (see John 3:13). Jesus said, no one has gone into Heaven except he who has "come from down Heaven." Jesus did not, at His first advent, come down from the sky. He was born on earth. The Lord Himself will return and fulfill His mission (Hebrews 9:28, 1 Peter 1:5) in the same way Elijah fulfilled his at his return.
That is, through a chosen representative. Another point to consider: 1 Thes. 4:13-16 indicates that Paul expected that his generation, including himself, would see the return of Christ and their rapture. The 15th verse says: "...we who are still alive, who are left 'till the Coming of the Lord (those of the earthly life, in the body) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep (those, who are laid to rest before Christ comes).
But no one, including Paul, remained alive in the earthly flesh, to experience the awaited event (rapture). That Paul was mistaken with regard to the timing of the awaited event should give us pause in terms of the content of the awaited event. Remember, too, that Paul admits to the imperfection of his own knowledge and looks forward to a future clarity (1 Cor. 13:8-10,12).
Jesus came with Angels at His first Coming (see Matt. 4:11; Hebrews 1:6) and yet Jesus coming in His first advent did not take place from the sky. Also, Hebrews 13:1 tells us that angels can appear and have done so, without anyone knowing they were angels! How can you be so sure that, in fact, thousands and thousands of angels are not today at work in the dispensation of the Second Coming?
But first He must suffer may things and be rejected by this generation. (Luke 17:25) If Christ comes in such an obvious way, who would make Him suffer?
If Christ comes in a way that does agree with every jot and title of every doctrinal agenda, it is very clear who would make Him suffer... the same who caused His suffering 2000 years ago... the very sheep for whom He comes! "Every eye will see Him", is not declaring His mode of entering the world, it is declaring the ultimate victory and acceptance He will achieve.
He went to Heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. John 3:13. Jesus said that He came down from Heaven, went into Heaven and was at that very moment, in Heaven. Jesus did mean that He was in the sky. Sky and "Heaven" are not the same thing.
Water has many meanings. In the context of "clouds" which mean sanctified people (see Hebrews 12:1) "waters" (from which clouds come) means unsanctified people (see Rev. 17:15 and Jude 1:13).
The cloud is a symbol of the people prepared for the Lord 2000 years ago, it was John's foundation. They were "purified through John's baptism. This of course, is not salvation nor was I presenting it as such. John's baptism was a relative, condition sanctification until the baptism of the Holy Spirit arrived. The cloud on which Christ returns will be Christians baptized in water and spirit.
It does not mean that Christ will be like a lightning bolt, but as lightning comes from East to West, so shall the Son of Man come from the East to the West (and very suddenly in a very controversial, tumultuous manner).