The image of a “Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven” is taken from the vision of the prophet Daniel (Daniel 7:13-14). Daniel’s vision is a royal investiture of a human king before God’s throne. This king, whose authority comes from God, is given power to rule over “all peoples, nations, and languages” (Daniel 7:14). The kingdom which he comes to establish cannot be broken or destroyed because it is built on the foundation of God’s justice, truth, and holiness. The day of the Lord’s return will be unlike any other moment in time, history, and destiny for the human race and our place in God’s creation. Then the “stars of heaven will fall and all will be shaken” before the presence of the Lord when he comes. Then the peoples of the earth and their rulers will know who is the true King and Ruler over all. Jesus’ first coming was a rescue mission – to free the human race from slavery to sin and Satan – the father of lies. His second coming will be the final completion of his mission when he will “make all things new” – a new heavens and a new earth – after he has put down the last enemy which is death and restores our lowly bodies to immortality when death will be no more (Daniel 12:2-3).