Title: From East to West: How the Second Coming Unfolds

Topic: Second Coming

Summary: We look at the striking statement in Matthew 24:27 that the Second Coming will take place like lightning coming from the east and flashing to the west. What other clues does the Bible contain to what this might mean?

Use the reference links below to follow along in the Bible as you watch.

References:
Matthew 24:1, 27
Luke 17:20-30
Exodus 19:16; 20:18
2 Samuel 22:10-16
Matthew 28:2
Revelation 11:19
Numbers 3:23
Leviticus 16
Matthew 21:1
Luke 19:37
Numbers 34:6
Isaiah 9:2
Malachi 3:1; 4:1
Zechariah 14:1
Ezekiel 10:18; 11:22; 43; 44; 46; 48
Matthew 24:26-27
Hebrews 4:12
Luke 2:34-35

4670. 'A son of seventeen years' means His state. This is clear from the ages measured in years of people mentioned in the Word - spiritual realities and states are meant by them, as these are by all other numbers. For all numbers in the Word have spiritual realities and states as their meaning, see 575, 647, 648, 1988, 2075, 2252, 3252, 4264, 4495, as also do years, 487, 488, 493, 893.

[2] It does indeed seem as though numbers of years, or ages measured in years, mean nothing else than numbers of years. This is because these numbers more than any others have so to speak a more specific historical application. But these numbers too include spiritual realities and states within them, as is clear from the applications given at Genesis 5 and from what has been stated at Genesis 17:1 and Genesis 25:7 about Abraham's age and at Genesis 35:28 about Isaac's. The same is clear in addition from the fact that no historical detail exists anywhere in the Word which does not include within it something heavenly into which it is also changed when it passes from the thought of the reader to the angels present with him, and through those angels into heaven where the spiritual sense rises up out of every historical reference in the Word.

[3] But what is meant by Joseph's being seventeen years old may be seen from the meaning which this number has elsewhere, namely a beginning, in this case the beginning of the representation through Joseph. As to its meaning a beginning and that which is new, see 755, 853. What is more, this number includes within itself in a general way, and so to speak potentially, all the things that are represented by 'Joseph' - 'seven' meaning that which is holy and 'ten' remnants. For 'seven' when used in the Word adds holiness to any meaning, see 881, while 'ten' means remnants, 576, 1906, 2284. The remnants present in the Lord were Divine and His own, and by means of them He united the Human Essence to the Divine Essence, 1906.