Q: Was not Jesus' answer to the question of  "and what will be the sign of your presence" (Matt. 24:3) his answer of  "For just as the lightning comes out of eastern parts and shines over to western parts, so the presence of the Son of man will be. ... And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of earth will beat themselves in lamentation, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." (Matt. 24:28, 30-31) See also Acts 1:9-11 and Revelation 1:7 which confirm that just as Christ was literally seen ascending into the clouds and that at his presence he will be seen descending out of the clouds. Matt. 25:31 says when he arrives in his glory (after being seen coming in the clouds), then he will sit on his throne and separate the sheep from the goats and after that he will pronounce the fate of those on his right and left sides (Matt. 25:34, -35, 41-43, 46).
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A: The Scriptures do not teach that Jesus' return with power and great glory will be visible for everyone to "see," descending out of a literal cloud or sitting atop it, as you suggest. To "see" does not always mean to look upon what is visible to the eye. Often it can refer to seeing something in the way of understanding it. It is in this sense that Jesus said to his disciples, when they had failed to understand the significance of one of his miracles in feeding a crowd of 4,000 with just a few loaves of bread: "Do you still not see or understand? Are your minds closed? You have eyes, but you don't really see. You have ears, but you don't really listen.'" (Mark 8:17,18; New Century Version) It is also in this context that Jesus referred to the Pharisees as "blind guides." On one occasion they were offended because of what he had said, complaining: "We are not blind also, are we?" Jesus replied: "If you were blind, you would have no sin. But now you say, 'We see.' Your sin remains." By saying that they were not blind the Pharisees actually condemned themselves, for they could "see" but refused to repent, therefore there was no forgiveness. (Matt. 15:14; John 9:39-41; see John 3:1,2)

Another example: After grappling with an angel Jacob exclaimed: "I have seen God face to face..." (Gen. 32:30) Therefore, some claim that the angel was God himself. When Moses requested of God, "Cause me to see, please, your glory," Jehovah replied, "You are not able to see my face, because no man may see me and yet live." That is why the apostle John could say, "No man has seen God at any time." (Exodus 33:18,20; John 1:18) As you note, the Son of Man is coming on the "clouds of heaven," and that alone would render him invisible, as it says in Acts, "[Jesus] was lifted up and a cloud caught him up from their vision." (Acts 1:9) His disciples could behold Jesus only until he was concealed by the cloud. A cloud blocks any view of an object, such as an airplane flying into or above it. That is the thought behind Job 22:14: "Clouds are a concealment place for him so that he does not see." When Jehovah delivered his people from the pursuing Egyptians he used a cloud as a screen to hide them from their enemies. (Exodus 14:19,20; Psalms 105:39) Clouds are never used in the Scriptures as rendering something observable.

Further, when Jesus said that he, as the Son of man, would be "coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory,” he was referring to Daniel's prophecy: "I saw in the night visions, and behold, on the clouds of the heavens came One like a Son of man, and He came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And there was given Him [the Messiah] dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and His kingdom is one which shall not be destroyed." (Matt. 24:30; Daniel 7:13,14; Amplified Bible) When the Son of man comes "on the clouds of heaven" and is presented before "the Ancient of Days" (Almighty God himself), to receive his kingdom, this will not be visible here on earth. The only way any human can peer into heaven is by means of a vision. (Compare Isaiah 6:1-5; Ezek. 1:1, 28)

When Jesus was lifted up in full view of his disciples until he was caught up in a cloud, concealing any further sight of him, he ascended to heaven to appear “before the person of God for us,” and “sat down at the right hand of God, from then on awaiting until his enemies should be placed as a stool for his feet.” (Acts 1:9; Heb. 9:24; 10:12,13) Jesus did not immediately receive his kingdom rulership upon his ascension to heaven. He would have to wait for God's appointed time. (Ezek. 21:26,27; Dan. 2:44) The prophet Daniel saw in vision that future time arrive, when the Son of man would come “on the clouds of the heavens” in order to appear before Jehovah God, to be glorified and receive “dominion and glory and kingdom.” There are no literal clouds in heaven for the Son of man to come on and appear before God. There are not even any clouds beyond earth's atmosphere. What is happening in the heavens is invisible to us here on earth, as if concealed by clouds.

How many times is the Son of man “coming on the clouds of heaven,” when he "arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him," to "sit down on his glorious throne"? According to the Scriptures, just once! What Daniel saw in vision is referring to the same one occasion that Jesus spoke of.

You make the valid point that Jesus arrives in his glory and sits down on his throne with authority to separate the sheep from the goats “after being seen coming in the clouds.” Is that not also how the prophet Daniel describes it? Jesus appears "with the clouds of the heavens" in the presence of God, and receives rulership. At that time Daniel also sees a conspicuous "horn" of the "fourth beast" make war upon "the holy ones," and "it was prevailing against them." (Dan. 7:13,14, 19-22) It is at that time that Jesus comes "to repay tribulation to those who make tribulation for you," as he is revealed "from heaven with his powerful angels in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance upon those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus." This is also the time Jesus "comes to be glorified in connection with his holy ones," whose "definite time [has] arrived to take possession of the kingdom," along with the Son of man. (2 Thess. 1:6-10; Dan. 7:21,22, 27; Rev. 20:4, 6) There will be no doubt, no misunderstanding, “at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven;" no confusing this event with some natural disaster. (Compare Zeph. 1:15-18) Note also that it is "the sign" of the Son of man that appears in heaven. There is no need for a sign if he is clearly visible and "every eye will see him." (Matt. 24:30; Acts 17:31; ; Rev. 1:7)

The judgment of whether a person is a sheep or a goat will be based upon what a person did or did not do to Jesus' brothers prior to his return in kingdom glory. There will be no opportunity for a person at the last minute to turn from a goat into a sheep. "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory (majesty, splendor) of His Father with His angels, and then He will render account and reward every man in accordance with what he has done." (Matt. 16:27, AMP; 24:46, 48-51) It will be “just as the days of Noah were, . . they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be.” That is why Jesus cautioned his disciples, "Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." (Matt. 24:37-39, 42) The important thing for us is to pay attention to what Jesus and the prophets have written about the return of the Son of man in glory, for we don't want to find ourselves among "those who do not know God and those who [did] not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus." (1 Thess. 1:8,9)

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