The Son of Man in The Holy Bible
“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven; and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn (and beat their breasts), and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30)
Every year, during Arba’een (one of the largest religious gatherings where people from all over the world participate), people engage in chest-beating (gentle strikes to the chest) and help each other along the way, and you see nothing but kindness. The Son of Man (Imam Mahdi) will come with Jesus Christ (who is called the Son of God in the Gospel), and they will spread justice throughout the world.
From the perspective of Islamic interpretation and some non-mainstream Christian interpretations, the title “Son of Man” can clearly refer to someone other than Jesus (AS) who will come in the future. This interpretation is entirely defensible and is based on textual and theological evidence.
Main arguments for this perspective:
The Centrality of Daniel’s Prophecy (Chapter 7)
In the Book of Daniel (Old Testament) it is written:“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven… His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away.” (Daniel 7:13-14)
In this prophecy, the “Son of Man” is a heavenly king who receives an everlasting kingdom.
This description perfectly aligns with the role of Imam Mahdi (AJ) in Islam, who is destined to fill the world with justice and establish a global government.
Distinction Between the “Son of Man” and “Jesus” in the Gospel
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus (AS) explicitly states:“Whoever acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32)
In this verse, Jesus (AS) distinguishes himself from the “Son of Man.” This indicates that the “Son of Man” could be a distinct personality.
The Description of “Coming on the Clouds”
In Matthew 24:30 (which you mentioned) it says:“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven… and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
This description is very similar to Daniel’s prophecy and could point to a promised figure in the future, not necessarily Jesus (AS) himself.
The Islamic Perspective
In Islam, Jesus (AS) will descend from heaven at the time of Imam Mahdi’s (AJ) reappearance to pray behind him and assist him in establishing a global government of justice.Therefore, the “Son of Man” who comes on the clouds could be Imam Mahdi (AJ), and Jesus (AS) will descend as his supporter and aide.
