VERSE 7 continued, “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”

As was stated in out last post we would like to present another perspective of verse 7 as taken from Brother Shallieu and “The Keys of Revelation”.

BEHOLD, HE COMETH WITH CLOUDS; AND EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM…

“To conclude that an initial spectacular visual display will accompany Jesus’ Second Advent is erroneous. This text is figurative, NOT literal.

Only by interpreting this text in a figurative sense can all scriptural testimony related to the subject of the coming of Christ be harmonized, for the Bible depicts Messiah as coming:

Seated on a white cloud (Rev. 14:14)

Seated on a white horse (Rev. 19:11)

Seated as a refiner of silver and gold (Mal. 3:3)

Seated on the right hand of power (Matt. 26:64)

Standing at the door, knocking (Rev. 3:20)

Having a chain in his hand (Rev. 20:1)

Having a sharp sickle in his hand (Rev. 14:14)

Having a trumpet (1 Thess. 4:16)

Having a golden crown on his head (Rev. 14:14)

Having many crowns on his head (Rev. 19:12)

Having a sharp sword going out of his mouth (Rev. 19:15)

Obviously, all of these references, these different postures, are figurative allusions to various activities Messiah will be engaged in at his Second Coming. For example, Jesus is to rule the nations with a rod of iron (Psa. 2:9; Rev. 19:15). Surely that rod is not literal. The thought is that in establishing his reign of peace, Messiah will brook no interference in carrying out God’s reclamation program of redemption; nor will he tolerate any insubordination on the part of earth’s subjects over whom he is to reign. But he will rule or shepherd the nations in love and with law and order.

Another factor must be considered. Since his crucifixion and ascension to the divine plane of glory, Jesus has become the express image and likeness of the Father’s person (Heb. 1:3).

Further, the Scriptures clearly teach that “no man hath seen God at any time” (in the past), “nor can see” (in the future) 1 Tim. 6:16; 1 John 4:12. In other words, the glory of the divine office is such that in a physical sense no man can look thereon and live. The Master declared in no uncertain terms that “the world sees me no more,” that “the kingdom of God cometh not with observation” or outward show (Luke 17:20; John 14:19). The Day of the Lord “cometh as a thief,” that is, secretly and quietly; and if any man say, “Lo, (see) here is Christ, or (see) there; believe it not…Behold, I have told you before” (Matt. 24:23–25; 1 Thess. 5:2–4).

Jesus counseled his followers to watch and pray for his return—to be like those servants who watch for their lord to return from the wedding—because such an attitude of heart and mind would keep them alert and help them detect his invisible return preparatory to the establishment of his Kingdom (Mark 13:33; Luke 12:36). The Master promised that the Day of the Lord would not overtake his people as a thief; they would be spiritually informed through the light of God’s Word and the fulfillment of certain prophecies not merely predictive of the imminence of his coming, but indicative of the fact of his arrival ALREADY CONSUMMATED.

Satan, the usurper, “the god of this world,” “the prince of the power of the air,” is likewise invisible to the naked eye but, nonetheless, a very real personality (2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2). Thus the Lord comes quietly to steal his crown jewels, his “little flock,” his body members, who are elect and precious in the sight of God, to take them home to heaven (Luke 12:32).

Throughout the Gospel Age, the Lord’s people have, with the eye of faith, recognized Jesus as their Redeemer and Deliverer. Of the billions of people who have lived and are now living, comparatively few have had such eyes of faith and understanding. The majority, as the Apostle Paul declared, are blinded by Satan and by error, and fail to get a proper, true view of Christ. Although the god of this world has blinded the minds of all unbelievers “lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ…should shine unto them,” the Lord has graciously promised to open their blind eyes in due time (Isa. 35:5; 2 Cor. 4:4).

The sense in which the world will see Jesus is comparable to the proverbial remark of the blind man who exclaimed, “I see, I see.” Although blind, he saw or understood the situation (the “eyes of his understanding” having being opened).

The world will be made aware of Messiah’s presence and rule for “behold, he cometh with clouds”; i.e., he will manifest his authority and be revealed in a time of great “trouble, such as never was since there was a nation,” terminating the Gospel Age (Dan. 12:1).

“The Lord Jesus shall be revealed . . . in flaming fire [in consuming trouble] taking vengeance on them that know not God [who, not really acquainted with God, fail even to obey the light of conscience, which all possess to some extent], and [also on those who, while knowing God] . . . obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 1:7, 8).

“Though God’s wrath or vengeance will be expressed in general and widespread trouble, drastic reforms destructive of evil will likewise be executed. Righteousness will begin to flourish, and favor will be shown to the righteous. “When thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness” (Isa. 26:9).

This precludes the false idea put forth by some that both the earth and its inhabitants are to be destroyed in the great time of trouble, for who then would these be who are said to “learn righteousness”?

As these dealings become more and more apparent, mankind will begin to realize that a new power has taken control of human affairs; thus the presence of the Lord Jesus as King of Kings will be revealed to the world. Even now the inhabitants of the world see the clouds of trouble gathering and darkening; some realize that a power is at work in the affairs of men with which the governments cannot cope. Thinking men observe the persistency with which questions of right and wrong, justice and injustice, are forced upon their consideration, demanding an expression of their individual principles. Many recognize the glory and power of earth’s future ruler, and some believe his “coming in the clouds with great power and glory” (the great power and glory of justice) is imminent; yet because clouds and darkness still surround him, they do not recognize that the King himself (invisible to human sight, the express image and likeness of the Father’s person, whom no man has seen nor can see) is ALREADY PRESENT (Mark 13:26).

Not until hailstones and coals of fire have fallen to batter down and consume man’s pride, selfishness, and prejudices will the clouds disappear and reveal the full majesty and glory of Christ’s presence (Psa. 18:12,13). If men would consider and hearken to the voice of the Lord, which now directs the course of justice and warns of impending retribution, the great disasters of the near future would be averted. But “God speaks once, yea twice, yet man perceives it not. . . . Then he opens the ears of men [in the thunder tones of ‘the day of trouble’], and seals their instruction, that he may withdraw man from his [own] purpose, and hide pride from man” (Job 33:14–17).

Thus Jesus will come with clouds of trouble, and in due time “every eye shall see [discern] him [shall recognize his presence, power, and authority in the impending trouble].”

AND THEY ALSO WHICH PIERCED HIM: AND ALL KINDREDS OF THE EARTH SHALL WAIL BECAUSE OF HIM…

In that day men’s hearts will be smitten with anguish and remorse, and their spirits will be sorely vexed. The Greek word koptomai, translated “wail,” signifies a beating or smiting of the breast or chest accompanied by agonizing sound—an outward manifestation of the depth of their inner sorrow at the realization of the Redeemer’s love for them.

None will feel this anguish of soul more keenly than “they also which pierced him”; that is, the Jewish nation (“the house of David,” “the inhabitants of Jerusalem”) and, not at this time but later, the Roman soldiers identified with the actual crucifixion. The failure of the Jews to recognize Jesus, a member of their own race, as the promised Messiah will cause them to “mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son,” and to “be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [the loss or death of] his firstborn” (Zech. 12:10).

“In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as [similar to] the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon,” when Israel lamented the death of good King Josiah (2 Chron. 35:23–25; Zech. 12:11). Just as Joseph, the viceroy of Egypt, comforted and assuaged the fears of his astonished brethren who had previously cast him into a pit and sold him into slavery, assuring them that God’s providence marked his pathway to glory, so Jesus will likewise comfort his people. Humbled and loathsome in their own eyes, this chastened people will, under the leadership of their resurrected prophets and the illustrious patriarchs of ancient days, prove to be a suitable channel of blessing to all nations (Isa. 60:1–3, 20; Ezek. 20:43; 36:31–36).

Lest other nations point with scorn at Israel’s previous behavior, these words are added: “All kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.” Swift will come the recognition of all the nations that they, too, shared in the guilt. Although some of these nations have adopted Jesus nominally as their Savior and with their lips honor his name, their hearts are far from him (Matt. 15:8; Mark 7:6). Yea, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). God hath concluded (Rom. 11:32, 33) “all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the . . . wisdom and knowledge of God!” How unsearchable are His ways and past finding out!

EVEN SO, AMEN

The Apostle John again adds his spontaneous endorsement and approval to this entire arrangement of affairs. He realizes that out of the bitter experience will come the peaceable fruits of righteousness and that the Lord will lift His redeemed people out of their self-imposed abasement and shame, giving them the oil of joy and beauty for the ashes of mourning (Isa. 61:3).

We will proceed to Verse 8 with our next post.