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3. Subject and Goal of the Revelation (Revelation 1:7)
REVELATION 1:7
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
Behold, He Is Coming with Clouds: John seeks to emphasize the subject of his book clearly: He writes to his churches about the purpose and goal of world history. Christianity is not a religion with a static, stationary, or finite worldview; rather, it offers a dynamic, goal-oriented view of the future. The central point of our future hope is the Second Coming of Christ in glory.
Even Daniel had prophesied that a Son of Man would be taken on the clouds of heaven to the eternal Father, who would give Him authority, glory, and the heavenly kingdom, so that all people and tongues will worship and confess Him, and render Him service (Daniel 7:13-14).
More than once, Jesus related this future prophecy to Himself. He referred to Himself frequently as the Son of Man (124 times), thereby testifying that He would come again in great power and glory. We also read that He will come “on the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 24:30-31), “in the clouds” (Mark 13:24-27), or would appear in only one cloud (Luke 21:25-28). He calls this glorious coming “the sign of the Son of Man” and His divine legitimization (Matthew 24:30).
While defending the reality of what He had proclaimed Himself to be, Jesus Christ applied the promise of Daniel to Himself. He answered His 70 judges: “…Hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62). With these words, the accused acknowledged His divinity (Psalm 110:1). The One in chains declared to His judges that it would not be they who would judge Him but that it would be He who would judge them, after His return as eternal Judge. Yet they did not worship Him, but charged Him with blasphemy and condemned Him to death.
When Jesus was taken up to heaven in a cloud, two angels in white robes explained that the Lord will return again just as the onlookers had seen Him depart (Acts 1:9-11).
Paul writes that the return of Christ will commence with a shout of victory by Jesus, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the piercing blast of trumpets. Then the dead in Christ will rise first, and then those believers who are still alive will be taken up to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Later, Paul says that the Lord Jesus will come in power, in flaming fire, and with His angels in order to unleash His wrath upon those who do not know God and who are not obedient to the Gospel. At the same time, the Lord will be glorified among His redeemed and admired by all who believe in Him (2 Thessalonians 1:7-12; John 14:3, 17:24).
And Every Eye Will See Him: Jesus revealed, “For as the lightning cometh forth from the East, and is seen even unto the West; so shall be the coming of the Son of man” (Matthew 24:27). All the tribes of the earth will be horrified when Christ appears in His glory with all His saints, surrounded by angels and in a cloud (Matthew 24:30; 1 Thessalonians 3:13). All the atheists and humanists, Buddhists and Muslims, all the rich and the poor, the learned and illiterate, young and old, will, in terror, acknowledge the reality and power of the coming Christ. Then all will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, either in a state of elation and jubilation or with utter confoundedness (Philippians 2:10-11). Then the mockery of Muhammad will also be shown to be a boomerang, for he said, “If (God) the most Gracious had a son, I would be the first to worship him” (Sura al-Zukhruf 43:81). In that hour no sermon or explanation will be needed any longer, for the crucified, resurrected One will appear visibly to all as the Lord of Glory. Then all philosophies and worldviews, all religions and demonic cults will be swept away by the reality of the coming Lord.
All Will See Him, Even They Who Pierced Him: The end-time promise of Zechariah (12:9-14) that John takes up here describes the repentance of the people of Israel and their lamenting at the appearing of Christ, for at this time the Jews will realize all too painfully that they have failed in their predestination and purpose as God’s chosen people. In these last days, one final gracing of the pardoning Spirit of God will be poured out upon them, prompting them to repent and beg for mercy in light of the approaching King of Glory.
Did John, with these words, intend to confront the smattering of Jews in his churches with the return of Jesus, so that they would be driven to a heartfelt repentance and breakthrough in their faith? This most important event of the future will also one day be witnessed by the seventy judges who were members of the Sanhedrin at the time of Jesus. At that time they will realize that they, in their blindness, put to death the Judge of the World. In dread they will see Him coming in the clouds of heaven.
All the Tribes of the Earth Will Mourn because of Him: The mourning and lamenting of all people who have not been born again is described clearly in the Bible, which will take place at the radiant and all-illuminating coming of the holy Jesus (Matthew 24:30; Luke 6:25, 23:30; James 5:1, Revelation 6:15-16).
It is said of Mohammed that when he heard that Allah will appear to judge, and was in fact already standing at the door knocking, and that he will demand a complete accounting of his life, he ran away and hid in the caves of Hira.
Whoever has not confessed all his sins to his Lord will suddenly stand exposed by the light of Christ’s appearing. Every thought, word, and deed – done and undone – will be completely uncovered. The shame of all such people will be revealed before the holy Son of God. The terror of unbelieving sinners will be indescribably great. They will wish they had never been born. They will not, however, be able to die.
Even So, Amen! After the stated goal of his book, John writes a Greek “yes” and a Hebrew “amen”. Both mean the same: Yes, it is certain and true! The two introductions of the seer contain no philosophies, dreams, no empty promises and uncertain hopes; rather, they describe inevitable divine reality and eternal truth.
Whoever repents from his heart and accepts the Lamb of God and His vicarious sin-offering in faith will be led by the Holy Spirit to surrender himself completely to the divine rule of the triune God. This is the response of those who truly hear and understand, brought about by the Spirit of God.
It will prove to be a catastrophe to ignore the subject of the inevitable return of Christ.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, we rejoice from the bottom of our hearts in the revelation of Your imminent return. We expect Your appearance in glory that You may save us from Your adversaries and carry us with all the repentant to Your expanses. Open the hearts of truth seekers that they may believe in You before they witness You coming on the clouds of the sky in the Day of Judgment.
QUESTION:
- What is the aim of world history?