The Study of Revelation, Part 33

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Revelation Chapter 1

VERSE 7Behold, 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.”

BEHOLD

This little word (somewhat similar to SELAH in the Psalms) is of extreme import as we search the Scriptures. It must never be taken lightly. It is a sign that very great meaning is at hand so long as we are willing to search deeply. Verse seven and verse eight form an important INTERLOCKING unit if we look carefully. If we do not, each of these verses seems somewhat out of place in the context and even in relationship to the other.

This word, Behold, is, of course, a direct quote from a prophecy in Dan 7:13.

I was watching in the night visions, And behold, one like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.”

The quote is actually very appropriate here. It is used because it is an extension of the third point in John's benediction. It is about the establishment of the KINGDOM. The Daniel prophecy has an enormous correspondence to what is to follow in Revelation. In Daniel, the text is in response to the rule of the four beasts. Dan 7:13 begins by referring to THE NIGHT VISIONS. Revelation is, in effect, a detailed report of the NIGHT VISIONS —prophecies of the activities of the Gospel Age.

The seven Churches must go through the night of the Gospel Age; but then they will see the morning —the blessed culmination, the coming of the Son of Man. Thus, Verse 7 is a response to Verse 6 —the promised kingdom will UNDO the piercing and the long-predominant evils of the "tribes of the earth."

HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS

It is IMPERATIVE that we notice what Daniel said! He added two very vital words: "the clouds OF HEAVEN."

The TWO POWERS which will plague the Church throughout its walk are the "Kings of the Earth," (1:5) and the HEAVENS (the offending heavens the present powers of spiritual control), NOT mentioned in Verse 7, but really there if we BEHOLD the prophecy in Daniel.

Both powers are accounted for. Jesus is RULER (controller) of the Kings of the Earth and will destroy them (Chapter 19). He also will destroy the offending heavens with TROUBLE (clouds) upon his return.

THIS ACT (trouble upon the ecclesiastical heavens) will be the visible manifestation that the promised kingdom IS BEING SET UP.

It is
IN THESE CLOUDS (that is it is during this trouble that the last members of the body of Christ, the “feet of him” will finished their consecration in death (Rev 2:10), and instantaneously experience their resurrection change to meet their Lord in the air. (1 Thess 4:17.)

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

Therefore to US, the clouds presage JOY!

A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:

Verse 7, on the surface, looks like it is stressing trouble on everyone. IT IS NOT. As we examine with care (as we BEHOLD) the use of prophecy here, we will see that the ONLY trouble shown in this verse is the clouds of heaven. The remainder of the verse stresses wonderful repentance on the part of Israel and the rest of the world. To prove this, we must examine Zechariah 12.

AND EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM

The discernment of this presence will spread —eventually to all living intelligent beings. (Understand our Lord’s Parousia or presence is NOT a single time or day event, but rather a period of time, a thousand year “day” event.) The saints will be the first to see (to perceive his presence in the clouds, the trouble then ensuing, NOT with their physical sight, but through eyes of their understanding having been opened to the “times and the seasons”, as recorded in prophecy, and to the events then unfolding.) During this period of time, “even those who pierced him” having been raised from the grave will RETURN to "see” Him —to understand the grace of Divine wisdom which allowed this miscarriage of justice FOR THEIR OWN GOOD!

AND ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH

ALL of mankind. This will be the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham: In his seed will all the tribes of the earth be blessed!

WILL MOURN OVER HIM

The thought IS NOT to mourn (or wail) BECAUSE of him —i.e., to SUFFER because of what he will be doing. The thought is that they will have a genuine MOURNING —a repentance —a sad review of their past ignorance of him and what he meant.

Notice at this point a few of the facts of Zech 12:10 from which this verse is quoted.

And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.”

The mourning is stimulated because the spirit of grace and of supplication is poured out on Israel. Their mourning is like one who grieves because he has lost a firstborn! This is GOOD "mourning" or wailing. It is NOT a fear being spread because of the clouds of trouble on Babylon! THAT will all be passed by this time.

Thus this verse is a genuine mourning over him in the sense of saying, "O, what have we done in ignoring and persecuting the God-sent messengers, Savior, and prophets! O, what have we done for 2000 years in ignoring God and His ways?" Thus this verse is a HAPPY occasion IN RESPONSE TO VERSE 6. It is the change of the world's attitudes!

EVEN SO, AMEN

Why else would John add these words? He is not rejoicing in their suffering! He is rejoicing in their AWAKENING to the new king!

In our next post we would like to enhance on this verse as taken from another brother’s perspective.

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