EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM

[Berean]

“BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS,
and every eye will see Him,
even those who pierced Him;
and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him.
So it is to be. Amen”—Revelation 1:7 (NASB)
​

Revelation 1:7 begins with a prophecy from Daniel 7:13,14 (NASB): “Behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.” Daniel is speaking symbolically about our Lord’s Second Advent and how it will be associated with clouds (trouble) in the heavens—the religious systems of the earth. Jesus’ return is to establish the everlasting dominion and kingdom given to him by God.

The perception of many Christians is that everyone sees Jesus coming, literally, in the sky. However, Revelation 1:7 says Jesus comes in the clouds and then, every eye will see him, after he has arrived. This is consistent with Jesus’ statements that he would arrive as a thief (Matt. 24:43,44; Luke 12:39,40). Both the Apostle Paul and Apostle Peter confirm that Jesus would come, or return, at his Second Advent as a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10).

Jesus prophesied that after his return, “there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short” (Matt. 24:21,22 NASB). The tribulation comes from man’s selfishness, and we see that today. Nations, terrorists, and many different groups are warring against each other, struggling for power, influence, and survival. This struggle, if left unchecked, would destroy mankind; but Jesus and his bride return to prevent that destruction and establish Christ’s kingdom. The world of mankind does not see Jesus arrive, but they see the effect of his return in the troubles that ensue as Jesus implements the kingdom and dominion, given to him by God.​

 

[Cassandra]

You need to be careful.

Christs coming is a visible literal audible event

Matt 24:26 26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Rev 16:15 5 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)

Matthew 24:43 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

This means we need to watch the signs and be ready


I Thess 4: 16-18

 

[Hobie]

If we look, the Bible clearly explains the reason and manner of Christ Second Coming:

John 14:1-3 King James Version (KJV)
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Acts 1:9-11 King James Version (KJV)
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:51-54 King James Version (KJV)
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 King James Version (KJV)
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Titus 2:13 King James Version (KJV)
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Hebrews 9:28 King James Version (KJV)
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

The coming of Christ will be personal, literal, visible, audible, and universal. It cannot be counterfeited by Satan.

Revelation 1:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Revelation 19:11-16 King James Version (KJV)
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.

People can fake miracles or claim to see a false christ, but no one can counterfeit the Second Coming. It will be unmistakable, as the heavens open to reveal innumerable angels lift their voices in glory and Christ appears through the clouds, no one will wonder who has come. Jesus Himself described the event in Matthew 24: “‘27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.... 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

 

[Berean]

Christs coming is a visible literal audible event

Matt 24:26 26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Let's look at the context of this verse. The thought in the Greek is “For as the sunlight rises out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the presence of the Son of man be.” The reference is not to the orb of the sun but to sunlight. The sun arises in the east and makes its transit west. If the actual physical body of the sun were being referred to, there would be a contradiction with the advice given, for we are being told not to expect something we can point a finger to and say, “There it is!” Jesus will NOT appear in a “desert” (a geographic place or location) or in a “secret chambers” (a room or seance). Thus verse 27 refers to the bright shining, not to the sun itself. As the sun arises in the east and diffuses its light over the whole horizon unto the west (half of the globe is always in sunlight), so shall the presence of Jesus be.

Jesus will not appear visibly in either a physical sense (“in the desert”) or a mystical sense (“in the secret chambers”). Our risen Lord is no longer the man Christ Jesus but a glorious spirit being (divine). Jesus is forewarning us not to be deceived, for he will not appear visibly in a geographic location or elsewhere. The suggestion is that startling deceptions will occur in the future—so startling that unless we are thoroughly indoctrinated otherwise (that is, regarding the true manner of the Second Advent of Jesus), we will be at least partially deceived temporarily. The deception will be so magnificent to see that all except the Very Elect will be deceived. It is also suggested that this deception will be accompanied by miracles. Hence not only will there be a visual appearance but miraculous, supernatural, occult powers will accompany it—as if the appearance is coming from another planet. When something is “supernatural,” normal logic cannot explain it away. What is the distinction between a “sign” and a “wonder”? A “sign” is something spectacular and more visual—a visual display. A wonder refers to the miracle-working power accompanying the visual demonstration. Thus the deception will have a double force

 

[3 Resurrections]

Our risen Lord is no longer the man Christ Jesus but a glorious spirit being (divine).

This is incorrect. 1 Timothy 2:5 says, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the MAN Christ Jesus." If Christ today has not retained His identity as the Son of Man (as well as being the Son of God), then we have no mediator between God and men.

It is the Son of Man that was promised to return (Matthew 24:30, and Luke 18:8).

 

[FaithWillDo]

“BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS,
and every eye will see Him,
even those who pierced Him;
and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him.
So it is to be. Amen”—Revelation 1:7 (NASB)
​

Revelation 1:7 begins with a prophecy from Daniel 7:13,14 (NASB): “Behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.” Daniel is speaking symbolically about our Lord’s Second Advent and how it will be associated with clouds (trouble) in the heavens—the religious systems of the earth. Jesus’ return is to establish the everlasting dominion and kingdom given to him by God.

The perception of many Christians is that everyone sees Jesus coming, literally, in the sky. However, Revelation 1:7 says Jesus comes in the clouds and then, every eye will see him, after he has arrived. This is consistent with Jesus’ statements that he would arrive as a thief (Matt. 24:43,44; Luke 12:39,40). Both the Apostle Paul and Apostle Peter confirm that Jesus would come, or return, at his Second Advent as a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10).

Jesus prophesied that after his return, “there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short” (Matt. 24:21,22 NASB). The tribulation comes from man’s selfishness, and we see that today. Nations, terrorists, and many different groups are warring against each other, struggling for power, influence, and survival. This struggle, if left unchecked, would destroy mankind; but Jesus and his bride return to prevent that destruction and establish Christ’s kingdom. The world of mankind does not see Jesus arrive, but they see the effect of his return in the troubles that ensue as Jesus implements the kingdom and dominion, given to him by God.​

Dear Berean,

Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Why does the verse you quoted say that every eye will see Him "and they also which pierced Him"?

The Jewish leaders who crucified Christ are in the grave and awaiting the bodily resurrection. Do you believe that Christ's seconding coming occurs after the bodily resurrections from the grave and that over 160 billion people will be on the earth when Christ returns?

Also, why does it say that Christ's return is going to be a reoccurring event (which is, which was, and which is to come")?

A one-time return of Christ at the literal end of the age doesn't seem to fit what these verses are teaching.

You said:
The perception of many Christians is that everyone sees Jesus coming, literally, in the sky. However, Revelation 1:7 says Jesus comes in the clouds and then, every eye will see him, after he has arrived. This is consistent with Jesus’ statements that he would arrive as a thief (Matt. 24:43,44; Luke 12:39,40). Both the Apostle Paul and Apostle Peter confirm that Jesus would come, or return, at his Second Advent as a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10).

Yes, when Christ returns, He comes as a thief in the night.

1Thes 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

But why does it say that upon His return, the people are dwelling in "peace and safety"? Even now this world is a violent and unpredictable place.

And if Christ's return occurs at the end of the age, why would Paul tell the Thessalonians believers that Christ would not overtake them as a thief? Didn't those believers die a long time ago? How could Christ's return effect them in any way? Or have they been resurrected and placed back on the earth with the other 160 billion people who have lived throughout history?

I have the correct answers to all these questions I have asked you. I only asked them to you because I wanted you to see the problems with the common understanding of Christ's return.

Also, consider what these verses below state concerning how quickly Christ will return:

James 5:8 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Heb 9:28 So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Why would James believe that the return of Christ was "drawing nigh" if Christ was only returning at the end of this age. It been over 1900 years since James wrote those words. Was James misinformed about how quickly Christ returns? How could this be?

And why would John write that the time of the "things written therein" is at hand? For something to be "at hand" it has to be already happening.

And why would Paul say that when Christ comes a second time, He will bring salvation with Him. Doesn't a believer receive salvation now before they die?

Joe

 

[Berean]

Dear Berean,

Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Why does the verse you quoted say that every eye will see Him "and they also which pierced Him"?

Verse 7 is a promise and not a warning. Christ will return and everyone will mourn for Him. This is a promise to the church in the present that the world will not always be as it is now. Yet despite the short length of this verse, it requires a great deal of explanation.

“Behold He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him…”​

Compare this verse to Matt. 24:30 –

“And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky [lit. in heaven], and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on [or in per many transl.] the clouds of the sky [lit. heaven] with power and great glory.”​

While tempting at first glance to view the verse above in Matthew as a literal statement of physical eyesight, there are several problems with this.

(1) In the passage in Matthew the disciples ask for a sign (Matt. 24:3) to know when Jesus would be present (Gr. παρουσια or parousia). Jesus answers their request for a sign in Matt. 24:30. Yet why is a sign needed if the whole world will literally see Jesus with their eyes? Why doesn’t Jesus just say “and everyone will see me”? The need for a sign is at odds with the opinion that the description in Matthew is of a visible return will be literally seen by everyone in the world.

(2) The idea that he will appear in heaven is also problematic, where the “sign” appears and also where the clouds occur. Observe the verse just preceding Matthew 24:30, which reads, “the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” This does not seem like an expression that should be interpreted literally. How do the literal heavens have “powers”? How are they “shaken”? It’s true that reference is made to events in the sun, moon, and stars in Matthew 24:29. Yet assuming that the reference to these celestial bodies requires a literal interpretation of “the heavens” is equally questionable, since other prophetic passages use heaven or heavens and the sun, moon, and stars as obvious symbolisms.

(3) Finally, what of the expression of Jesus “coming in the clouds of heaven”? Yet any evangelical preterist would interpret this expression regarding the clouds of heaven as symbolic without a second thought. A preterist would reference Is. 19:1 – “The burden concerning Egypt, behold the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and is about to come to Egypt; the idols of Egypt will tremble at His presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.” This is a description of historical judgment on the nation of Egypt. Evangelical preterist author Kenneth Gentry describes it this way – “Obviously God does not literally and visibly ride down on a cloud against Egypt.”13 Other passages of scripture also use the same kind of apocalyptic metaphor that we find in Matthew chapter 24.14

Returning to the verse in Revelation under discussion – Rev. 1:7 – this verse also describes Jesus coming with clouds of judgment and speaks of the same universal response to this judgment, when “all the tribes of the will earth mourn over Him…”

This passage adds the description “even those who pierced him” to the description. Like other parts of the verse here and in the passage from Matthew 24:29-30, the prophetic language is picked up from the Old Testament. There we read in Zech. 12:10 that, “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.” In this passage the spirit is poured out on the Jewish people so that they will look upon Jesus whom they pierced. This “looking” upon Jesus in Zechariah is not the result of a visible event in the sky, but in the passage just cited it comes about through an outpouring of the spirit of God that results in their final understanding of the identity of their Messiah.

Another factor that complicates any literal interpretation of this verse in Revelation is the Greek word horao (Gr. oraw), which is translated “see” in this verse. Here it is a future tense of horao (in Rev. 1:7 the Greek word is oyetai or “will see”), but it means the same thing – to stare at, i.e. (by impl.) to discern clearly (physically or mentally); by extension to attend to, etc. per Strong’s Concordance #3708. Elsewhere, various translations define the word as see, perceive, take heed, discern, etc. Perhaps this use of a particular word that means “to discern” is another indication that physical sight is not the intent of this passage.

Like the passage in Matthew 24:30, this passage is clearly drawn from apocalyptic metaphor. Therefore this verse is simply not definitive enough by itself to establish the intended description as a literal appearance of a physical spectacle of Jesus in the sky.

 

[Berean]

Yes, when Christ returns, He comes as a thief in the night.

1Thes 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

But why does it say that upon His return, the people are dwelling in "peace and safety"? Even now this world is a violent and unpredictable place.

And if Christ's return occurs at the end of the age, why would Paul tell the Thessalonians believers that Christ would not overtake them as a thief? Didn't those believers die a long time ago? How could Christ's return effect them in any way? Or have they been resurrected and placed back on the earth with the other 160 billion people who have lived throughout history?

Notice verse 2, they knew “perfectly that the day of the Lord [the Second Advent] so cometh as a thief in the night.” They were correct in their understanding of that subject, but they had to be taught that it would occur at a later date.

Verse 3 has been misunderstood. First, who are the “they” and the “them”? The pronouns refer to the nominal system. Daniel 2:43, pertaining to the smiting of the image, also uses “they” for the nominal system. “And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.” The clay portion of the image pictures the nominal system. Very often the pronouns “we” and “they” are used in connection with chronological applications, the “we” referring to true Christians. Here the two pronouns are “ye” and “they” to show the contrast between the truly consecrated and the nominal system, respectively. When will the nominal system say, “Peace and safety”? That will be their message when they are united in the hour of power.

“Peace and safety” is a theme that is sometimes used in emergencies. It is felt that a united front produces security, as indicated by two common sayings: “United we stand; divided we fall” and “There is safety in numbers.”

The very fact the nominal systems will say “Peace and safety” suggests that there will be a threat—that they will be under siege, as it were—but that they will feel confident. Isaiah 8:11–13 admonishes, “For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” When the froglike spirit comes out of the mouth of the beast, the dragon, and the false prophet systems, the message will be, “Cooperate with us.”

The nation of Israel will also experience a false peace and sense of security when they are dwelling with unwalled villages with increased cattle and goods (Ezek. 38:11,12). In other words, the nominal people of fleshly Israel will be in a relatively defenseless mode and yet be confident because of a previous experience.

“Then sudden destruction cometh upon them.” The term “sudden destruction” pertains to the fall of Babylon. “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, 43 and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.” (Note: These three plagues are not the same as the seven plagues of Revelation 16.) Notice that “death” occurs first and that “mourning” and “famine” are aftereffects of the death. Another sudden picture is the smiting of the image in Daniel 2. The Hebrew has the thought of “in an instant.” The entire image—not only the clay and iron feet but all of the other component parts as well—will destruct suddenly, at once, as a result of the impact of the stone. In addition, the Flood came suddenly in Noah’s day, and the Flood is a picture of the Time of Trouble at the end of the age.

1 Thess. 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

The Apostle Paul imparted a lot of knowledge to the Thessalonian brethren, but nothing compares to what is available here at the end of the age. They knew nothing about the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet, for example. The Book of Revelation had not even been written at the time Paul penned these epistles, and John was not banished to the Isle of Patmos until years later. Surely Paul did not discuss end-of-the-age pictures with the Thessalonians. He was telling them that with the persecutions they were receiving, they should just hold on, for God was not unfaithful to recognize their suffering. Moreover, when the Second Advent would come, they would then be honored 45 for their steadfastness. That was the gist of his message of comfort and exhortation. They misconstrued that message to mean that the Second Advent was then occurring.

 

[Berean]

consider what these verses below state concerning how quickly Christ will return:

James 5:8 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Heb 9:28 So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Why would James believe that the return of Christ was "drawing nigh" if Christ was only returning at the end of this age. It been over 1900 years since James wrote those words. Was James misinformed about how quickly Christ returns? How could this be?

And why would John write that the time of the "things written therein" is at hand? For something to be "at hand" it has to be already happening.

And why would Paul say that when Christ comes a second time, He will bring salvation with Him. Doesn't a believer receive salvation now before they die?

Joe

It seems you wish to apply all these verses to the first century, if that is the case, than NONE of what the scriptures tell us apply to anyone outside of that time period. 2,000 years later, what are we doing?

 

[FaithWillDo]

It seems you wish to apply all these verses to the first century, if that is the case, than NONE of what the scriptures tell us apply to anyone outside of that time period. 2,000 years later, what are we doing?

Dear Berean,
Thanks for your response.

The teachings of the New Covenant are spiritual teachings. They do not happen out in the world where they can be seen with human eyes. Those teachings apply to all believers (especially the Elect) throughout this age and not just to a certain time period (like the literal end of this age).

I'll try to explain below without using very much scripture so that it may be easier to understand. I can present many, many scriptures in another post for the issues you will probably have with my statements.

I was converted in 2005 at the age of 44. I had spent most of my adult life in the church up until that time. During my conversion process, the Lord healed my spiritual blindness (Mark 8:15-25) and the scriptures immediately opened up to my understanding. I quickly learned that nearly everything that I had been taught in the church was incorrect. I learned that most of the teachings of Christ are teaching on certain aspects of the pathway to salvation that Christ causes His Elect to follow. Those teachings are taught by types, parables, analogies and end-time prophecies, all of which use Christ's spirit words (spiritual symbols). This "another language" (Isa 28:9-12) is what keeps the truth of God concealed from all but the converted Elect who have had their spiritual blindness healed by the Latter Rain of the Spirit.

The book of Revelation is one of the primary places in scripture which teaches the pathway to salvation that the Elect will travel. For that reason, the Elect will "keep the sayings of the prophecy" (Rev 1:3, Rev 22:7). All the prophecies in the book are fulfilled individually in the lives of each of the Elect before they die. The pathway to salvation ends with the Second Coming of Christ when the Elect believer is converted. This is when the "ends of the ages" (1Cor 10:11) come upon the Elect and is what Christ is actually teaching in Matthew chapter 24. The Second coming of Christ is an individual & spiritual event for the Elect. It happens without observation because it happens within them.

Because the Second coming of Christ will happen in the lives of each of the Elect before they die, Christ must come quickly to them. And because He comes to each of them separately, His coming is a reoccurring event ("is, was and will be coming").

The Second Coming of Christ is what the 120 Jewish Elect experienced on the Day of Pentecost. Since that time, the second coming of Christ has been repeated in the lives of all the Elect.

When Christ comes to a person the first time, He gives them the Early Rain of the Spirit. With the small amount of the Spirit, the believer will have a measure of faith and certain spiritual gifts. It is at this point that the person will make a confession of faith and will enter the church. With the Spirit within them, they are espoused to Christ and have become a "chaste virgin" (marriage analogy applies). But since the Early Rain of the Spirit is given in a small amount, the new believer is left carnally minded, spiritually blind and unconverted. This was the spiritual condition of the Apostles during the time they walked with Christ in the flesh. We know they received the Early Rain of the Spirit at that time because they were able to recognize Jesus as the Christ and they accepted Him as their Lord. Without the Early Rain of the Spirit, no one can recognize Jesus as the Christ or have any faith in Him (1Cor 12:3). And since the Apostles were not yet converted after receiving the Early Rain of the Spirit, they had to wait for Christ (the Bridegroom) to return later to convert them. Their conversion happened on the Day of Pentecost.

When Christ comes a second time to an Elect believer, He will pour out the Latter Rain of the Spirit. This will give the believer a new birth as a child of God who will be gathered up to heaven with Christ where the Marriage of the Lamb will occur (spiritually speaking/it happens within the believer). And since the Latter Rain of the Spirit comes with power, the believer's spiritual blindness will be healed. Christ will then feed His new bride the truth of God at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. After the believer has received enough nourishment of the truth (bread and New Wine), the truth that they have received will bring judgment which will remove and destroy the "chaff" from within them. After their judgment is complete, the believer will be converted and "born again" as a new child of God.

I left out one important portion of the pathway to salvation which I will briefly explain here.

After a person receives the Early Rain of the Spirit, Satan will come to the new believer and take advantage of their spiritual blindness.

Christ teaches a short message on this below:

Mat 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself SEVEN other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

The spiritual symbol of an unclean spirit represents a spirit which teaches Satan's false truth through lies and deceptions.

Since a new believer remains spiritually blind (Mark 8:21-25) after receiving the Early Rain of the Spirit, they cannot replace their worldly false beliefs with the truth of Christ. ONE unclean spirit leaves but comes back with SEVEN more since the new believer's house remains empty. The number "seven" represents perfection. In this case, the number seven represents the perfection of Satan's lies/deceptions which come to a believer by the indwelling of the spirit of anti-Christ. Now, instead of ONE unclean spirit within the believer, they now have EIGHT. The number eight is a spiritual symbol which represents a new spiritual condition. In this case, the new spiritual condition is worse than the first.

This "worse than the first" spiritual condition causes the believer to become a False Prophet, a Man of Sin, a Minister of Satan and a Seven Headed Beast with Ten Horns & Crowns.

After the death of Paul, the spirit of anti-Christ entered the church and devoured the sheep (Acts 20:29-31). Since the end of the 1st century, all new believers will have to experience this Day of Evil (time of great tribulation) before Christ returns to them with the Latter Rain of the Spirit (which will restore their salvation).

This is what Christ is teaching here:

Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom (Satan's another gospel) shall be preached in all the world (the believer) for a witness unto all nations (the believer's beliefs); and then shall the end come (the return of Christ to convert the apostate Elect believer).

When Christ comes and pours out the Latter Rain of the Spirit, the believer's spiritual blindness will be healed. It is at this point that the believer will come out from Satan's deceptions and will be able to "see" the Abomination of Desolation that previously occurred within themselves (God's Temple).

Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand. 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains (typed by Lot):

After they have received this truth, judgment will fall and destroy the "man of sin" who they had become (2Thes 2:8). The story of Lot and Noah are "types" for this judgment and that is why Christ mentions them in His end-time teachings.

I know what I have presented above is a lot to take in. If you want to focus on a few verses of scripture, I would be happy to show how they fit into the pathway to salvation.

Joe

 

[Hobie]

“BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS,
and every eye will see Him,
even those who pierced Him;
and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him.
So it is to be. Amen”—Revelation 1:7 (NASB)
​

Revelation 1:7 begins with a prophecy from Daniel 7:13,14 (NASB): “Behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.” Daniel is speaking symbolically about our Lord’s Second Advent and how it will be associated with clouds (trouble) in the heavens—the religious systems of the earth. Jesus’ return is to establish the everlasting dominion and kingdom given to him by God.

The perception of many Christians is that everyone sees Jesus coming, literally, in the sky. However, Revelation 1:7 says Jesus comes in the clouds and then, every eye will see him, after he has arrived. This is consistent with Jesus’ statements that he would arrive as a thief (Matt. 24:43,44; Luke 12:39,40). Both the Apostle Paul and Apostle Peter confirm that Jesus would come, or return, at his Second Advent as a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10).

Jesus prophesied that after his return, “there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short” (Matt. 24:21,22 NASB). The tribulation comes from man’s selfishness, and we see that today. Nations, terrorists, and many different groups are warring against each other, struggling for power, influence, and survival. This struggle, if left unchecked, would destroy mankind; but Jesus and his bride return to prevent that destruction and establish Christ’s kingdom. The world of mankind does not see Jesus arrive, but they see the effect of his return in the troubles that ensue as Jesus implements the kingdom and dominion, given to him by God.​

No, they will see Him in the cloud of angels, and those saints in the graves will be raised and with the living saints will rise to meet Him in the air...

 

[Berean]

No, they will see Him in the cloud of angels, and those saints in the graves will be raised and with the living saints will rise to meet Him in the air...

Care to show scriptures for your views