Jesus is coming again. This devotional reading looks at how Jesus is coming in the clouds at the Second Coming.
Nuggets
- We do know that Jesus is coming back.
- This is the part that gets me to think this isn’t talking about the Rapture.
- Not everyone will be glad to see Jesus come.
- We should experience this event with grateful acceptance.
Jesus’ Church can’t wait until He returns! Revelation 1: 7 talks about that.
There is a lot of debate as to when the Rapture of the Church is actually going to happen. It appears to be early on if we take Revelation chronologically.
All we do know for sure is, at a specific point in the future, God will stop individually calling us home to Heaven and call the Church as a whole.
But what does God’s Word say this looks like? And is it talking about the Second Coming (i.e., the Rapture of the Church)? Or is it discussing the Day of the Lord (i.e., Judgment Day)?
Programming note: We are going to look at Revelation 1: 7 in this devotion. Then we are going to chase a rabbit and pull in from other verses to see if we can get a more complete picture of Jesus’ Second Coming.
Let's Put It into Context #1
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Devotions in the The Second Coming of Christ series
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Phil Weber
Let's Put It into Context #2
Jesus’ coming in the clouds was prophesied in Daniel 7. “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him” (Dan. 7: 13: ESV).
This is, according to Cawood, when Jesus is coming to establish His kingdom — i.e., get His Church.
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But this verse introduces a twist to what we normally think. We think Jesus is coming back here to pick us up.
This says “… he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him” (Dan. 7: 13: ESV). That ties into Revelation 5: 7 to my way of thinking. “And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne” (Rev. 5: 7 ESV).
This is where Jesus gets presented to God as being the only One worthy to open the scroll. That is when He unleashes all the tribulation.
But then Cawood had an alternate explanation. He thought this could be when Jesus ascended to Heaven. “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven’” (Ac. 1: 9-11 ESV).
But let’s see what we can get out of Revelation 1: 7.
Coming in the Clouds
“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen” (Rev. 1: 7 ESV)
We do know that Jesus is coming back.
This is a fact. “Behold, he is coming …” (Rev. 1: 7 ESV).
How and when needs to go in the UNR book — understanding not required.
God has been seen in the clouds before. This description does make us think about the Wilderness Wanderers at Mt. Sinai. “On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled” (Ex. 19: 16 ESV).
Placement is important. Jesus is coming from Heaven to earth. It is His triumphant return. It will be nothing like His birth and previous life on earth.
I like what Young said. He wrote,
“He shall come in the Father’s glory, invested with all His essential perfections, with all His authority, excellence, and majesty. He shall come in His own glory, the glory of His Deity, His person, and His offices as mediator. He shall come in the glory of the Holy Spirit, resting upon Him as the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel, and of might, of knowledge, and the fear of the Lord. … He shall be glorious in His chariot — the clouds of heaven, the wings of the wind.”
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There are several other verses that talk about Jesus riding the clouds.
- “Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Mt. 24: 30 ESV).
- “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Lk. 21: 27 ESV).
- “And Jesus said, ‘I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of Heaven’” (Mk. 14: 62 ESV).
- “Jesus said to him, ‘You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven’” (Mt. 26: 64 ESV).
- “Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Mt. 25: 30-31 ESV).
The clouds add the majesty of God to the picture. Think about it.
The Pharisees were asking for a sign. “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, ‘Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you’” (Mt. 12: 38 ESV).
Jesus wouldn’t give them any – except for the sign of Jonah. “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Mt. 12: 40 ESV).
This is going to be a big sign.
But then, right now, they add to the picture of mystery. When Jesus comes, they will be part of the revelation.
Some may read this to think that God is no longer the One in charge. Not true.
We remember in Matthew 28: 18 that Jesus was given all authority. That doesn’t mean that God abdicated the throne. Nor does it mean that God is ruler of the Israelites and Jesus is the ruler of Christians.
God is still on His throne and always will be.
Jesus acknowledged that the kingdom would be God’s even though He would be ruler.
Every Eye Will See Him
“... and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him ...” (Rev. 1: 7 ESV)
This is the part that gets me to think this isn’t talking about the Rapture.
To me, every eye seeing Jesus has to be the signaling of judgment. There will be no doubt of His return because everyone will see Him. This includes relievers and non-believers.
People will see Jesus as He really is. We read some of what Young said. Let’s read the rest.
“He shall be glorious in His throne — the great white throne. He shall be glorious in His apparel — robes of light; and also in His power — travelling in the greatness of His strength, mighty to save. … He shall be glorious in His attendants — the holy angels, the beings of light. He shall be glorious in His Church, who shall bear His blessed image, reflect His moral glory, and exhibit the transcendent excellence of the last, the finishing touch, of His glorious, [skillful], wonder-working hand. He will be glorified in His saints, and admired in all them that believe. He shall be glorious in His last great work of judgment and mercy, now finished for ever, and He shall contemplate the whole scene with Divine delight, and pronounce it to be good.
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The great white throne isn’t until Revelation 20 and the Day of the Lord.
There will be absolute proof that God is real. Everyone – even those that pierced Him – even those who do not believe – will know that Jesus is the only way to salvation.
This isn’t going to be CGIed. It isn’t part of some magic show.
This is God’s true power on display. It is the majesty of Jesus being seen by all – dead and alive.
John would have been there to see the piercing. “But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water” (Jn. 19: 33-34 ESV).
How do we watch? Through the eyes of our hearts – in faith.
We have a saying – seeing is believing. But is it really? We still have to make a decision as to what we are not seeing and whether we do believe it.
The final revelation will take place.
All Tribes Will Wail
“... and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him ...” (Rev. 1: 7 ESV)
Not everyone will be glad to see Jesus come.
There are two ways to look at all tribes. It could specifically refer to the tribes of Israel. This could be the result of Israel’s rejection of Jesus as the Messiah.
Or it could mean everyone.
There are some that feel the Church has replaced Israel as His people. I don’t see how that can be.
God told Abraham that the covenant was going to be forever. “And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you” (Gen. 17: 7 ESV).
The Israelites had one requirement to keep the covenant. “This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised” (Gen. 17: 10 ESV).
Still, even Moses acknowledged that was more than just cutting the flesh. “And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live” (Deut. 30: 6 ESV).
The bottom line with both is all about obedience. The Hall of Famers were obeying the law and being blameless. We are following God’s call to be holy.
Let’s look at the response of those not being obedient. Whoever is being discussed here is going to wail. Not a pretty cry – an ugly cry.
Don’t gloss over what that means. People have long fought the idea of the gospel being true.
This means that – on the Day of the Lord – there will still be people who do not believe Jesus is their Savior and Redeemer and Sovereign God is their Lord. They are going to fight until the end.
On that day, our consciousness will see Jesus as He is. They will find out they were wrong.
Some people will be sending themselves to hell.
Yes, we each must make our own decision about what we are going to do with Jesus. But I see a parallel here.
I didn’t commit the first sin, but I have to deal with the consequences of it. Someone living in Israel right now didn’t put Jesus on the cross, but they have to deal with the consequences of it — an increased difficulty in seeking the true Messiah, a lifetime of being told wrong information, etc.
Even So
“... Even so. Amen” (Rev. 1: 7 ESV)
We should experience this event with grateful acceptance.
Don’t take the “… Even so. Amen” (Rev. 1: 7 ESV) as disciples want the end so sinners get their just deserts.
It is joy that God’s eternal plan is set to commence.
Young told us that the even so part was Greek and the Amen part was Hebrew. All branches were covered.
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We should look at this as we are reaping the consequences of our actions. It was our choice to believe in Jesus or not.
We should gladly pay the price.
Jumping Ahead
“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand” (Rev. 14: 14 ESV)
This verse is one we are going to get to, but I thought it important to at least read it now.
What is happening in this passage is the harvest of the earth. That isn’t the Rapture of the Church.
Making the Connections
When we hear the words Jesus is coming back, what is our gut response? Do we say come now, or do we say can you hold off a bit?
The answer tells a lot about our spiritual condition at the time.
Oh, I know. We’ve all said please don’t come right now a time or two.
But that is for which disciples are to be longing. We are supposed to want to go home.
We can’t love God and not love His appearing.
I know. We are so caught up in this world.
Look what Luke said. “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Lk. 21: 34-36 ESV).
None of us know when that day will come. We need to be ready now.
How Do We Apply This?
- Be diligent in living for God.
- Be watchful because we don’t know how or when.
- Listen to how the Holy Spirit is instructing us.
- Get our spiritual condition right with God.
- Realize believers and non-believers will see Jesus in the end.
- Be prepared to meet your fate.
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Father God. We can’t wait until Jesus comes again! We don’t want know exactly how and when He is going to return. We want to be obedient and know how to watch for Him. Amen.
What do you think?
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