The verse in question, Revelation 1:7, states: “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.” This verse points to the visible, bodily return of Jesus Christ at the end of the age. But what exactly does it mean that “every eye will see him”?
A Visible, Physical Return
First, it indicates that Jesus’ return will be visible and physical in nature. When He comes back, it will not be in secret or as a spiritual manifestation. Rather, He will return in bodily form, descending on the clouds, and people will be able to physically see Him with their eyes. His appearing will be open and public before the entire world. This runs counter to teachings that Christ’s return will be invisible, happening in a spiritual sense only. Scripture teaches a literal, visible return that no one will miss.
A Global Event
Secondly, the statement that “every eye will see Him” suggests this will be a global event witnessed across the entire planet. Jesus’ return will not be localized or limited to only certain areas. The scope described in Revelation 1:7 is total and all-encompassing – every tribe, tongue, people and nation will together behold His coming. No matter where someone is located on the earth, they will see Christ coming on the clouds. His appearing will be impossible to miss as it will be universally experienced on a worldwide scale.
Undeniable & Unexpected
The universal scope of this event also indicates it will be undeniable and unexpected. No one will be able to deny Jesus’ return when it occurs, as all people everywhere will simultaneously witness it firsthand. It will not be an event that some dismiss as a localized incident or imaginary experience by only certain groups. The global view of His coming will make it an unmistakable reality that the entire world must come to grips with. Many will no doubt be caught off guard as His return happens suddenly like a “thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2). But none will deny its reality when He appears.
Believers & Unbelievers Alike
Fourthly, the statement that “every eye will see Him” indicates that His return will be witnessed by both believers and unbelievers alike. Both followers of Christ and those who have rejected Him will together view His coming from the clouds. None will be excluded from this universal experience. The scope includes everyone – young and old, rich and poor, rural and urban dwellers. No one will be left out of this global spectacle. The entire human race will collectively behold Him firsthand.
Judgment & Mourning
Lastly, John’s statement about “every eye will see Him” is followed by a prediction that this event will prompt mourning and wailing across the earth’s tribes and peoples. Though believers will rejoice at Christ’s return, Scripture predicts most of humanity will mourn and despair as His appearing signals the earth’s judgment has come (Rev. 6:15-17). People will panic as their rejection of truth is exposed and their sins are laid bare. Thus “every eye will see Him” is connected to the world’s mourning as its rebellion faces justice. Only those who already embraced Christ as Savior will rejoice at His return as King. The global scope indicates that all the world’s rebellion will be brought to account before the truth of Christ’s sovereign reign.
Possible Explanations of Universal View
But how can it be that every single eye on earth will realistically be able to see Jesus when He returns? This universal description has led to many questions about the exact nature of His visible appearing. How can it be achieved globally so that no one misses it? There are several possible explanations that theologians have put forward:
Supernatural Revelation
Some suggest God will grant a special supernatural revelation to each individual person on earth. Through divine intervention, the eyes of every human will behold Jesus, regardless of location or vantage point. No earthly obstruction or human limitation will prevent this universal view.
Celestial Phenomenon
Others propose that God could employ an extraordinary celestial sign, such as a luminous cross emblazoned across the sky, that would be universally visible regardless of time of day or one’s geographical location. Something is manifested in the heavens that defies any natural explanation.
Satellite Technology
Advances in satellite technology and global communications networks would possibly enable a real-time video broadcast of Jesus’ return that could be viewed instantaneously by the entire planet. His literal physical return would be seen worldwide through technological means.
Physical/Spiritual Body Combination
A supernatural combination of physical sight and spiritual perception granted by God is another explanation. People witness the physical sight of Jesus while also having spiritual eyes opened simultaneously to recognize Him. This combines natural and supernatural seeing.
Coming on the Clouds
Some have proposed that the pervasive atmospheric cloud cover encompassing the planet would enable worldwide visibility of Jesus returning on the clouds. Just as lightning illuminates clouds globally, so His coming would be evident across the earth’s cloud layers.
Primary Meaning is Universality
While the exact mechanism remains unclear, the main point is the worldwide, all-inclusive scope described in Scripture. Every eye indicates each and every person, without exception, across all of earth’s inhabited places witnessing together Christ’s bodily return at history’s consummation. No one seeing it will be able to reasonably deny what has occurred before their eyes. The Dave truth of Jesus’ promised return will be made undeniable for all humanity. How this global sight will precisely unfold awaits its fulfillment. But regardless of the particulars, the universality of the Revelations prophecy will be realized. The stage will be set for history’s final act when God makes known His Son to the whole world, drawing all systems to account before His sovereign throne and perfect justice.
OT Background of “Every Eye Will See Him”
John’s statement in Revelation 1:7 alludes to earlier Old Testament prophetic passages (Zechariah 12:10 and Daniel 7:13) that also describe a universal sight of God enacted on behalf of His people. Zechariah 12:10 declares, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.”
Though lacking the exact “every eye will see Him” phrasing, this prophecy mirrors Revelation’s prediction that Christ’s coming will prompt mourning and wailing, particularly by those who rejected Him. It connects His universal sight to the outpouring of mercy and grace that enables eyes to “look on me, on him whom they have pierced.” By God’s Spirit, sight is granted to comprehend the identity of Jesus as the incarnate God who was pierced yet now appears in glory. The result is bitter weeping and repentance by a world that finally understands the truth.
Daniel 7:13 similarly predicts, “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.” Here Daniel sees a vision of the ascended Jesus coming with the clouds of heaven into the Father’s presence. Revelation combines this cloud-coming vision with Daniel’s “behold” language to portray Christ’s visible return as a universal event seen by all.
Every Eye in Mourning Prophesied Elsewhere
The New Testament elsewhere picks up on the prophesied global mourning prompted by witnessing Christ’s return in glory:
– Matthew 24:30 – “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.”
– Matthew 26:64 – “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.”
– Acts 1:11 – This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
– Philippians 2:10-11 – “…so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
– 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 – “…when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”
– Titus 2:13 – “…waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
– Hebrews 9:28 – “So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”
– 1 Peter 1:13 – “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
How Long Will Christ Be Visible?
An additional question raised is how long Christ will be visible to the entire world when He returns. Will it be momentary like a flash of lightning, or an extended period as He carries out judgment? While Scripture does not give a precise duration, descriptions of His coming include more than a quick glimpse:
– Matthew 24:27-30 indicates people will see Him coming on the clouds and then “all the tribes of the earth will mourn” when they see the Son of Man arrive. Mourning implies a duration long enough for this to occur.
– Revelation 1:7 says “every eye will see Him.” Just “seeing” Him momentarily does not seem to fully align with the meaning here. Most see this implying an extended viewing.
– 2 Thessalonians 1 describes Christ returning “in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance.” Time seems needed for this vengeance to unfold.
– The global judgments described continuing in Revelation imply an extended period where Christ oversees these judgments poured out on the earth.
So evidence suggests more than a split-second appearance. How long exactly remains uncertain. But the duration will likely allow for the sequence of predicted global mourning, judgment, vengeance, and kingdoms becoming Christ’s (Rev. 11:15) to meaningfully play out before the watching eyes of the world.
The Mount of Olives Immediately Afterward
Though globally witnessed, Revelation 1 does not indicate Jesus’ exact destination when He returns. But other passages reveal where He heads next. The prophet Zechariah predicted the Messiah descending on the Mount of Olives at His coming:
– Zechariah 14:4 – “On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east…”
The New Testament confirms this location immediately following His global appearance:
– Acts 1:11 – “…This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.” (Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives just east of Jerusalem’s temple mount).
– 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 – “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire…”
Thus the Mount of Olives is the landing place for commencement of His millennial kingdom on earth, which follows His global descent on the clouds.
Sudden & Unexpected Like a Thief
Though Christ’s return will be globally witnessed, Scripture also compares it to a thief coming unexpectedly:
– Matthew 24:43-44 – “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. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
– Luke 12:39-40 – “But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
– 1 Thessalonians 5:2 – “For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”
– 2 Peter 3:10 – “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief…”
– Revelation 16:15 – “Behold, I am coming like a thief!”
How do we reconcile the worldwide visibility with the unexpected surprise? Though globally witnessed, His exact timing will catch the unbelieving world off-guard. Visibility does not preclude suddenness. His return remains imminent, unannounced, and undetected by those not faithful and alert for the signs of His coming. But once underway, no eye will miss His arrival.
Parallels to the Days of Noah & Lot
Though universally witnessed, Christ indicates His return will catch most people unaware, just as in the days of Noah and Lot:
– Luke 17:26-30 – “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”
Despite the Ark’s witness to coming judgment and Lot’s warnings to Sodom, the people were caught up in worldly routines and unprepared for the sudden calamity about to unfold. Though they surely saw Noah enter the Ark or witnessed the fire and sulfur falling, Christ compares most people’s spiritual unpreparedness at His return to these times of judgment. They will be caught off guard.
Who are Those Who Pierced Him?
Revelation 1 specifically says those who pierced Christ will see Him return. Who does this refer to?
– This cannot mean those literally responsible, as they would no longer be alive.
– But Zechariah 12 gives insight by mentioning both “house of David” and “inhabitants of Jerusalem” as looking upon the pierced one. This implies the Jewish people alive at Christ’s return.
– Israel rejected their Messiah and called for His crucifixion, crying “His blood be on us and on our children!” (Matt. 27:25). The nation corporately played a role in piercing their own Messiah.
– Thus end times Jewish people who have not yet accepted Christ seem in view here. They will mourn when recognizing He was their long-rejected Messiah sent to them. “House of David” implies Jews finally accepting Him as the prophesied descendant of David come to rule.
– The mourning indicates their repentance at His appearing, finally turning to their rejected Savior and King. Paul predicts this Jewish national repentance at Christ’s return (Rom. 11:12, 15, 25-27).
So the piercing seems to point primarily to ethnic Jews alive at the end who mourn their previous rejection when they see Him return in power and glory. Through this, “all Israel will be saved” when their hearts turn to Christ (Rom 11:26).
Faith is Strengthened by Remembering His Promised Return
In summary, the staggering global spectacle predicted when “every eye will see Him” serves as a reminder to believers to remain faithful as we eagerly await our Lord’s return. Titus 2:13 calls this our “blessed hope.” The worldwide visibility described for this prophesied day underscores that Christ’s return is a literal, actual event we can depend upon with utmost confidence. This certain hope strengthens endurance and fuels perseverance. The reality of His coming again in power and glory will be displayed before the entire inhabitants of the world. What an awe-inspiring day that will be! The knowledge that no enemy can ever stop His purposes from being fulfilled gives assurance and peace in times of trouble and uncertainty. Fixing our hope on this promised reality motivates purer living and greater devotion. Considering the worldwide impact of that day inspires more urgent boldness in witnessing. His coming again to be seen by every eye is the ultimate triumph of truth over deception, the public vindication of righteousness over wickedness before all creation. Maranatha! “Come, Lord Jesus!”
