The book of Revelation contains some vivid imagery about the second coming of Jesus Christ. One passage in particular has captured the imagination of Christians for centuries:
“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.” (Revelation 1:7)
This verse raises several questions: What does it mean that Jesus will come “in the clouds”? Why will people “wail” when they see him? Who are those that “pierced him”? Let’s explore these questions in more detail:
Jesus Coming in the Clouds
The image of Jesus coming in or on the clouds has roots in several Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah:
– Daniel 7:13 describes “one like a son of man” coming “with the clouds of heaven.” This “son of man” figure is later interpreted as representing the Messiah who will be given dominion over all nations (7:14).
– In Psalm 104, God’s presence is associated with “making the clouds his chariot” (v. 3).
– Isaiah 19:1 prophesies that the Lord will come riding “on a swift cloud.”
So in Jewish apocalyptic thought, God’s visible presence was associated with clouds. The clouds emphasized God’s glory, splendor and power.
The New Testament authors draw on these Old Testament themes when describing Jesus’ second coming. Mark 14:62 combines Daniel 7:13 and Psalm 110 when Jesus tells the high priest: “You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
This associates Jesus with the “one like a son of man” figure who approaches God’s throne in Daniel’s vision. It claims Jesus has been given supreme authority by God.
The book of Revelation draws heavily on Daniel and other Old Testament books. So when John describes Jesus returning “with the clouds,” it identifies him as the fulfillment of these prophecies about the Messiah coming in glory to establish his kingdom (Rev. 1:7).
Some key implications of this cloud imagery include:
– It emphasizes Jesus’ deity and divine glory, evoking symbols of God’s visible presence.
– It depicts his authority and kingship over all nations. He returns as the rightful ruler and judge.
– It may hint at his sudden, widely visible return. Clouds can span vast distances, suggesting every eye will see him.
– It is consistent with other biblical passages associating clouds with the end times and Jesus’ return (Matt. 24:30; 26:64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thess. 4:17).
So in short, saying Jesus will come “with the clouds” uses apocalyptic imagery to stress his deity, splendor, and role as sovereign Lord at his second coming.
People Wailing at Jesus’ Return
Revelation 1:7 claims “all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him” when Christ returns. This describes an intense, emotional reaction to seeing Jesus. The Greek word used is koptō, which means mourning, lamenting, or beating one’s breast in grief.
Why would Jesus’ return produce this kind of agony and remorse? Bible scholars offer several possible reasons:
1. For nonbelievers, it represents the horrifying realization that Jesus really is the Lord and they have rejected him. His visible return confirms what Christians have been claiming about his identity. Their lack of faith and obedience is exposed, producing grief and shock.
2. For those who pierced him, it signifies regret and sorrow at having put the Messiah to death. Some manuscripts even add “and those who pierced him,” possibly referring specifically to Jews involved in crucifying Christ (see John 19:37). Seeing the resurrected, glorified Jesus would bring sudden awareness of their terrible deed.
3. For all the wicked, it means awareness of their impending doom. The day of reckoning has arrived, and they are unprepared to face the righteous Judge. Their fate is sealed, provoking despair.
4. For believers, it may represent grief over loved ones who rejected salvation. While they rejoice at Christ’s return, they also are pained at the judgment facing the lost. The believer’s joy is mixed with somber realization of outcomes for the unbelieving.
5. Even for the redeemed, the awe and terror of seeing the glorified Christ may produce a gut-wrenching sense of unworthiness and conviction of sin. His purity exposes even our remaining imperfections.
So in summary, Christ’s sudden appearance will provoke mourning for a variety of reasons depending on each person’s spiritual state. But a common thread will be the shocking realization that Jesus is Lord of all. Knees will bow and “every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Phil. 2:10-11).
Those Who Pierced Him
Revelation 1:7 claims even “those who pierced him” will see Christ at his return. This is likely an allusion to the Roman soldiers who nailed Jesus to the cross. The crucifixion left literal piercings in Christ’s hands and feet.
But this phrase takes on additional symbolism in Scripture:
– The piercing of hands and feet was foreshadowed in Psalm 22:16, a messianic prophecy of the crucifixion: “they have pierced my hands and feet.”
– In Zechariah 12:10, a day is coming when “they will look on me, the one they have pierced.” This refers to Israel grieving over the Messiah they rejected, a theme applied in Revelation 1:7.
– John 19:37 quotes Zechariah 12:10 to portray Jesus’ crucifixion as fulfillment of that prophecy about piercing.
So at one level, “those who pierced him” refers historically to the Roman executioners. But in a deeper sense, it can apply broadly:
– To Jews who instigated Christ’s crucifixion or who rejected him as Messiah.
– To all people whose sins nailed Jesus to the cross, making them responsible for his death (Isaiah 53:5; Romans 4:25).
– To even wider authorities and powers behind human evil – Satan, demons, even abstract enemies like sin and death itself could be viewed as “piercing” Jesus.
Therefore, “those who pierced him” ultimately points to every individual and power that played a role in the crucifixion. At his return, Jesus will confront and defeat all his adversaries, with even those complicit in his death being forced to acknowledge his lordship. The executioners will meet their executed King face-to-face as ruler of all.
Old Testament Allusions
Revelation 1:7 packs several allusions to Old Testament prophetic passages about the Messiah and day of the Lord:
– “He is coming with the clouds” echoes Daniel 7:13.
– “Every eye will see him, even those who pierced him” echoes Zechariah 12:10.
– “All tribes of the earth will wail” connects to similar phrasing about the coming judgment in Zechariah 12:12 and Matthew 24:30.
– These same Old Testament books contain other passages about mourning at the Messiah’s appearance (Zechariah 12:11-14) and about God coming in clouds (Daniel 7:13; Joel 2:1-2; Zephaniah 1:14-15).
By drawing on these motifs, John portrays Jesus as fulfilling multiple Old Testament prophecies about the returning King and coming Day of Judgment. Revelation 1:7 is a compact summary of these crucial end-times themes.
This further reinforces that Jesus is the long-expected Messiah who will appear in power and glory to render judgment, proving that all Scripture testifies about him (Luke 24:27, 44).
The Structure of Revelation
Revelation 1:7 also plays a strategic role in introducing the main themes of the book of Revelation:
– It concludes the prologue (1:1-8) by transitioning into John’s first vision.
– It functions like a thesis statement overviewing the whole book – Christ will return visibly to judge the world and vindicate his people. The rest of the book elaborates on this central event.
– It sets up some of the book’s distinctive vocabulary, like “coming,” “seeing,” “piercing,” “wailing” which are repeated in later visions.
– It establishes connections to the Old Testament prophetic background essential for understanding John’s visions.
So Revelation 1:7 inaugurates the body of the book by stating its main focus – the consummation of God’s kingdom through Christ’s return in power and glory. This glimpse of the Second Coming motivates all that follows in Revelation.
The Identity and Role of Jesus
Details in Revelation 1:7 underscore key facets of Christ’s identity and his end-times role:
– His divine nature and authority, coming with the clouds like God.
– His human nature and sacrifice, having been pierced when crucified.
– His resurrection, exaltation and kingship, for he returns alive and glorified.
– His function as final Judge over all nations, provoking laments and fear.
– His victory over all competing rulers and powers who oppose God.
– His vindication and redemption of his covenant people.
So this compact verse encapsulates major christological themes regarding who Jesus is – Son of God, crucified Savior, resurrected King – and what he will do when he returns to establish his kingdom.
The Impact on John’s Readers
For the original audience of Revelation, this glimpse of Christ’s return would have:
– Comforted them amidst persecution. Their exalted Lord would have the final victory.
– Motivated holy living and perseverance, knowing the end was near.
– Spurred efforts to evangelize, realizing time was short.
– Renewed their hope by depicting the future fulfillment of God’s promises.
– Deepened their worship, seeing Christ’s worthiness to receive “glory and dominion forever and ever” (Rev. 1:6).
– Prompted self-examination to be ready for Christ’s coming.
So for these early Christian readers, Revelation 1:7 anchored their faith in the climactic event towards which all history was heading – the return of their triumphant Savior and King.
Conclusion
Revelation 1:7 uses vivid symbolic language to capture biblical hopes for Christ’s return in glory as righteous Judge and sovereign Lord over all. It points to the climactic moment when God’s kingdom will be manifested fully, sin and evil will be abolished, and the redeemed will reign with Christ forever.
For Christians through the ages, this majestic vision of Jesus coming on the clouds inspires reverence, worship, hope, and a longing that “Amen, come Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20). It provides assurance that God’s purposes will triumph decisively. And it spurs readiness, purity, and faithfulness in awaiting the day when “every eye will see him.”
Maranatha! “Our Lord, come!” (1 Corinthians 16:22). Even so, come Lord Jesus!
