Revelation of John 1:7
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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 because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
with clouds--Greek, "the clouds," namely, of heaven. "A cloud received Him out of their sight" at His ascension (Act 1:9). His ascension corresponds to the manner of His coming again (Act 1:11). Clouds are the symbols of wrath to sinners. every eye--His coming shall therefore be a personal, visible appearing. shall see--It is because they do not now see Him, they will not believe. Contrast Joh 20:29. they also--they in particular; "whosoever." Primarily, at His pre-millennial advent the Jews, who shall "look upon Him whom they have pierced," and mourn in repentance, and say, "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord." Secondarily, and here chiefly, at the general judgment all the ungodly, not only those who actually pierced Him, but those who did so by their sins, shall look with trembling upon Him. John is the only one of the Evangelists who records the piercing of Christ's side. This allusion identifies him as the author of the Apocalypse. The reality of Christ's humanity and His death is proved by His having been pierced; and the water and blood from His side were the antitype to the Levitical waters of cleansing and blood offerings. all kindreds . . . shall wail--all the unconverted at the general judgment; and especially at His pre-millennial advent, the Antichristian confederacy (Zac 12:3-6, Zac 12:9; Zac 14:1-4; Mat 24:30). Greek, "all the tribes of the land," or "the earth." See the limitation to "all," Rev 13:8. Even the godly while rejoicing in His love shall feel penitential sorrow at their sins, which shall all be manifested at the general judgment. because of--Greek, "at," or "in regard to Him." Even so, Amen--Gods seal of His own word; to which corresponds the believer's prayer, Rev 22:20. The "even so" is Greek; "Amen" is Hebrew. To both Gentiles…
Open source ↗This chapter is a general preface to the whole book, and contains, I. An inscription, declaring the original and the design of it (Rev 1:1, Rev 1:2). II. The apostolic benediction pronounced on all those who shall pay a due regard to the contents of this book (Rev 1:3-8). III. A glorious vision or appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ to the apostle John, when he delivered to him this revelation (Rev 1:9 to the end).
Open source ↗Cross-references
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At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence.
“I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
And, as another Scripture says: “They will look on the One they have pierced.”
At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.
and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.
“You have said it yourself,” Jesus answered. “But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.