Salutatory Address - Future Times
In Revelation 1:3 we see a literal prophetic intent for this writing: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy.” The author will note the prominence that is placed upon the prophetic declaration: it directly precedes the first mention of the “seven Churches.” It should also be noted that preceding the mention of the “seven Churches” is an exhortation to all individuals that a blessing be upon those who read and hear and keep the things that are contained within this “revelation.”
Practically speaking we should understand John would be well aware that the readers would not be limited to the Church membership of those addressed seven communities. In effect this opening exhortation should then be viewed as historically relevant to all peoples and consequently peoples of all times.
Moving to Revelation 1:7 we see the next clear historical reference; “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.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.”
The very first notable prophecy in this passage deals with Yeshua coming in the clouds. In the event any reader thinks this symbolic, let us review the following from Scripture.
Matthew says: Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 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. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:29–31)
Matthew states: And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? What is it which these witness against thee? But Yeshua held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living G_D, that thou tell us whether thou be the Messiah, the Son of G_D. Yeshua saith unto him, thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, he hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. (Matthew 26:62–65)
Acts states: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Yeshua, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:8–11)
We see in Scripture that Yeshua will indeed come again to Earth and in no way shape or form will this return be symbolic. His return will be real, glorious and awesome. Remaining within the confines of verse seven the author finds it intriguing that all eyes will see him coming, even those who pierced him. Should one consider this to be symbolic or literal in meaning? Logically it should be construed this passage is literal and the “those that pierced him” reference is not intended to be symbolic for unbelieving sinners alive at that time given the text. It seems apparent a literal intent is meant and that not just the living will witness the coming of the Son of Man but all who ever lived; even those who are asleep in the dust. How this can be explained in further details unfortunately escapes the comprehension of this author. This must be added into the massive list of the “I just don’t know” category, and it will be left at that.
Pressing on let us next examine “kindreds!” Kindred: a group of related persons, as a clan or tribe. (24) We see here that people of all ethnic clans or races will wail upon his coming. This means everyone both Jew and Gentile alike.
Let us examine “wail!” Wail: to grieve or protest loudly and bitterly; lament; to utter a prolonged, inarticulate, mournful cry, usually high pitched or clear-sounding, as in grief or suffering: to wail with pain. (25)
We see this glorious appearance of the Son of Man in the clouds will surely not be a welcome sight by all the nations of the Earth. In context we should at first glance surmise this passage minimally reads as “general lamentation” throughout the planet.
Although there is no clear indication there will be any “joy” it would seem the passage may not necessarily include all people in the lamentation. The author will be careful to declare however that this passage just might indicate there will be no joy at all!
So historically what can we deduce from this global lamentation? Initially we should look at this in the context of the Church of Messiah. If the Church is here then there should be much joy in the world for this is what believers are awaiting: his coming! Where then is the joy? The author would contend there are only a few possibilities.
First we could have a Church which is extremely small in number or secondly we could have a scenario in which the Church of Messiah is no longer here at all in a recognizable capacity. Further insight into these possibilities will have to be explored as we proceed through more of the Revelation.
From a human population perspective we also need to consider why the Son of Man causes so much lamentation. Could it be this lamentation is a general reaction of seeing first-hand what was not believed? Or could it be this “coming of the Son of Man” is expected, but the sheer awe of the appearance is dreadful?
In any of the potential scenarios posed it should be concluded that the state of mankind at this coming of Messiah must be one which is in an extreme state of sinfulness, un-holiness and or indifference.
Without even considering the possibility that Messiah’s second coming is symbolic what does Scripture indicate to us will be the purpose of this climatic appearance?
Isaiah states: I have commanded my consecrated ones, yea, I have called my mighty ones for mine anger, even my proudly exulting ones. Hark, a tumult in the mountains, like as of a great people! Hark, the uproar of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together! The Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole earth. Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; as destruction from the Almighty shall it come. Therefore shall all hands be slack, and every heart of man shall melt. And they shall be affrighted; pangs and throes shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman in travail; they shall look aghast one at another; their faces shall be faces of flame. Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel, and full of wrath and fierce anger; to make the earth desolation, and to destroy the sinners thereof out of it. (Isaiah 13:3–9)
Isaiah states: Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the earth: say ye to the daughter of Zion: “Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.” And they shall call them the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord; and thou shalt be called Sought out, a city not forsaken. “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with crimsoned garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, stately in the greatness of his strength?”—”I that speak in victory, mighty to save.”—”Wherefore is Thine apparel red, and thy garments like his that treadeth in the winevat?”—”I have trodden the winepress alone, and of the peoples there was no man with me; yea, I trod them in mine anger, and trampled them in my fury; and their lifeblood is dashed against my garments, and I have stained all my raiment. For the day of vengeance that was in my heart, and my year of redemption are come. And I looked, and there was none to help, and I beheld in astonishment, and there was none to uphold; therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me, and my fury, it upheld me. And I trod down the peoples in mine anger, and made them drunk with my fury, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.” (Isaiah 62:11–63:6)
Isaiah states: For, behold, the Lord will come in fire, and his chariots shall be like the whirlwind; to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire will the Lord contend, and by his sword with all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many. They that sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go unto the gardens, behind one in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the detestable thing, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord. For I [know] their works and their thoughts; [the time] cometh, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and shall see my glory. . . . And they shall bring all your brethren out of all the nations for an offering unto the Lord, upon horses, and in chariots, and in fitters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel bring their offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. And of them also will I take for the priests and for the Levites, saith the Lord. For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have rebelled against me; for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. (Isaiah 66:15–66:24)
Daniel states: Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was diverse from all of them, exceeding terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell; even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke great things, whose appearance was greater than that of its fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High; and the time came, and the saints possessed the kingdom. Thus he said: “The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise; and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings. And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the seasons and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. But the judgment shall sit, and his dominions shall be taken away, to be consumed and to be destroyed unto the end. And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.” Here is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my thoughts much affrighted me, and my countenance was changed in me; but I kept the matter in my heart. (Daniel 7:19–28)
The reader is probably aware there are scores of Scriptural passages which are end times related. Far too many to deal with in depth for the purposes of this topical discourse! What can be seen throughout these end times passages however is consistent. The recurring themes are the wrath of G_D, the destruction of sinners, the return of righteous and just stewardship to the Earth, the restoration of Israel, the exaltation of the chosen people and the subjugation of the chosen peoples’ enemies.
The bottom line from a prophetic vantage point is the coming of Yeshua the Messiah is the coming of judgment and the installation of G_D’s Earthly Kingdom. According to Scripture these are not symbolic events! These events represent our future!
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