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. Revelation 1:7
The Second Coming of Jesus is the theme of the Word of God. You cannot understand His crucifixion without understanding His coronation. All of the great doctrines of the Word of God are inextricably interwoven with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Are you in trouble or heartache? Are you suffering with headline hysteria? His Second Coming gives us stability and comfort.
Remember James 5:7, "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord...." It is a comforting thought to know that Jesus is coming again (read 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). I am greatly comforted by this rock-ribbed truth! And I have an excited anticipation and deep longing for Jesus to return.
Revelation 1:7 says, "Behold He cometh with clouds." Jesus is on the way! We ought to be living as though Jesus died last night, rose this morning, and is coming back tonight.
I believe that we are living closer to His coming than any generation that has ever lived. Should Jesus Christ come today all of those who have died in Christ will be raised from the grave. And those of us who remain will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (see 1 Corinthians 15:52).
The drama of the ages is about to be completed. The curtain is about to rise and Jesus is about to step one more time onto the stage of humanity!
The first act was His incarnation as a baby born of a virgin in Bethlehem. He took off His royal robes and put on swaddling clothes. The second act was His death, burial, and resurrection. He died in agony to pay our sin debt with His red, royal blood.
Now, we look for the final act — His coronation when He comes to be crowned King of kings and Lord of lords.
Revelation 1:7 says "and every eye shall see Him." That means that every person who has ever lived from Adam to this day will see the Lord Jesus Christ. Even those who are in the graves will not miss His coming.
When Jesus steps from His lofty throne, He's going to give a shout. Maybe He'll say something like He said in John 11 when He called Lazarus from the grave, "Come forth!" His voice will echo and reverberate through the length and breadth of death's empire.
Those who have died at sea will come from the heaving bosom of the ocean. The winding sheets of the desert sand will release those who've died in battle. The ground will break forth in a joyful resurrection!
And there's going to be a rapture of those who are still living. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says, "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
He's coming, not only to receive His own, but to reveal His glory.
Do you know what the word Revelation means? It means an unveiling. Jesus came veiled in flesh, but one day that veil is going to be torn away. 2 Thessalonians 2:10 says, "When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe...."
Jesus is going to be glorified in the saints, by all the angels, and indeed by Satan himself. All of the demonized host of hell will tremble at the glorified Jesus. And they will be forced to bow the knee to Jesus Christ. Satan will be forced to admit his absolute defeat and the triumph of the Lamb!
Now let me bring you to the final scene of the final act. Not only will we see the rapture and the revelation of the glory of our Lord, but Jesus will also begin His reign. Jesus is coming to rule and reign.
The bride belongs with the Groom. The criminal belongs in prison and the King belongs on the throne. And one day soon — very soon, this will happen!
"Behold He cometh with clouds and every eye shall see Him, even so, say Amen."
