"Every eye shall see Him." Rev 1:7 Does this mean that every dead person from Adam till the coming of Jesus will be resurrected to see Jesus coming in glory, then the righteous will go meet Jesus in the air and everyone else will die?
Let us compare this Bible text with other Bible texts
referring to the same event. Erroneous conclusions can be
reached if one bases one's understanding solely on only one
Bible text.
Rev 1:7 "Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye
will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the
peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it
be! Amen." NIV
Matt 24:30 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will
appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will
mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of
the sky, with power and great glory." NIV
Ezek 30:3 "For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near-
a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations." NIV
All these texts have this in common:
+ They all talk about Jesus' return.
+ People on earth will not be too happy about this event.
+ None of these texts refer to those who have accepted Jesus
into their lives and are saved.
It's interesting to note that in the Greek language of
Revelation 1:7 "people of the earth" is referred to as "pásai
hai fulaí teés gees" which literally means "all the tribes
of the earth". This is in sharp contact with "the tribes of
Israel" (see Rev 7:4 "Then I heard the number of those who
were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel." NIV and
Rev 21:12 "On the gates were written the names of the twelve
tribes of Israel." NIV, which is referring to the saved
Jews. The first group is terrified of Jesus' return, the
second group rejoices with this event.
"Those who pierced him" can also be found in John 19:36-37
These things happened so that the scripture would be
fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," and, as
another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have
pierced." NIV and both texts refer to Zech 12:10 "And I will
pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look
on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for
him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for
him as one grieves for a firstborn son. NIV
The expression here refers not only to those who crucified
Jesus literally on the cross, but also to those who have
rejected Jesus and have identified themselves with the same
spirit as Jesus' murderers.
Now that we have a better understanding of what Revelation
1:7 is referring to, we can now deal with "every eye shall
see Him". What happens when Jesus returns for the wicked?
Let us see what the Scriptures tells us:
2 Peter 3:7 "By the same word the present heavens and earth
are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment
and destruction of ungodly men." NIV
Heb 9:27-28 "Just as man is destined to die once, and after
that to face judgment…"NIV
2 Cor 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat
of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the
things done while in the body, whether good or bad." NIV
Rom 2:5-6 "But because of your stubbornness and your
unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself
for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will
be revealed." NIV
It's very clear from these texts that the ungodly will face
judgment and punishment. But what about the ones who are
already dead?
Rev 20:11-13 "Then I saw a great white throne and him who
was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and
there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and
small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.
Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead
were judged according to what they had done as recorded in
the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and
death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each
person was judged according to what he had done." NIV
The wicked dead will be resurrected for that event and will
face judgment as well.
What will happen with the ungodly?
Rev 20:15 "If anyone's name was not found written in the
book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." NIV
Not a pretty picture, isn't it? It is still time for you to
turn away from the certain destruction that is facing you.
Turn away from your sins and come to Jesus. Accept Him into
your life as your saviour and you will be saved from eternal
doom. Please go to http://www.answers2prayer.org/saviours_call.html
and invite Him into your life. Enjoy His fellowship. He
wants you to be His friend.
P. S. As for the resurrection of those who are saved, please
read:
1 Cor 15:51-54 "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not
all sleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet
will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we
will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with
the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality." NIV
1 Thess 4:15-18 "According to the Lord's own word, we tell
you that we who are still alive, who are left till the
coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who
have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from
heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel
and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ
will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are
left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord
forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words."
NIV
Rob Chaffart
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The following scriptures, I believe should answer your
question:
Revelation 20:1-10
And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key
to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2He
seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil,
or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him
into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep
him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand
years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a
short time. 4 I saw throne on which were seated those who
had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of
those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for
Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped
the beast or his image and had not received his mark on
their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and
reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5{The rest of the dead
did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.}
This is the first Resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those
who have part in the first resurrection. The second death
has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and
of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released
from his prison 8and will go out to deceive the nations in
the four corners of the earth-Gog and Magog- to gather them
for battle. In number they are like the sand on the
seashore. 9They marched across the breadth of the earth and
surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But
fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10And the
devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of
burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had
been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever
and ever.
This further throws light to the faith we profess as a
Christian. It is a peculiar faith and should be held in high
esteem. We have a place where we are going after leaving
this world. We are not animals without destination. We have
hope and that hope is in Jesus who did not only died but
resurrected and is seated at the right hand of God making
intercession for us with groaning that cannot be altered.
Answer: And now, dear brothers, I want you to know what
happens to a Christian when he dies so that when it happens,
you will not full of sorrow, as those who have no hope. For
since we believe that Jesus died and then came back to life
again, we can also believe that when Jesus returns, God will
bring back with him all the Christians who have died - I
Thessalonians 4:13-14
GENERAL FACTS ABOUT RESURRECTION:
When we are talking about resurrection generally there are
some facts we need to know for clear understanding.
There are two main kinds of resurrection, which are the
spiritual and the physical or bodily resurrection. Spiritual
resurrection is that of the spirit: being quickened from
death in trespasses and sins. This kind of resurrection
causes one to be renewed in the glorious likeness of God as
taught in Eph. 2:1-6; 5:14; 4:21-12; Col. 3:10. This takes
place only in this life.
When physical death comes, all possibility of such spiritual
resurrection has passed. Heb.9: 27
The physical resurrection is that of the body.
{b} There are two examples of bodily resurrection: one is
temporary while the other is permanent through divine power
to continue his mortal life.
Examples of this are clearly seen in both Old and New
Testaments. 1 Kings 17:17-22; 11Kings 4; 18-35; Mt. 9;
23-25; Jn. 11: 38-44; Acts 9:36-41.
By permanent we mean people to be raised to immortality to
life forever in their bodies.
This was exemplified by Christ and many Old Testament saints
who resurrected after His resurrection. 1Cor. 15:1-23; Mt.
27:53. It is this permanent resurrection we are talking
about.
GENTLE APPEAL UNTO SALVATION BEFORE TRIBULATION
Summarily, according to Revelation 20:5-15, there would be a
thousand year of satanic government upon the earth. Those
who would not go with the first resurrection (physical
resurrection) would be given a mark called 666. At that time
Satan would torment people, because you would buy and sell
with the mark of the beast. That would be the identity Satan
would give you to operate. He would have taken over the
world. You know he is the ruler of this world. Only those
who can endure such torment by the devil may be given
opportunity to pass through to heaven. That is what the
Bible calls, being saved through one's blood. The time of
grace would have passed...
Please don't wait until time of the great tribulation. Don't
wait until the time of when Satan would give you mark 666
before you accept Jesus. It may not be possible for you to
endure it. Take advantage of the grace of God released unto
us through Jesus Christ and be born again today. You cannot
stand the torment. Decide for Jesus today and REPENT!
If you need further help, please get back to me and I would
be willing to share with you.
God bless you.
Rev Debo Adeyemo
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My understanding is this:
1) The rapture (Latin for caught up) can happen any time
now. This is the first resurrection. Only those who are in
Christ will go, the dead first, then the alive saints. At
this point Christ appears in the air but does not come down
to reign.
2) Then, after 7 years of tribulation Christ comes down to
rescue those who are trapped in Jerusalem by Satan and his
forces. This is when Christ comes down to take the throne
from the anti-Christ (in-place-of Christ, by self
appointment).
3) Then the second resurrection is of those who died without
Christ.
4) Then the judgment of those in the second resurrection.
Since these people wanted to be judged by their works, they
are. And since every one of them fell short of God's glory
and sinned, BUT did not accept God's grace, they are all
thrown in to the lake of fire. (sin's penalty is death --a
second death)
5) Then those in the first resurrection and those who
converted afterwards are checked for eternal fruits (work
that helped bring souls along beside them) (or for making
new eternal friends). If no fruit to be rewarded for, they
still get to live with God forever, but have less
responsibilities.
see Matthew 24 & 25 and Revelation 19 & 20 and 1 Corinthians
3 & 15
Todd Shilt
PS. and every knee will bow
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Regarding Rev. 1:7, "every eye shall see him" "also they
which pierced him"
The book of Revelation clearly teaches that the dead in
Christ shall rise first and the rest (unsaved) will remain
in the grave until the thousand years is reached.
Based on this, "every eye" would mean every eye that is
living at the time of the 2nd advent. This include all that
have been raised from the grave and all that will be found
"living" when He appears. Interestingly, included with those
who will see Him in the clouds are those that had a special
part in His crucifixion. This event might have some
relationship with Dan. 12:2.
Ener Cabangis
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Dear brethrens,
When the bible talks of every eye here, it does not mean any
eye even those of insects! It is the eyes of all those
living at that time of His second coming. In Mathew 24:27,
Christ links His coming with the appearing of a lightening.
In verses 30, He talks of the nations seeing the Son of man
appearing and mourning for they rejected Him. Every eye of
any human being alive at the time of His second coming will
see Him when He appears on the Sky to take His people home.
Those who will be resurrected, since the time of Adam and
Eve, are the righteous dead (2 Thessalonians 4:13-17). The
only wicked dead, who will be resurrected that time, will be
those who pierced Him (either directly or those who after
His resurrection violently opposed the truth about His
ministry in Heaven. After they see Christ in His second
coming they will be killed by the brightness of His coming
(2 Thessalonians 2:8) Allow me to share with you a wonderful
statement I found while searching the answer to this
question.
"Graves are opened, and "many of them that sleep in the dust
of the earth. . . awake, some to everlasting life, and some
to shame and everlasting contempt." Daniel 12:2. All who
have died in the faith of the third angel's message come
forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God's covenant of
peace with those who have kept His law. "They also which
pierced Him" (Revelation 1:7), those that mocked and derided
Christ's dying agonies, and the most violent opposers of His
truth and His people, are raised to behold Him in His glory
and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and obedient."
Great Controversy 637
Other eyes of the wicked that refused the grace of God that
brings salvation will see Him only after the 1000 years when
they will be resurrected during the second resurrection.
On question we should be asking is this, will my eyes in
great joy see Christ in His second coming or I will run away
in great fear (Revelation 6:15-17).
May God bless you as you prepare for His Second coming.
Ezra K. Mingaine
Meru - Kenya
