Revelation 1:7

Revelation chapter 1. I’m reading verses 4 to 7, but our focus is on verse 7. John to the seven churches which are in Asia, grace be unto you and peace, from him which is, which was, and which is to come, and from the seven spirits which are before his throne. and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth, unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and have made us kings and priests unto God and his father. To him be glory. and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, they also which pierced him, and all the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him, even so. Amen. May God bless to us the reading of His holy and sacred world. word this morning. Now in our previous studies, we have considered what I consider a very important aspect when we look at the book, and that is the contemporary nature of the book. We looked at the very first verses and the last verses in chapter 1 and chapter 22 that told us very clearly, these things must shortly come to pass, the time is at hand. These things. These things must shortly be done and so forth. Throughout the book then, we looked and saw the time clues that indicate to us that much of the book still has a contemporary focus to it. For example, we saw in chapter 1 and verse 9 that John was a companion in the tribulation, as the article was there in the Greek. The church at Philadelphia would be kept from the hour of trial, chapter 3, verse 10. We saw that the temple was still standing in chapter 11 of the book of Revelation, verses 1 and 2. We saw that God avenges the apostles and the prophets when he destroys Babylon in Revelation chapter 18, indicating to us that the apostles were being avenged. and the prophets, both the apostles and prophets, were the foundational people of the church, Christ being the chief cornerstone. This gives us an early indication of the book. We said that the first fruits of the Jews are mentioned in chapter 7 and chapter 14, the 144,000, and that would not be the last fruits, you know, thousands year later, but the first fruits of the original. people, the first initial people coming into the Church of Christ. And then we said the fifth king of the beast in chapter 17, the book of Revelation, was still on the throne. At the time, John is writing, indicating to us that the beast is contemporary with John, not something in the far-off future. Now, with that in mind, what does John expect to happen in the near future? future with regard to his original audience. There’s pretty broad consensus by all commentators that verse 7 of chapter 1 is the theme of the book of Revelation. However, there is a diversity of opinion as to the interpretation of this key verse. But whatever this verse teaches, shouldn’t it fit in with the contemporary nature of the book as revealed in Revelation 1, 1 to 3 and throughout the book? So let’s begin with this verse 7. Behold, he cometh with the clouds, or with clouds. Behold, he cometh. Evangelical Christians, commonly apply any reference to Christ’s coming to the second coming of Jesus Christ. The Bible clearly teaches in no uncertain terms that Jesus Christ will personally and physically return to this earth at the last day, at the end of the world, so to speak. Christ coming in glory will result in the status. a way of the righteous, in the destruction of the wicked, in the resurrection of the dead, in a general judgment of all men, and in the new heavens and the new heavens and the new earth. Now I’m going to look at three verses, three passages of Scripture with regard to the second coming, so that we are very clear that there are passages that teach this doctrine. Without question. And I’d like if someone would read First Thessalonians 413 through chapter 5 and verse 3 for us. Would someone be willing to do that? Raina? Okay. Would someone read for us 2nd Thessalonians 1, verse 7 to 10? Russell. And would somebody read for us 2nd Peter 3? verses 1 to 13. Hazel wants to do it. Okay, Timothy. I was going to say, I thought you were teaching to read young, but I didn’t think it was going to be that yet. First Thessalonians, chapter 4, verse 13, through chapter 5, verse 3. But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen in sleep, unless too sorrow, we believe that Jesus am those who sleep. For this we say to you, well, by no means, for the Lord himself would, for the Lord himself, for the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together and thus we shall always be. But concerning the times and when they say people. So here we have the catching up of the saints of God. And notice that there’s a glorification of the saints. They change. Their bodies are changed. The dead are raised and so forth. There’s destruction of the wicked that takes place. these things indicate to us that this is a personal physical return of Jesus Christ. And there shouldn’t be any question, I think, about that. Now, how about 2nd Thessalonians chapter 1, verses 7 to 10? Someone read that, who I think Russell had that. And to you who are troubled, rest with us for the Lord Jesus? Should we reveal in heaven? repunished? We have, you know, Christ’s return and the promise of retribution on those who harm his people. Everlasting destruction, indicating the casting into hell and the glorification of the saints are all mentioned here, indicating to us. This is, of course, the second coming of Christ. And if you would, Second Peter, Chapter 3, 3, verses 1 to 13. Mark, or Timothy, I think, had that. That’s right. Timothy. And here, we can see that this passage has to do with the destruction of the earth. Remember, he compares it to the flood. And the flood covered the whole earth. It was a destruction of those on the earth except for Noah and his family that was spared. And then, of course, this time, when Christ comes, it will be fire that will destroy the earth. We’ll have a new heavens and a new earth, as he mentions here. We’re in dwells righteous. for this one does not have righteousness in it. So these passages, I think, are very clearly indicative of the teaching that we will find throughout Scripture about the second coming of Christ. Do we have any questions about those issues? Okay. You can’t be, I don’t think you can be sound into faith and deny the second coming of Christ. There are many today who do so, including those who are what we call full preterists who believe that all prophecies fulfilled. There is no second physical, personal second coming of Christ. We would deny that. We say there is, and the Bible clearly teaches it. The question that we’re going to ask, that we need to ask, though, is, is this the second coming that’s being talked about in chapter 1 and verse 7? Because, and this is my second point. here is that Christ comes in many contexts that do not refer to the second coming of Christ. And this point needs to be honestly realized and evaluated. So that whenever we come to a phrase where it talks about Christ coming, we can’t automatically assume that it’s talking about the second coming of Christ. Now, I want you to look here in Book of Revelation with me. to chapter 2 in verse 5. Here Christ is speaking to the church at Ephesus. Now notice what he says here. Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen and repent, do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly. It will remove thy candlestick out of his place except thou repent. Now you’ll notice that Jesus’all prostrate. is here. He’s going to come, and he’s going to come quickly. This is not speaking of the second coming of Christ for us. We know today the church at Ephesus no longer exists. The candlestick has been removed. He must have come somewhere along the line and removed it. It wasn’t the personal, visible second coming of Christ. But he says he’s coming. Now look at verse 16. the church at Pergamus. Repent or else I will come onto thee quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. These are the people that hold the doctrine of Balam and the doctrine of Nicolaeans that Christ is going to destroy them. He’s going to bring judgment against them. But he’s says he’s going to come quickly here. Look at chapter 3 in verse 3 to the church at Sardis. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent. If therefore thou wilt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. So he seems to indicate here that they should be cautious because he’s going to come and he’s going to deal with the church if they don’t repent of what they’re doing. Look at chapter 3 verse 11. He’s writing here to the church at Philadelphia. And he says, Behold, Jesus says, behold, I come quickly. Hold that fast which thou hast that no man. man, take thy crown. And then look at verse 20. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come into him and will sup with him and he with me. me. The coming in reference to this seems to refer to these churches that existed in John’s day and it’s contemporary in the sense that he’s talking about coming quick. and at one point he says I’m at the door. Now, look with me also at the book of Matthew, if you would, chapter 10 and verse 23. Now in this particular passage of scripture, you’ll notice from verses 5 and 6 that Jesus is sending his 12 disciples out to preach the gospel of the kingdom. And he mentions that they’re not to go into the way of the Gentiles or the Samarans, but preach to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. That’s verses 5 and 6. Now, and 7 also where he tells them what they’re going to preach. But look at verse 23. But when they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For verily I said, you shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the son of man become. come. Now, you’ll notice that he’s speaking here to the disciples, and he’s indicating to them that he’s going to come before they actually reach all the cities here of Israel. As they go forth and preach the gospel, there’s going to be some persecution for their faith. But they could expect the son of man or the sum of God here to come, in their lifetime. And then if you would, let’s look at the book of John. There are other passages we could look at, but I’m just going to look at a few this morning, just so we have an idea of this. Chapter 14 and verses 16 to 18. And I will pray the Father, He shall give you another comforter that he may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not. neither knoweth him, but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. And then if you would skip down to verse 23, Jesus answered and said unto him, if a man love me, he will keep my words, and my father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him. Now in each of these passages, Jesus Christ has said to come, but they can’t be referring here to the second coming of Christ. But there’s a sense in which Christ comes in a spiritual sense, not in a physical sense, as he will, at the second coming. In the letters to the churches, in Revelation 2 and 3, he comes, but he’s dealing with a special problem in each of the churches. In John’s Gospel, the promise to come seems to relate specifically to the coming of the Spirit, to empower the church, like at the day of Pentecost and so forth. He says, I’m coming, but he’s actually coming in the person of the spirit. He’s saying that it is going to be the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit who testifies of me is going to come. and then in the gospel of Matthew, Christ coming is promised to be within the lifetime, I said, of the disciples. And I suggest you that there’s a reference here to the destruction of Jerusalem and that they will not completely go through all the cities of Israel before he comes in that sense. What I’m going to tell you is this. We can’t just just just to the conclusion, then when we read about Christ’s coming in some sense in scripture, that it always refers to the second coming. There are occasions when we see that it does not, and it doesn’t appear to be. We have to look at the context. And that’s what we have to do here with the book of Revelation, chapter 1 and verse 7. What is he talking about when he says here that he is, going to come. Behold he cometh. So here we have Christ coming. The question is, what kind of coming is it? That brings me to my second major point, and that is this. Christ coming with the clouds. Behold, he cometh with the clouds. You know, my father, when we were in the fundamental Baptist church, we would sing when the roll is called up yonder, and one of the lines is on that bright and cloudless morning. And my father would say, wait a minute, he’s coming with the clouds. If you were sitting or standing next to him, when he sang, he would say, on that bright and cloudy morning, when the dead in Christ shall rise. In order to be scriptural, he said, I have to be scriptural. He took this in a very literal sense when he did it. But in order to understand the significance of this, language, when we read about the Lord coming with the clouds, we have to see that there’s an Old Testament imagery that is associated with this. A cloud coming in the Old Testament, as we’ll see in the new as well, is associated with divine wrath and judgment in many occasions, on many occasions. often to a temporary judgment in history. God is portrayed as surrounded by clouds or riding on the clouds, and sometimes on a thick, dark storm clouds with lightning and so forth flashing, and there’s the downpour of wrath associated with it. Now look with me at Psalm 18, if you would. Psalm 18 and verses 7 to 15. Psalm 18, verses 7 to 15. Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken because he was wroth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, fire out of his mouth, devoured. Coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also and came down, and darkness was under his chest. feet. He rode upon a cherub and did fly. Yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness his secret place. His pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies, and the brightness that was before him, his thick clouds passed, hailstones, and coals of fire. The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the highest gave his voice, hailstones, and coals of fire. He sent out his arrows and scattered them, and he shot out lightnings and discomforted them. Then the channels of the waters were seen and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of thy nostrils. Now this Psalm, you’ll notice in the preface, has to do with the Lord delivering David from all his enemies. And we see here he speaks about how God, you know, comes down from heaven in this cloud and judges the enemy. Now, remember, David speaks prophetically. He speaks of Christ here. And if you look at this whole Psalm, I think that becomes obvious. So here is a coming with clouds that is prophetic. It is messianic. And if you read through the Psalm, you’ll see this is the case. We’ve looked at this Psalm in the past. It’s messianic and its message. And it has to do with Christ enemies being destroyed, not merely David’s enemies. And therefore, it is relevant to our text and Revelation 1-7. Also, let’s look at Isaiah chapter 19, if you would, in verses 1 to 4. The burden of Egypt, behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt, and the Isles of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it, and I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians, and they shall fight everyone against his brother, and everyone against his neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom, and the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof, and I will destroy the counsel thereof, and they shall seek to the idols and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards, and the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel Lord, and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord of hosts. Now this passage of scripture, if you read it through, you’ll see that it really is in reference to the Babylonians’ destruction of Egypt. And if we look at this carefully, what God is telling us is that he is the one who’s bringing this judgment. He is using Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians to bring judgment. But he rides on the cloud here. and brings judgment. And then, if you would, the book of Nahum, chapter one, one of the minor prophets, Josea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahom, Chapter 1, this is 1 to 6. The Burden of Innova, the Book of the Vision of Nahom, the Alchoshite. God is jealous, and the Lord Rev. revengeth, the Lord revengeth in his furious, and will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord hath his way in the whirlwind, and in the storm, and the clouds of the dust of his feet. He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and dryeth up all the rivers. But shan languisheth. Carmel and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation, and who can abide the fierceness of his anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. Now, if you read through this book, it is a judgment against Nineveh, the Assyrian capital. And God is talking about when he comes and he brings judgment, he is like someone who comes on a cloud here. He comes in might, in fury, if you would, like a storm cloud, and brings judgment. Some of these. may indeed be past judgments that have already fallen, but he tells us about God and about how he brings judgment, and this is what they can expect. Now, obviously, God does not literally and visibly ride on a cloud when judging Israel or Egypt or Syria. This is figurative language. When these occurred, we didn’t see God up, like coming down from heaven, some kind of appearance in that. sense. But what is portrayed is God’s direct hand in putting down these kingdoms by invasion in war. And Babylon, in both in the case of Nineveh and in the case of Egypt, both of these cases have to do with the Babylonian Empire being used. now could revelation chapter 1 and verse 7 refer to the second coming of Christ? Yes, because it is a judgment coming. When Christ comes again, we read that he’s going to bring judgment upon the wicked. And we looked at those various passages in 2 Peter 3 and 1st Thesslonians 5 and so forth. But in that when Christ comes, when Christ comes, the second time, it’ll be literally and physically that he’ll come. What we must also recognize is that Christ many times comes in clouds of judgment throughout history, not actually visible, but his hand must be acknowledged in the judgment. In other words, he’s telling us that he is bringing this judgment, even though we may not not see him visibly riding on the clouds or something of that nature. In fact, in Revelation, we find Christ portrayed as sitting on a throne and ruling the nations with a rod of iron, as Revelation 1915 tells us, telling us that he is in control, that he’s going to put down nations, he’s going to raise up nations, and so forth. At this point, I didn’t get as far as I wanted to go. But how else does Revelation show Christ coming? Well, there are two passages in Revelation where he said to come with the clouds. And we’re going to look at those two and see what they refer to. Do they refer to the second coming of Christ, his physical return? Or do they return to a judgment coming of Christ? And that will help us to understand. understand how we should interpret Revelation 1-7. But our time is gone, and I’m going to have to stop at this point. Any questions on today’s study?