Whats being missed in Revelation 1:7 when it says EVERY EYE will see him, incl. "those who pierced him"???

Question

I, for one, am sick to DEATH with the "invisible return" concept.

I don't want to hear all that bunk about seeing Him with "Eyes of faith" either. Because, for one, there is no Scriptural basis for spiritualizing the concept--no mention ANYWHERE in Scripture about "eyes of faith". And, two, how could the nation of Israel ("those who pierced Him"), who don't yet believe He is the Messiah, see Him with eyes of faith, when they have NO FAITH--and no clue--that He is the one they are supposed to be looking for???

The explanation is just stupid, stupid, STUPID!!!! If I hear it one more time, I'm gonna hurl!

For those of you who don't know where this doctrine comes from, it is taught by the Watch Tower and adds to the verse a concept not found anywhere.

Biggest & archangel, Coffee--you are the first ones to hit it squarely on the head! AMEN!

Foxtrot: We are not talking about lower "in station". We are talking about pre-eminence. Pauls says to which angel did God ever call Son or say, "sit at my right hand"? He also says that we will "judge angels" (1 Cor. 6:3) Are we going to judge Michael/Christ?

The nation of Israel it was who delivered Him up to be crucified because the Romans could only try capital cases as the rulers of the Jews. It's a moot point to the Q, though.

Plow: I've also wondered if modern technology might be an avenue used for all to see him. Maybe CNN will be on the scene. :D

Thanks everyone who answered. For those thinking I sought the answer for myself, I didn't--just trying to show how strange this doctrine is and unscriptural.

Act 1: 10 "And while they were looking stedfastly into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven. "

FOXTROT: In making your point that Jesus would be "lower than the angels" if he was returned to earth.....does that mean I am higher than the President if I sit on the White House roof? You see how taking this to mean a physical position is silly? We are talking about a position of power and authority, such as the President has over us citizens.

Answer 1

Revelation 1:7
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.

Yes

This is played around with by many people.

This is a literal verse. John was in the spirit after this in verse 10.

Answer 2

God does things in threes. There are three physical returns. The first took place 2,000 years ago. The next is also in flesh but will be missed by much of the world, just as the first event was missed. The second coming is made clear in the life of Enoch and in what happens to John in Rev. 4:1,2, but more so in Col. 3:4.

As to the third event it is well known. Note that the JW response with Acts l:11 reverses what that verse actually says. To make it simple, you saw him go, you will see him come. Most Christians have known for 2,000 years that we are dealing with a glorified visible body, and not an unseen one.

Answer 3

The subject in verse 7 is still Jesus Christ, but the accent has now shifted from past to future. Drawing loosely on two biblical texts, Daniel 7:13 and Zechariah 12:10, John dramatically announces the one event above all others that "must soon take place" (1:1), that is, the "coming" of Jesus. Like the eternal God on his throne, Jesus Christ is to come (vv. 4, 8). John announces it here in the third person as if he were a prophet watching it happen ("Look, he is coming"). Jesus himself will repeat it several times in the course of John's visions ("I am coming" or "I will come"), more as a warning or a threat than a promise (for example, 2:5, 16; 3:3, 11; 16:15; 22:7, 12). At the end of the book, however, John has made his peace with the sobering prospect of that coming, as Jesus says, "Yes, I am coming soon" and John answers, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus" (22:20). Here at the outset John sees that coming in his mind's eye, and he hints at its implications for a guilty world. It will be visible to all, even those who pierced him, and an occasion of mourning for all the peoples of the earth (v. 7).

Hope this helps you in your understanding. Thanks for letting me be a part of your exploration. I learned something new today as well.

Answer 4

The answer is very simple.
From the context of the passage, this occurs at the end of the tribulation. Every eye will see him can mean two things.
1 all those who are there on the battlefield will see him
2 via TV all the world will see him

Consider that when the 2 witnesses are killed (Rev 11:3-12)
their dead bodies lie in the street for 3 days.

But look at verse 9, "And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies......"

verse 10 "and they that dwell upon the earth....."

This was impossible just 70 yrs ago, now via TV, we can find out about something that happens around the world as it happens.

And "those who pierced him" can refer to all of mankind, for it is all of mankind that he bled for, not just the Jews. We are all guilty of his blood.

See, simple.

Answer 5

Imagine a million Christians in white robes.

Think of what a million people whose robes have been washed white in the blood of the lamb would look like from a high point such as a cliff from about 5 miles away.

Imagine them moving forward in the graceful way of certainty.

Look up to a cloud in the sky 5 miles away, see how it gracefully follows a path through the sky.

Imagine this as the clouds that accompany Jesus' return.

Very literal. Joy -JJ

Answer 6

The bible should for the main part be taken literally I agree, although picture language is used in Revelation which clearly is not to be taken literally. In this instance I believe that every eye will see Him and in a literal way, it will not simply be 'Eyes of faith'.
With regards to a secret rapture and then the 2nd coming or both bundled into one I for one am not qualified to answer, neither do I believe the answer can simply be arrived at by looking at the scriptures, one needs to study all of the scriptures regarding this which are at first glance I believe contradictory, hence all the confusion. For me right now it is enough to know that He definitely will Return, that nobody can know exactly when but that it could well be in our lifetimes and we need to be Ready, that is the Big Challenge!

I am intending to research this thorougly however and hopefully will arrive at a satisfactory conclusion.

Answer 7

It says every eye will see Him. Obviously, that means that when He returns it will be visible to all! Also it says in the bible that EVERY knee shall bow and EVERY tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! That does not mean that when Jesus returns every one is going to bow down and recieve Him, there are those that still are not going to accept Him, I think that it means that in the end, every one will know the truth, but by then it will be too late for some people because they had rejected Him so much.
Also, back to the every eye, it says that Jesus will return the same way that He went to heaven, He ascended to heaven on a cloud and was observed by many doing so, He will descend on a cloud also.

Postscript: I would like to add that I am in no way affiliated with Jehovah's Witnesses.

Answer 8

Most excellent question and quite spunky too. LOL rev Al...great answer, esp. pointing out the fiction of 'left down below'. btw: did you see the Simpson's when they did this one, It was a hoot !!!

'those who pierced Him' could be the Jews; there will be two witnesses of Christ in the streets of Jerusalem who will be murdered; and for 3 days and nights, the entire world will get to view their body's.

There is a remnant of Jews to be saved; not because of anything they did or didn't do, but because God insists that His word be fulfilled. So, being a Jew for Jesus is probably a darn good thing. When Jesus cursed the fig tree (symbolic of Israel), the 'favored status of the Jews' was abolished. We, In the u.s. of a. would do well to learn that.

'Those who pierced Him' could mean that there is reincarnation and "some standing there" are reserved to incarnate during the last day(s). Who says that God can't do this? Just because the church voted reincarnation out; does not negate that everything under the sun is recycled - why not men and women.

I wish there was a magic floating away into the air. But, my Bible doesn't teach it. I sure don't want to be a victim / martyr of 'the beast' and his one world government. But, my Bible does teach that.

Maranantha

Answer 9

Not quite sure I understand your question but I'll take a stab.

It is true that every eye will see Jesus one day.
When Jesus returns it will be the end of not only this world but of this entire universe. Every eye will see him since this will be such a catastrophic event. Not only that but people who have died without Christ will also be raised from the dead to meet Jesus for the great day of God's final judgment against sin and wickedness. Yes every eye will see him from those who presently are living on the earth at that time as well as all those who have ever lived in history past. The body of believers that have died in Christ will return with him as well.

Every human that ever came into existence in this universe will see Jesus at His return.

Answer 10

It is referring to Zech 12:10. I believe this prophecy is in reference to the true church. The house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem is a spiritual place of worship and living in Mt Zion. The bitterness of the firstborn also confirms this. Remember in the gospels it talks about travail and the beginning of sorrows? The Holy Spirit will cause the elect of Christ to be in extreme sorrow ( my guess is because of the apostasy of the current church condition) There is a parallel in the story of Joseph (Christ type) and Benjamin (manchild type). Rebbecca named Benjamin- Benoni (son of my sorrow) but Jacob named him Benjamin (son of the right hand). Ask the Holy Spirit to put the true burden of the firstborn church in your heart. There is a travail that needs to be accomplished for the purpose of the kingdom. I don't know the details but the true worshipers worship in spirit and truth. I hope this isn't too dark for you, but only the wisest of men were given insight to the end-times which we have entered into. ex: Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah. See Is. 53:12 So I guess they will see the one they pierced through the sorrow of the firstborn's extreme pains for Christ's restoration of the Kingdom. I can only imagine they will not understand the depth of sorrow they have. If we suffer with Him we will reign with Him.