I've refrained from making this a commentary about the book of Revelation. There are many of those, and I'd be repeating lots of information--besides, most commentaries on Revelation have to rely a great deal on speculation, which is often presented as assured conclusions. I have my opinions, of course, but the most benefit for you is in reading Revelation, and thinking about the pathway to the future that it shows you.
Revelation is about the "unveiling of Jesus Christ." The Greek word "apokalupsis" means "unveiling"--so this book is about showing who Jesus is, what He's like right now, and what He will be like when He returns.
Revelation 1:7 says, "Behold, He comes with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they also who pierced Him, and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn because of Him..."
So the event itself will be massive. It will be like a volcanic eruption, a giant meteor strike, a hurricane--except this event will engulf the entire earth. It will be the most significant event in human history since His first coming, and it will be visible to everyone. The text mentions two significant aspects to that event:
1. The people who "pierced Him" will see Him--I think that this means "the Jews and the Gentiles (in this case, Romans)," since the actual folks who murdered Jesus are no longer on the earth. It could mean the actual people who murdered Him. We shall see.
2. "All the Tribes of the earth shall mourn..." I think that this particular statement means, "The people who never offered Him their allegiance and worship." Why? Because to those of us who believe in Him, His return is the thing that we eagerly await. We will be delighted. Christians who are older often say, "I want to live until the Lord returns."
The question is, "Why all this mourning?" Well, the simple reason is that Jesus, as always, is going to produce division in the human race.
There will be those who confess Him, no matter what the cost to their eternal joy and delight.
There will be those who reject Him, and worship the Dragon, thinking that the Beast and the Dragon are the future of mankind. They are horribly wrong. The reign of the Beast, and the final efforts of the Dragon fail in 42 months after they take power, and Jesus Christ becomes visible as the King of the Earth--a position He's always held, but thus far unacknowledged, except by His followers.
THIS produces "mourning" ("wailing" in the old KJV, "beat their breasts" in Greek)--they've bet on the wrong horse, so to speak, and their losses are everlasting and infinite.
The Old and New Testaments both agree on the statements I've just made. I could quote almost endlessly, but that's not necessary. The book of Revelation is completely clear on this.
The simplest question to ask yourself today is, "Will I be happy to see Him? or will it be a day of everlasting loss and infinite sorrow?"
Revelation is about the "unveiling of Jesus Christ." The Greek word "apokalupsis" means "unveiling"--so this book is about showing who Jesus is, what He's like right now, and what He will be like when He returns.
Revelation 1:7 says, "Behold, He comes with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they also who pierced Him, and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn because of Him..."
So the event itself will be massive. It will be like a volcanic eruption, a giant meteor strike, a hurricane--except this event will engulf the entire earth. It will be the most significant event in human history since His first coming, and it will be visible to everyone. The text mentions two significant aspects to that event:
1. The people who "pierced Him" will see Him--I think that this means "the Jews and the Gentiles (in this case, Romans)," since the actual folks who murdered Jesus are no longer on the earth. It could mean the actual people who murdered Him. We shall see.
2. "All the Tribes of the earth shall mourn..." I think that this particular statement means, "The people who never offered Him their allegiance and worship." Why? Because to those of us who believe in Him, His return is the thing that we eagerly await. We will be delighted. Christians who are older often say, "I want to live until the Lord returns."
The question is, "Why all this mourning?" Well, the simple reason is that Jesus, as always, is going to produce division in the human race.
There will be those who confess Him, no matter what the cost to their eternal joy and delight.
There will be those who reject Him, and worship the Dragon, thinking that the Beast and the Dragon are the future of mankind. They are horribly wrong. The reign of the Beast, and the final efforts of the Dragon fail in 42 months after they take power, and Jesus Christ becomes visible as the King of the Earth--a position He's always held, but thus far unacknowledged, except by His followers.
THIS produces "mourning" ("wailing" in the old KJV, "beat their breasts" in Greek)--they've bet on the wrong horse, so to speak, and their losses are everlasting and infinite.
The Old and New Testaments both agree on the statements I've just made. I could quote almost endlessly, but that's not necessary. The book of Revelation is completely clear on this.
The simplest question to ask yourself today is, "Will I be happy to see Him? or will it be a day of everlasting loss and infinite sorrow?"
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