Every Eye

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#003399" TEXT="#080000" background="040c8c00erkjxk.jpg"> <div> <B><U>Greg Rasaka</U></B></div> <div> <B>is the editor of </B><I><B>Eschatology Review</B></I><B>.  </B><I><B>Eschatology Review</B></I><B> is a free publication available by contacting Greg at 32080 N.E. Corral Creek Road, Newberg, Oregon, 97132.  You can also reach him via e-mail at gjr@viclink.com.</B></div> <div> <B>This article is from the April 2003 issue of </B><I><B>Eschatology Review</B></I><B> and used with his kind permission</B><I><B>.</B></I></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="7" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Brush Script MT" ><B>Restoration Ministries</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFF99" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>  |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Restoration Ministries"><U>home</U></A></div> <div>                                                   </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="1081c900.jpg" border=0 width="540" height="144" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>by Greg Rasaka</B></div> <div> <B>___________________________________________________</B></div> <bR> <div> Revelation 1:7 is a verse that is not only an obstacle to those who are trying to understand fulfilled eschatology, but it is also used a proof text by those who claim Jesus will come bodily and physically in the future. Let us take a closer look at this passage and see if we can come to some conclusions that harmonize with the rest of the scriptures.</div> <bR> <div> First, let us not forget that in verse 1, it says, <B>“...to show his bond-servants the things which must soon take place;”</B> and in verse 3,<B> “...and heed the things which are written in it, for the time is near.”</B> Keeping that in mind, let<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT>s look at the passage in question.</div> <bR> <div> Rev. 7:1 reads, <B>“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even the ones who pierced him; and the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. So it is to be. Amen.”</B> [NASB]</div> <bR> <div> What does the term, “coming with the clouds” mean? It is not to be taken literally as many do, but rather, it is figurative language, borrowed from the Old Testament. It is a phrase depicting deity, and the Almighty God. In Old Covenant times, God appeared, or manifested himself, in a cloud, in smoke, or in fire. This is called a theophany. It is from two Greek words, <B>theos</B> meaning “God,” and <B>phaino</B> meaning “to appear.” Hence the meaning is “God appearing.” </div> <bR> <div> This appearance was visible to the Israelites. We know that many things had a physical reality in the Old Covenant, that foreshadowed an invisible, spiritual reality in the New Covenant. God was in a cloud crossing the Red Sea. God was in a cloud at Mount Sinai. He was in a cloud over the tabernacle, as well as in the cloud of smoke in the Holy of Holies.</div> <bR> <div> The following are statements by Randal Otto, in the introduction to his book, <U>Coming In The Clouds</U>.</div> <bR> <div> “In all these Old Testament occurrences, then, the cloud is seen to be a theophanic means for revelation of the Divine Glory by hiding it in accommodation to man<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT>s incapacity to bear that majesty and splendor.” (page x)</div> <bR> <div> “When Jesus ascends to the Father, he does so not in full view of all, but enwrapped in the cloud, so that the disciples might indeed watch him ascend, albeit symbolically in the visible vehicle of the cloud.” (page xii)</div> <bR> <div> “Moreover, since Christ in his exaltation is reinstated to the glory he shared with the Father before the foundation of the world, he must come in exactly the same way as the Father did in his giving of the law.” (page xiii)</div> <div> In Isaiah 19:1 we read, <B>“The oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and is about to come to Egypt.”</B> This of course, is figurative. There was no visible cloud, but rather this is in reference to God passing judgment on Egypt. In chapter 20, we see that it was carried out through Sargon, king of Assyria, who captured Egypt.</div> <bR> <div> At Christ<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT>s ascension, his disciples did not see him ascend, but only the cloud. That is the manner in which he was to return. Some say that Jesus was in that horrifying cloud of smoke when the temple was burning. This is certainly possible, but it seems to me that a figurative interpretation, in reference to the destruction of Jerusalem, is more plausible.</div> <bR> <div> <B>“Every eye will see him.”</B> This is taken literally by most, claiming that every person on the earth will visibly observe this coming on the clouds. That is a pretty bold statement. How is this possible? They do not stop to consider the impossibility of such a notion. Opting to take the slippery way out, they just say that anything is possible with God and leave it at that.</div> <bR> <div> Before we consider this further, lets look at the rest of the context.<B> “...and the tribes of the earth will mourn over him.”</B> The word translated “tribes,” is <B>phule</B>. This word means tribes and it is always in reference to the tribes of Israel. That is the way it is used throughout the Greek New Testament. It does not mean nations. The word <B>ethnos</B> means nations, or gentiles throughout the Greek New Testament. It does not mean people. The Greek word for people is <B>laos</B>. </div> <bR> <div> The translations that use people or nations are incorrect. The word translated “earth” is <B>ge</B> This word can mean “earth,” but just as often it means “land,” such as “the land of Israel,” or “the land of Judea.” To use the term, “the earth of Israel,” or “the earth of Judea” would be improper. Because we are dealing with the tribes, land is the proper translation here. </div> <bR> <div> To reinforce this idea, we will now look at the word “mourn,” or “wail<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT> in many translations. The Greek word is <B>kopto</B> and it means neither mourn nor wail. It literally means “to beat one<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT>s breast.” This was an act of mourning that was practiced by the Jews, similar to sitting in sackcloth and ashes. We do not practice this custom today. The context of this passage is the Jews in the first century. They were the ones who would see him.</div> <bR> <div> Now back to <B>“...every eye will see him, even the ones who pierced him.”</B> Can we honestly say that “every eye” here is to be taken in a literal and absolute manner. First, it is a hyperbole, or exaggeration. We use similar language every day. At the final seconds of a close and heated game of basketball, it can be said that every eye was on the ball. First, we have to consider the context. Every eye is only in reference to those watching the game from the stands. This does not include the rest of the world who are not involved. Even of those in the stands, not every eye was on that ball. At least some were not paying attention, or more interested in their food. </div> <bR> <div> So let<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" >*</FONT>s be reasonable and understand that the first century Jews are the ones implied. They were the ones who pierced him. That in itself limits the event to the first century. Jesus was to come on the clouds in judgment, which he did in A.D. 70. Those people did witness the event. Every eye did see him — that is, every eye within the intended context.</div> <bR> <div> In Matthew 24:30 we find nearly the same wording. A literal reading would be: <B>“And then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the land will beat their breast, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”</B></div> <bR> <div> Then in verse 34, Jesus says, <B>“Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen.”</B> That is the same thing that John said would happen quickly, that the time was near.</div> <bR> <div> A literal reading of Revelation 1:7 would be: <B>“Behold, he comes with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even the ones who pierced him, and all of the tribes of the land will beat their breast for him.”</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>__________________________________________________</B></div> <bR> <div> <U>Eschatology Review</U> is a FREE publication. Contributions are gratefully accepted, though we cannot provide a tax-deductible receipt for your gift. Please make all checks payable to Greg Rasaka, 32080 NE Corral Cr. Rd. Newberg, OR 97132. Send comments or questions to same, or gjr@viclink.com by E-mail. If sending articles by E-mail, please cut and paste. Do not send attachments. Attachments will not be opened. Thank you.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>