Every Eye Will See Him Introduction † This statement has been one of the most
misunderstood phrases in Bible prophecy, often pulled out of its
covenant and historical setting. Revelation 1:7 † John explicitly limits the audience to those
who pierced Him, which can only refer to the first century Jewish
leadership responsible for His death (Revelation 1:7; Acts 2:23). Matthew 24:30 † Jesus had already defined the time frame for
this event as occurring within that generation (Matthew 24:34). Matthew 26:64 † Jesus spoke directly to the high priest,
placing the fulfillment squarely within that audience's lifetime
(Matthew 26:64). Zechariah 12:10 † This prophecy is explicitly limited to the
house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, not the world at
large (Zechariah 12:10). Acts
1:9-11 † The cloud receiving Him reflects divine
authority imagery, not physical travel distance (Daniel 7:13). Daniel 7:13-14 † The Son of Man comes to the Ancient of Days,
not down to the earth, establishing enthronement, not descent (Daniel
7:13). † Jesus explicitly stated that some standing
with Him would not taste death until they saw the Son of man coming
in His kingdom (Matthew 16:27-28). Historical References † Josephus recorded that the destruction of
Jerusalem was understood as divine judgment, accompanied by signs
interpreted as heavenly authority exercised against the city (Wars of
the Jews 6.5.3). How It Applies To Us Today † Christ's authority has already been
established and demonstrated. Q & A Appendix Q Did every human on earth literally see Jesus? Q What does seeing Him mean? Q Why does this matter today? † This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at
Fulfilled Prophecies † Source Index † Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:30; Matthew 26:64;
Zechariah 12:10; Acts 1:9-11; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 16:27-28;
Revelation 1:1
By Dan Maines
† Scripture
itself defines who would see Him, when they would see Him, and what
that seeing meant.
† When the Bible is
allowed to interpret itself, the meaning becomes clear and consistent
from the prophets, to Jesus, to the apostles.
Behold,
He is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the
tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
†
Coming with the clouds is established prophetic judgment language,
not a physical descent through the atmosphere (Isaiah 19:1; Ezekiel
30:3).
† The mourning of the tribes reflects
covenant judgment upon Israel, echoing the language of Zechariah, not
a worldwide event (Revelation 1:7; Zechariah 12:10).
And
then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all
the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son
of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great
glory.
†
The tribes of the earth refers to the tribes of the land, Israel,
consistent with Old Testament prophetic language (Matthew 24:30).
†
Seeing the Son of Man is covenant recognition of His authority and
kingship, not a physical viewing of His body (Daniel 7:13-14).
Jesus
said to him, "You have said it yourself. But I tell you,
from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right
hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."
† Sitting at the right hand
of power describes enthronement and authority, not movement through
space (Psalm 110:1).
† The high priest would
see this through the judgment that fell upon Jerusalem and the Temple
in AD 70.
"And I will pour out on
the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of
grace and of pleading, so that they will look at Me whom they
pierced; and they will mourn for Him, like one mourning for an only
son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping
over a firstborn.
† The phrase whom
they have pierced directly identifies the same group mentioned in
Revelation 1:7 (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:37).
†
Their mourning is covenantal grief brought on by realized guilt and
impending judgment, fulfilled in the events leading to AD 70 (Matthew
23:36-38).
And after He had said these things, He was
lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of
their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He
was going, then behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them,
and they said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into
the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will
come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."
†
The disciples were corrected for staring into the sky, showing the
meaning was not atmospheric spectacle (Acts 1:10-11).
†
Like manner refers to manner of authority and cloud imagery,
consistent with prophetic judgment language (Isaiah 19:1).
"I
kept looking in the night visions,
And behold, with the clouds
of heaven
One like a son of man was coming,
And He came up
to the Ancient of Days
And was presented before Him.
And to
Him was given dominion,
Honor, and a kingdom,
So that all
the peoples, nations, and populations of all languages
Might
serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which
will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one
Which will not
be destroyed.
† Cloud coming here is royal accession
language tied to authority and kingdom reception (Daniel 7:13-14).
†
Jesus applied this text to Himself before the high priest, confirming
fulfillment within that generation (Matthew 26:64).
†
Revelation opens by stating these things must shortly come to pass,
confirming the immediacy of what John describes (Revelation 1:1).
† Tacitus confirmed that
first century Jews believed prophetic writings pointed to imminent
rulership and judgment (Histories 5.13).
†
Eusebius stated that Christians recognized Jesus' warnings as
fulfilled in the fall of Jerusalem (Ecclesiastical History 3.5).
†
Clement of Alexandria affirmed that Jerusalem's fall marked the close
of the old covenant order (Stromata 1.21).
† Believers
live under a completed kingdom, not an awaiting one.
†
Confidence replaces fear when fulfillment is understood.
A
No. Scripture defines the audience as those who pierced Him and the
tribes of the land.
A It means
covenant recognition of authority through judgment and vindication.
A It confirms
Christ reigns now, not later.
© Fulfilled Prophecies - Dan
Maines.
† Josephus, Wars of the Jews
6.5.3
† Tacitus, Histories 5.13
†
Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 3.5
†
Clement of Alexandria, Stromata 1.21
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