| Highlights of Dawn | August 1964 |
“Every Eye Shall See Him”
“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.” —Revelation 1:7
THE second coming of Christ is one of the prominent doctrines of the Bible; and there are many prophecies, both in the Old Testament and in the New, relating thereto. Many of these prophecies are couched in symbolic language, but some are not. While a great variety of symbolisms is used, they are all harmonious when properly understood, and set forth clearly the essential facts concerning the Lord’s return and the thousand years of his second presence. During this time Jesus is the King supreme in his long-promised mediatorial kingdom which will establish the divine will throughout the earth, and destroy all enemies of truth and righteousness.
Essential to an understanding of the prophecies pertaining to our Lord’s return and second presence is a recognition of the fact that in his death Jesus gave his flesh, his humanity, for the life of the world, and that in his resurrection he was highly exalted to the divine nature, far above angels, principalities, and powers. (John 6:51; Eph. 1:19-22; Col. 1:15; II Cor. 5:16; Heb. 1:4; I Pet. 3:18) By nature Jesus is now invisible to the human eye, even as God is invisible. Since it is this divine Christ who returns to earth at the second advent, his return will need to be recognized otherwise than by seeing him with the natural eye.
While still with his disciples prior to his crucifixion, Jesus said to them, “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye [shall] see me.” (John 14:19,20) The faithful followers of the Master will see Jesus in his glorious divine body, because in the resurrection they are made like him. John explained this, saying, “It doth not yet appear what we shall be: But we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”—I John 3:2
Jesus’ Appearances
It is true that Jesus miraculously appeared to his disciples several times subsequent to his resurrection. But on none of these occasions did the disciples see Jesus “as he is”; that is, they did not see his new, divine body. Throughout the Old Testament there are a number of references to the appearances of angels in human bodies. By nature, angels are invisible to the human eye, and to appear to humans for the purpose of conveying messages it was necessary for them to materialize as humans, and they were given divine authority and power to do this in order to convey these messages from God to his human servants.
The resurrected divine Christ also had this power, and used it the several times he appeared to his disciples between his resurrection and ascension. Let us examine some of the facts concerning these appearances. First of all, let us remember that the clothing Jesus used as a man was disposed of at the time of his crucifixion, and that his grave clothes were found in the tomb. His first appearance was to Mary, who thought him to be the gardener. Obviously he was dressed as a gardener, the clothing being a part of the materialization, as on the occasion of his other appearances. Mary did not recognize Jesus by his appearance, his looks, but by the familiar tone of his voice when he spoke her name.—John 20:13-16
Another notable appearance by Jesus was to the two disciples as they journeyed to Emmaus. (Luke 24:13-32) On this occasion Jesus must have talked with his disciples for several hours, yet they did not recognize him. To them he was a “stranger.” He delivered a wonderfully inspiring message to them concerning the necessity for the suffering and death of the Messiah as foretold in the Old Testament Scriptures. But still they did not recognize who it was that was imparting this wonderful information to them. It was not until the close of the day, when Jesus asked the blessing upon the evening meal, that they realized who he was. Evidently he purposely asked that blessing in his old familiar manner, and it was this that opened their eyes to his identity.
When Jesus appeared to his disciples on the shore of Galilee, he revealed himself to them by suggesting that they cast their nets on the other side of the boat, and it was immediately filled with fish. The reason this was so convincing is that he had performed a similar miracle when he called them into the ministry. (Luke 5:1-11; John 21:1-14) Each of Jesus’ appearances was different from the others, and while they would serve to convince his disciples that he had been raised from the dead, at the same time they would realize that now he was changed. He was no longer Jesus in the flesh, but a powerful spirit being who could come and go unobserved by human eyes except when he chose to manifest himself to them by materializing in the form of a human being.
“Doubting Thomas”
One of Jesus’ noteworthy appearances to his disciples after his resurrection was in response to the statement made by Thomas, who declared that he would not believe his Master had been raised from the dead unless he could see the nail prints in his hands and feet, and thrust his hand into the wound in his side, inflicted by the sword of a Roman soldier while Jesus was hanging on the cross. Jesus was not visibly present when Thomas made this statement, but he knew about it, and to satisfy the doubter appeared to all the disciples in an upper room, while the doors were closed, and asked Thomas to look at his hands and his feet, and to thrust his hand into his side.
This incident has been erroneously taken to mean that Jesus will go throughout eternity as a human, with hands, feet, and side scarred. We could just as well say that Jesus will be a gardener forever, or like the “stranger” who walked with the two to Emmaus. What is the true explanation of these incidents of Jesus’ appearance? John gives this information. Immediately following his account of Jesus’ special appearance to “doubting Thomas,” John notes, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.”—John 20:30
Yes, all of Jesus’ appearances to his disciples, in whatever sort of body he used at the time, were “signs.” They did not see the divine Christ, but only these materialized bodies. True they saw human, or fleshly bodies. Thomas saw one with nail prints in its hands and feet. He did not see a spirit, but the fleshly body in which Jesus miraculously appeared. It was by these appearances, and the things which Jesus said to them that they all, finally, were convinced that he had been raised from the dead. Luke wrote concerning Jesus, “To whom [the disciples] he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”—Acts 1:3
Symbolic Sight
The question naturally arises that if Jesus returns to earth as a divine, invisible being, how is it possible for “every eye” to see him? Will Jesus again materialize and appear as a man in order to convince the world that he has returned? We do not think so. We believe, rather, that a proper understanding of this statement in our text is to be found by recognizing that the Bible many times uses the idea of “seeing” or of “sight” to symbolize discernment or understanding.
Referring to his Gospel of the kingdom, Jesus said that holy men of old had desired to “see” these things, but had been unable to do so. Then, to his disciples the Master said, “Blessed are your eyes for they see: and your ears, for they hear.” (Matt. 13:16) Here there is no reference to literal eyes and literal sight. The thought is of discernment, understanding, an understanding that was granted to the disciples by the special favor of the Lord.
When Job was suffering the great affliction which the Lord permitted to come upon him, he said, “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” (Job. 19:26,27) Job was one of God’s prophets, and we may understand this to be a prophecy of the time when the glory of the Lord will fill the whole earth, and all flesh shall see it together. This, of course, is symbolic vision, for actually, as the Scriptures declare, no man can literally look upon God and live.
In the case of Job there was also a more immediate fulfillment of his prophecy. When he had learned the important lesson of the severe trial which had come upon him Job said to God, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.” (Job 42:5) This was not a literal vision which Job had of the Creator, but a discernment, an understanding of his greatness, his wisdom, his love, and his power. In other words, Job had learned to understand the great Creator better as a result of his afflictions, and he describes this understanding as seeing God.
Isaiah 52:10 reads, “The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” This is a very revealing symbolic use of the sense of sight. The “holy arm” of the Lord referred to in the text is Jesus, the Messiah. First of all, this “holy arm” was “despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” He was “brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”—Isa. 53:37
This “holy arm” of the Lord, who became “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” was not revealed, or “made bare in the eyes of all the nations” at his first advent. (John 1:29) The prophetic “report” of his greatness as the Messiah was not believed by those of his own nation except for a small minority who became his devoted followers. He came as the “light of the world,” but the world rejected the light, and continued on in darkness.
But the plan of God centered in Jesus, the “Arm” of Jehovah, to enlighten and bless all the families of the earth, is yet to be accomplished. Isaiah wrote that “the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.” (Isa. 53:10) The sacrificial work of Jesus at his first advent provided redemption for mankind from sin and death, and therefore was essential to the outworking of the divine plan of salvation. But it is not until the thousand years of his second presence that this “Arm” of Jehovah will be made “bare,” or revealed, in the “eyes” of all the nations. Then “all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God” which Jesus provided at his first advent when he gave his flesh, his humanity, for sin-cursed and dying humanity.
We have cited this prophecy as another example of the symbolic use of the sense of sight. No one will contend that the prophecy refers to the literal “arm” of Jehovah. The arm is symbolic, and its being made bare in the eyes of all the nations is also symbolic. It is only because of the false notions students of prophecy have had concerning Jesus since his resurrection, and the manner of his return, that they have tried to visualize him literally appearing in clouds as a man, with every literal eye on earth beholding him. If we rid our minds of these notions, and examine this prophecy with calm reason, as we do other scriptures in which the eye and sight are used to denote discernment, it becomes understandable and harmonious with the general testimony of the Word of God.
“With Clouds”
The first part of the text reads, “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him.” From a literal standpoint, this is a strange statement. Literally, anything, or anybody, “coming with clouds” would most likely be concealed by the clouds. But the language of this prophecy implies that it is these “clouds” which reveal the presence of Jesus to the world. Clouds are used in the prophecies of the Bible to symbolize distress and trouble, and Jesus explained to his disciples that one of the signs of his return and second presence would be a time of “great tribulation.”—Matt. 24:21,22
Note Jesus’ further symbolic prophecy, as recorded by Luke:
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”—Luke 21:25-27
Matthew quotes a portion of this same prophecy, which reads, “Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matt. 24:30) There is much evidence that the world is now passing through the time of “great tribulation,” and certainly there is already a great deal of mourning on the part of “all the tribes of the earth.”
The unbelieving world does not yet discern the meaning of the present “distress of nations, with perplexity.” To those not acquainted with the “sure word of prophecy” the “sign of the Son of man” has not yet manifested itself; but in due time it will, and then “every eye” will discern the meaning of the “tribulation,” will understand, that is, that Christ has returned to establish his long-promised kingdom.
They that Pierced Him
Our text emphasizes that “they also” who pierced Jesus will “see” him, and, together with “all kindreds of the earth,” will “wail,” or mourn, because of him. But the mourning on the part of those who pierced Jesus will be more on account of their former rejection of their Messiah. We read, “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”—Zech. 12:10
This mourning is obviously due to the Hebrews’ belated recognition of Jesus as their Messiah, and the prophecies reveal that it takes place at the close of the great tribulation which causes all the tribes of the earth to mourn because of the distress through which they are passing. The climax of this great Armageddon struggle, will, according to the prophecies, take place in the ancient land of Israel, where so many of the Jewish people are now gathered, and where they have formed the new state of Israel.
Prophecies concerning this are recorded in the 38th and 39th chapters of Ezekiel. Verse 8 of chapter 38 is addressed to Israel, and reads, “After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.” And to Gog and his aggressive hordes, the statement is made, “Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.”—vs. 9
The prophecy reveals further details concerning this assault against the regathered Israelites in Palestine, and reveals that in this final struggle the Lord will rise up to defend his people against their enemies. We read, “I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God: every man’s sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am the Lord.”—vss. 21-23
Doubtless this description of the weapons the Lord will use against those besieging Israel in this final Armageddon struggle is largely figurative. We cannot know these details in advance. The important point here is that as a result of the Lord’s intervention in this struggle the “eyes” of the nations are opened, and they recognize that they have been defeated, not by the superior arms or fighting abilities of the Israelites, but by divine power. This intervention will come through the returned Christ, and thus will be fulfilled the words of our text that “every eye” shall see him.
While “every eye” will eventually discern the meaning of what takes place in Israel in the closing days of Armageddon, the Jewish people themselves will be the first to benefit from this experience. We read, “So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.”—ch. 39:7
The final phase of the great Armageddon tribulation is again described in Zechariah 14:1-3. We quote: “Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go away into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.”
While this prophecy reveals that the Lord will ultimately deliver his people Israel from their enemies, it will not be until they have had some very severe experiences at the hands of the aggressors. We cannot, in advance, know in detail the manner in which prophecies will be fulfilled. But on the basis of this prophecy of Zechariah it would seem that there is trouble ahead for the regathered Israelites ere there is a manifest divine intervention on their behalf.
When divine intervention does come, it will be through Christ and his glorified church, who will be the spiritual rulers in the messianic kingdom which will then manifest its authority and power in the affairs of men. One of the great accomplishments of that kingdom will be the enlightenment of the people concerning the true God and what his will is for them. This will require the entire kingdom age for its accomplishment. There will be the generation living at the time when, with power and great glory, the kingdom begins to shower its blessings upon the people. And then will come the awakening of all the dead, and these, too, will need to be instructed concerning God and his laws of righteousness.
“The Law shall go forth of Zion, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem,” we read in Micah 4:1-4. “Zion” here is a symbol of the spiritual phase of the kingdom, consisting of Jesus and his glorified church, who are brought forth in the first resurrection to be associated with the great King in his thousand-year reign. (Rev. 20:6) “Jerusalem” represents the human, or visible, phase of the kingdom. This will be made up of the ancient servants of God, beginning with righteous Abel. John the Baptist was perhaps the last of these. These will be made “princes in all the earth.” (Ps. 45:16) They will be brought forth from death in what the Bible describes as a “better resurrection.”—Heb. 11:35
The “Word of the Lord,” or the truth concerning God and his will and law, will be made known to the people through these human representatives of the kingdom. These will be the earthly rulers in the kingdom. The obedient subjects of the kingdom, beginning with the restored Israelites, will have a share in this work of enlightenment. But, as we have said, the work will not be accomplished all at once. We read, “It shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: but it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.”—Zech. 14:6,7
Light is a symbol of truth, of understanding. But the light of the kingdom day will not be wholly clear until the close of the thousand years. As our text declares, “every eye” will discern the presence of the Master during the opening period of that day, but there will be much for these to learn; and, as we have seen, there will be the further work of enlightening all who are awakened from the sleep of death. Not until the close of that day will the “veil” of misunderstanding be fully removed from the eyes of all the people. (Isa. 25:7) It will be then that “the knowledge of the Lord” shall fill the earth “as the waters cover the sea.”—Isa. 11:9
Together with the blessing of enlightenment, peace, health, and life will flow out to the people. The Lord will then “swallow up death in victory,” and wipe away the “tears from off all faces.” (Isa. 25:8) Truly, the prospect for Israel and for the people of all nations is glorious! While distress and trouble are rampant in the earth today, this situation is soon to give place to the authority of Christ’s kingdom, through the agencies of which there shall be lasting peace, security, happiness, and life. How the people will then rejoice in the God of their salvation!—Isa. 25:9