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SUBJECT: Revelation 1:7
QUESTION: Doesn't the Bible say at the last trump
every eye shall see him including those that crucified him
and later in chapter 20 of the book of revelation state that
the rest of the dead live not again for one thousand years?
How do you reconcile this?
ANSWER:
No contradiction here. In the phrase "and they also which
pierced him" refers to two instances:
1) At the moment of His return, the Jews, who as a race
pierced him, will see Him.
2) At the second Resurrection, those who physically pierced
him (all the Jews involved
in that last night) will see Him.
Notice also the break in the meaning between the two phrases
"he cometh with clouds" and "and every eye shall see him".
These phrases are not necessarily together. Two facts are
given:
1) He is coming in the clouds.
2) Everyone will see Him. It does not state that everyone
will see Him in the clouds. See the distinction? In King
James speech, much is said in few words. Much can happen
between any two phrases or any two verses.
Example:
Genesis 1:1-2
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was
upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon
the face of the waters.
Note: There are
Billions and Billions of years between these two verses.
Clearly any creation of God would not be void and without
form unless something had happen. It did. There was a huge
war between God and Satan. The earth became without form
and void as a result of that war.
Such is the case in much of the scripture. Notice the
commentary for Revelation 1:7 which you refer to in your
e-mail.
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.
Revelation 1:7
They also-in particular [hoitines (NT:3748)]: 'whosoever.'
At His premillennial advent the Jews shall "look upon Him
whom they pierced," and mourn in repentance, saying,
"Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord."
Secondarily, and chiefly, at the general judgment all the
ungodly who actually, or virtually by their sins, pierced
Him, shall tremblingly see [opsetai
(NT:3700) implies a vision realized inwardly]
Him. John is the only evangelist who records Christ's
piercing. This allusion identifies the author of the
Apocalypse. The reality of Christ's humanity and death is
proved by His piercing: the water and blood from His side
were the antitype to the Levitical waters of cleansing and
blood-offerings. ~from
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary
Notice another commentary that confirms this fact...
Revelation 1:4-8
"And they which pierced him." Though his manifestation shall
be absolutely universal, it has an awful distinction with
reference to some. Of all beings who shall then wish to be
saved that sight will be those who murdered him. But they
shall not escape it. They must each and all some day
confront him, and meet his all-penetrating gaze. From the
wretched man who betrayed him, down to the soldier who
pierced his side, and all who have made common cause with
them in wronging, persecuting, wounding and insulting that
meek Lamb of God, shall then be compelled to face his
judgment-seat, and to look upon him whom they have pierced.
~from The Apocalypse:
Exposition of the Book of Revelation
So, we see clearly that there is no contradiction. We are
not talking about those who actually pierced Him seeing Him
at the moment of His return but they will see Him after He
returns, after their resurrection.
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