Every Eye Shall See Him

James E. Farley

Jesus is coming again. This fact is one of the prominent themes of the New Testament. One out of every twenty-five verses of the New Testament deals in some way with Christ's coming again. The Word of God admonishes Christians to be watching and waiting for His return so we will be ready. (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 5:6; Matthew 24:42-44; 25:13). Paul wrote that there is a "crown of righteousness" laid up for those who "love his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:5-8). Do you?

I have often thought of passages like Revelation 1:7 when I think of the Lord's coming back. This passage says that when He comes again, "...every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him ..." Think of that! Maybe some of those who had a part in the Lord's crucifixion died without knowing the full impact of their crime, but one day they will know, for even they shall see Him coming in the clouds. Think of it! Those who mocked Him, those who slapped Him around and laughed at Him, those who spat upon Him, even these will see Him and know what a terrible and horrible thing they did.

Another passage along these lines is Philippians 2:9-11. On that great day every knee shall bow to the Lord of lords. Every tongue shall confess that He is, indeed, the King of kings, that He is God the Creator!

While I was stationed near Frankfurt, Germany, with the U.S. Army, I had the opportunity to hear brother Otis Gatewood preach at the annual European Lectures in Frankfurt and at other retreats and lectureships in Germany. I remember one time he spoke about Yuri Gagarin, the first man to orbit the earth. This Russian cosmonaut accomplished his feat in 1961. Upon returning to earth he stated, "Just as I thought. There is no God. I was up there and I didn't see him." Brother Gatewood quoted Gagarin and then read Philippians 2:9-11. He then said something like, "Mr. Gagarin was killed when his plane crashed in 1968 ... I have wondered if he will be shocked when his knee will bow and he will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!" In fact, brother Gatewood stated that it was Gagarin's rash comment that prompted him to write the book There Is A God In Heaven. This book was translated into Russian and has been widely distributed in that country.

The apostle Paul's two letters to the Thessalonians both deal with the topic of the final coming of Jesus Christ. His message is that we must always be ready to meet Him because, when He comes again, it will be "In flaming fire ..." He will take "... vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ;" These will be "... punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;" (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).

There's a great day coming by and by. Men may mock and ask, "Where is the promise of His coming?" Still, He will come, and this earth and universe will be destroyed. (2 Peter 3:1-12). The dead will be raised. (John 5:28-29). The Judgment Day the Day of the Lord will then be a reality. All will stand before the judgment seat of Christ "... that every one may receive the things done in the body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men ..." (2 Corinthians 5:10-11).

What about you? Are you ready? It is my purpose with this article to encourage and admonish you to get ready and to stay ready. Obey the gospel today and remain faithful unto death. The Lord is coming. -P.O. Box 285, Crum, WV 25669 preechkrum@charter.net

 

Return to West Virginia Christian