by Rob Robinson

Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

There has been much confusion over the years as to the return of Jesus Christ. Many people do not understand that Jesus will be returning to the earth two more times before the end of the age.

The next major event on the prophetic time clock is the arrival of Jesus to the outer atmosphere of earth as described by Paul in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4:

1Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Commentators on the Bible have labeled this event as “The Rapture” because of the Greek word for “Caught Up” in verse 17, “Harpazo“, which means to be “Taken Away”.

The same Greek Word “Harpazo” is used in Acts 8:38-39 where Phillip is suddenly “Caught Up”, or removed suddenly from the presence of the Ethiopian Eunuch he has been sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with.

Acts 8:38-39 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

Clearly, by the usage of Harpazo in both 1 Thessalonians 4 and Acts 8, both describe an event where a person or persons are suddenly and quickly removed from the place that they are, to a new location.

In Paul’s description of the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, all those individuals who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ for their Salvation, are removed from the earth to meet Jesus in the “Clouds”. This event will happen before the start of seven year Tribulation period in which Jesus will pour out His wrath on the world that has rejected His sacrifice for their salvation.

The actual “Second Coming” of Jesus does not occur until the end of the seven year tribulation period as described in Revelation chapter 19:

Revelation 19:11-16 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyeswere like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads thewinepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

By John’s description of the one riding on the white horse as “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” we know that this is Jesus. When He arrives back on earth, Jesus will touch down at the mount of olives where a great earthquake will divide that area into two parts. Waiting for the arrival of Jesus at the “Valley of Megiddo” will be “The beast”, otherwise known as “Theantichrist“.

Acts 1:9 Now when Jesus had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.

Notice that as Jesus ascends back to Heaven, the two angels standing nearby tell the disciples that Jesus will be returning to earth in the same manner as He departed. They are standing on the Mount of Olives.

The beast will have gathered all of his armies to this single valley in an attempt to kill Jesus when He arrives back on earth. Jesus will simply speak and slay the vast armies and their generals, captains and great fighting men. The blood from this carnage will be to the height of a horses bridle for over 200 miles.

Revelation 16:16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

Revelation 14:20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of thewinepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

When Jesus returns the second time to earth, “Every eye shall see Him”. This is what John is describing for us in the first verse of this article. When the Lord arrives at the event called “The Rapture” every eye will not see Him. Only those who have placed their trust in Him for their Salvation will see Jesus. Just as when Jesus spoke to Paul in the Book of Acts, chapter 9, only Paul saw and heard Jesus. The other men standing nearby heard only the sound of thunder, but no voice or manifestation of Jesus.

If you love Jesus today, you can rest assured that when He comes for His church you will be transported into the outer atmosphere of earth at the Rapture, along with all of us who love the Lord and are waiting for Him. When Jesus returns to the earth physically in His second coming, as described by Revelation chapter 19, you will be riding yourself on a white horse, coming back to earth with your Lord.

Jesus will be setting up His glorious one-thousand year long kingdom predicted in the Old Testament in which He will “Rule with a rod of iron”. All the governments and people’s of the earth will be subject to Jesus leadership. It will be a wonderful kingdom of righteousness where no one will hurt or kill and peace will finally reign over the earth.

All those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ will be in their glorified eternal bodies as they arrive with Jesus for the one thousand year kingdom reign. You will be kings and priests on the earth representing Jesus in the particular area that He will assign you. Those mortals who have survived the 7 year tribulation will be living their lives, raising their families in a perfect environment without the presence of satan or demonic activities. During the one thousand years, according to Revelation 21, satan and his demons will be chained in the abusso at the center of the earth.

During that kingdom age those mortals living on earth will come to you for advice, counsel and rulership over their particular area or city. Based on your faithfulness to Jesus now while you live in your body here on earth, He will be appointing you to a degree of leadership.

Luke 19:17 And he said to him, “Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’

As you are just faithful to do the best job you can with what the Lord has given you now, He is watching every move you make and motivation of your heart so that He might give a reward to you when He comes. If you live your life now for Jesus and seek to bring Him as much glory as possible with your life, you will be appointed a greater degree of responsibility during the one thousand year reign.

So, when you hear the words “Every eye will see Him”, you should get very excited. Jesus is coming soon, and He is coming for you. His reward is with Him, and He will give it to all those who serve Him now and are faithful.