Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. My blog article gives readers an opportunity to consider Old Testament prophecy that shows the continuity of God’s work through the ages.
Let’s first look at two verses from Revelation.
Look! He is coming with the clouds;
every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him,
and all the tribes of the earth will wail on account of him.
So it is to be. Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1.7-8)
Daniel’s Vision
Bible scholars use the phrase “already, but not yet” to describe the time between the coming of Jesus Christ and his second coming.
In the present, the kingdom of God has “already” arrived on earth, but it is “not yet” consummated.
Daniel’s prophecy was fulfilled in the “already” state through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. His prophecy will be completely fulfilled at Jesus’ second coming.
As we read Revelation in the light of Daniel, we see how this truth is revealed.
As I watched in the night visions,
I saw one like a human being
coming with the clouds of heaven.
And he came to the Ancient One
and was presented before him.
To him was given dominion
and glory and kingship,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away,
and his kingship is one
that shall never be destroyed. (Daniel 7.13-14)
A day is coming when all humanity will recognize who is the true king. He is the King of all kings and is worthy of dominion, glory, and kingship.
At his second coming, Jesus’ kingship will be in force throughout all eternity.
The wisest decision we can make is to recognize Jesus’ rightful rule over our lives in the here and now.
Let’s worship, love, and obey the One who is coming to reign.
Zechariah’s Prophecy
Revelation combined the prophecy of Daniel and that of Zechariah. Take a moment to compare the message of Zechariah with that of Revelation.
And I will pour out a spirit of compassion and supplication on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that when they look on the one whom they have pierced,
They shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly over him as one weeps over a firstborn (Zechariah 12.10).
Zechariah points to the “already, but not yet” aspect of the prophecy. If you were touched by a meditation on the suffering of Jesus on Good Friday, you may have felt the sadness that is pictured by the prophet.
If you have experienced the work of the Holy Spirit in your prayer time that Paul writes about in Romans, you know the truth of Zechariah’s words about how supplication and weeping go together
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8.26).
According to Revelation, at the second coming people will have an experience different from the one that Zechariah wrote about.
The mourning in Zechariah was that of repentance and alignment with Jesus’ cause.
People will mourn at Jesus’ second coming because they have lived lives of careless indifference. Too late, they will recognize how they squandered their life in meaningless activity.
God’s Response
Revelation 1.7 describes Jesus’ coming. Verse 8 is God’s response to what has been said about his Son.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1.8).
God is the Eternal Sovereign over everything.
Human beings worship and attempt to control certain elements of creation, which function as their idols.
An example of this is the way in which we devote our time and energy to the “big three” attractions – money, sex, and power. We are devoted to them, while simultaneously striving to control them to serve our own interests.
God cannot be controlled, but he can be loved, worshiped, and served. As we engage with God in this manner, we demonstrate the truth of Jesus’ words.
It is not within our power to control God, but we can love, worship, and serve Him. By engaging with God in this way, we demonstrate the truth of Jesus’ teachings.
“For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it” (Mark 8.35).
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It can be found on the Bob Spradling channel.
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