A Preview of the Glorious Appearing

(Rev 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”

Israel Text of the Week—Dt 30:1-10

1. Preliminary Question: What is Glory? Or, “Glorify,” “Glorified,” etc

a. When the words are talking about the Triune God, Glory is something majestic in God’s eyes, something personal that He holds in great esteem!

(1) (Isa 42:8) "I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images."

(2) (Psa 96:8) "Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts."

b. It is something that is revealed, sometimes visually—

(1) (Mat 4:8) "Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory."

(2) (Mat 6:29) ""and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

(3) (Mat 19:28) "So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

(4) (Mat 24:30) ""Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

(5) (Mat 25:31) ""When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory."

(6) (Luke 2:9) "And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid."

c. Glory also contains Moral Light

(1) (Luke 2:32) "A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.""

(2) (John 1:14) "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

(3) (John 2:11) "This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him."

d. Glory can be works of power that reveal God as He is—(John 11:4) "When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.""

e. Glory is the eternal possession of God—

(1) (John 17:5) ""And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was."

(2) (John 17:22) ""And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:"

(3) (John 17:24) ""Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world."

f. We cannot self-generate this glory—(Rom 3:23) "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

g. When we witness of Who He Is, we glorify Him—(Rom 4:20) "He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,"

h. Glory is something we look forward to as a result of our salvation—(Rom 5:2-3) "through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;"

i. Glory comes to God because of the greatness of His person—(Rom 11:36) "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen."

j. Glory is the righteous possession of the Father—

(1) (Rom 16:27) "to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen."

(2) (1 Cor 1:29) "that no flesh should glory in His presence."

(3) (1 Cor 1:31) "that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.""

k. And He Is King Eternal— (Rev 1:5-6) "… To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. …”


l. But Always, He Is Worthy of All Glory—(Rev 1:5-6) "… To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. …”

2. The Glorious Appearing—He is Coming Again—(Rev 1:7-8) "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…”

a. Why must Jesus Come Again? (MacArthur)

(1) The Promises made to Israel by the Father—(Psa 2:6-9) ""Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion." 7 "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'""

(2) The Promises made to Israel by the Son—(John 14:2-3) ""In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."

(3) The Holy Spirit inspired all of the Bible, so His reputation is on the line if Jesus does not return.

(4) God’s Program for the church requires the first sequence of the second coming—(1 Th 1:10) "… wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."

(5) God’s program for the lost nations requires the second coming

(6) God’s program for Israel requires Christ’s Return—Jer 33:25-26

(7) Christ’s humiliation requires that He return—Ph 2:5-11

(8) The judgment against Satan requires Christ’s return—

(9) The Expectation of believers requires His Return—Titus 2:13


b. John’s Overview of the Glorious Appearing

(1) "…Behold…”

(2) “… He is coming…”

(3) “… with clouds…”

(4) “… and every eye will see Him…”

(5) “… even they who pierced Him...”.

(6) “…And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him…”

(7) “… Even so, Amen…”


c. Basic Facts

(1) Christ Will Have a Glorious Appearing

(2) The Rapture is not the glorious appearing

(3) The Glorious Appearing of Christ is a cornerstone of Biblical doctrine.

(4) Our Lord promised it—Mat 24:30 "And 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 Glorious Appearing in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

(5) The entire book of Revelation celebrates it.

(6) It is not possible to be considered orthodox and evangelical unless you believe Jesus is returning—Christ’s Glorious Appearing will be visible, personal and bodily, and in power.

3. The Overview of the Glorious Appearing

a. "…Behold…” The Holy Spirit, through John, wants us to take great notice!

(1) (Dan 7:13) ""I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him."

(2) Those who witness the Glorious Appearing will find it as a wonder or a horror, depending entirely on their personal circumstance.

b. “… He is coming…” Christ is returning, period. In the New Testament, the Glorious Appearing of Christ is just practically taken for granted—below are just a few examples of the verses that establish this fact.

1 Cor 11:26 "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come."

1 Tim 6:14-15 "That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15 Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;"

Mat 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

2 Th 2:1-3 "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"

c. “… with clouds…”

(1) Clouds are often a part of the revelation of God’s Glory—

(a) Clouds shrouded Mt. Sinai in Exodus

(b) A Cloud led them by day through the wilderness

(c) A cloud filled the Tabernacle so that they could not even enter.

(d) God descended in a cloud to witness about His Son on the Mount of Transfiguration.

(Mat 17:5) "While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!""




(2) In the Ascension, a cloud received Him out of their sight—Acts 1:9-11

(3) In the Rapture, we meet Him in the clouds—(1 Th 4:17) "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."

(4) In the Glorious Appearing, He appears “with clouds,” almost certainly referring to the supernatural clouds that accompany great manifestations of God’s Glory, such as the clouds filling the temple or the tabernacle at their dedications

(Mat 24:30) ""Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

(Mat 26:64) "Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.""

(Mark 13:26) ""Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory."

(Mark 14:62) "Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.""

(1 Th 4:17) "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."

(Exo 13:22) "He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people."

d. “… and every eye will see Him…”—again, this is not the Rapture—see comparison list

(1) As Christ slowly and majestically descends to Earth, every living eye will see him
(2) That is why the tribes are afraid of His wrath.

e. “… even they who pierced Him...”.


(1) Israel pierced Him…(Zec 12:10) "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

(2) The Romans Pierced Him—

(a) (John 19:34) But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

(b) (John 19:37) And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."

(3) Roman and Jew alike cooperated in opposing Christ—(Acts 4:27) ""For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together"

(4) The Wicked pierced Him—(that’s US, all of US) Psa 22:16) For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;

f. The Horror of the unbeliever— “…And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him…”

(Mat 24:30) "… all the tribes of the earth will mourn…”

(Rev 6:15-17) And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, {16} and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! {17} "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

g. “… Even so, Amen…” The voice of surrender and the affirmation of Truth. Christ IS returning again.