Revelation 1:7

It is important to study the Bible as a whole, especially when seeking to understand the book of Revelation. Clearly, the book is about the last days. However, lest one skip over essential information, the subject of the last days begins in the book of Genesis.

Jacob addresses his sons in a farewell speech of blessings. He clearly tells them what will befall them in the last days, (Genesis 49:1,2). Therefore, the last days message is about Israel, the descendants of Jacob.

However, lest one conclude prematurely that all the tribes are central to the message of the last days, focus is made upon one tribe, that of Judah.

The Scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet until Shiloh comes. And to him shall be the obedience of the people. (Genesis 49:10). The scepter refers to the rule and reign of the kingdom. Shiloh is Christ. The coming under discussion is his second coming.

The obedience, submission or gathering is that of the end time or last days period as discussed in such texts as Matthew 24:31, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2; and Hebrews 10:25.

For the present, let’s get back to Judah. Through the years of Israel’s history, they had problems with idolatry in following the practices of the nations that God removed before them.

During Solomon’s reign, God promised to rend or tear away the kingdom from the house of Solomon because, in his old age he allowed foreign women to turn his heart from serving God.

Yet, God would not make a full end of the kingdom. He would preserve for himself one tribe on account of his servant David and for Jerusalem’s sake. (1 Kings 11:1f)

If you guessed the tribe of Judah, then you are correct. The prophecy of Genesis 49:10, is certainly a huge clue.

During the days of Jeroboam, the kingdom was split due to apostasy. Jeroboam ruled the 10 tribes of the northern kingdom. He also set up calf worship in Dan and Bethel.

God responded by tearing the 10 tribes from the house of David forever. They were carried into Assyrian captivity in 722 BC. They were replaced by foreigns peoples (Gentiles) from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and from Sepharvaim who were placed in Samaria. (2 Kings 17)

This explains why the Jews (Judeans) had no dealings with the Samaritans. Even the apostles counted it strange that Jesus would engage the Samaritan woman in conversation, (John 4)

The book of Hosea portrays in dramatic fashion, God’s divorce with the northern tribes. Through the imagery of Gomer’s (Hosea’s wife) children, a daughter (Lo-Ruhamah) was born. Her name signified that God’s withdrawal of mercy from the house of Israel. “For I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel, but I will utterly take them away. Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah, will save them by the lord their God…” (Hosea 1:6, 7).

Gomer bore a second son, (Lo-Ammi) who’s name signified that God Israel (10 northern tribes) were no longer his people. “Then God said: Call his name Lo-Ammi, For you are not My people, and I will not be your God. (Hosea 1:9).

Essentially, this leaves the tribe of Judah alone, as the prophecy suggested in in Genesis 49:10. Benjamin and part of the tribe of Levi remained with the southern kingdom of Judah.

Judah, likewise suffered chastisement for idolatry and was carried into Babylonian captivity in 586 BC, serving under Nebuchadnezzar and his sons for 70 years. At their release, Daniel laments (Chapter 9) that they have yet to fully repent of their sins. However, it is this tribe that is the focus of the New Testament and explains when the central message of the New Covenant is focused around the Jews (Judahites). The Book of Revelation

The message of the book of Revelation is primarily God’s divorce with Judah for their rebellion against Christ. They follow the path of the former northern tribes of Israel. This is the time of the last days foreseen and foretold by Jacob which would befall his sons in “their” latter days.

It is worthy of note that Christ begins his ministry with the announcement that the time was fulfilled and the kingdom of heaven was at hand. (Mark 1:14)

The Hebrews writer places Jesus’ public ministry in the time known as the last days, (Hebrews 1:2), meaning the last days of Old Covenant Israel, i.e. the Judean world.

The text of Revelation 1:7, Behold he comes with clouds and every eye shall see him even those who pierced him, is therefore Christ’s coming to destroy the house of Judah. They received the primary charge and guilt of his murder and crucifixion by manipulating the sovereignty of the Roman government, and thus making them complicit in the act, (Acts 2:23; 3:17;4:25-28). However while Pilate washed his hands of Jesus blood at least symbolically, the Jews reveled in having it freshly poured on their own with the saying. “His blood be upon us and our children.”

The background to Revelation 1:7, is a combination of Daniel 7, Zechariah 12 and Matthew 24:30, the latter of which encompasses the former Old Testament texts.

In those passages the tribes of the land (Judah) mourn at their calamity. Zechariah 12:10 specifies the house of David, Nathan and Shimei and their families but excludes the northern kingdom. This is proof that the last days events belong to the time of and are focused on the tribe of Judah. Further, Daniel sees the end time coming of Christ during the days of the Ancient Roman empire which is under the rule of the Caesars during the time of Christ and his subsequent apostolic ministry.

Therefore, in light of the above we must view the coming of the Lord in the clouds as his judgment upon Judah in their last days. This explains the imminence of the language of Christ’s Parousia (presence or coming) being at hand in the first century (Romans 13:11, 12; Philippians 4:5; James 5:7, 8; 1 Peter 4:7, 17; Revelation 1:1-3; 22:6, 10, 12); and coming before that generation passed away (Matthew 24:34) and before some who stood in his presence died (Matthew 16:27, 28).

“Every eye” must be viewed contextually with the facts of the text and kept in the covenantal transition of change from the Old Covenant to the New.

The primary focus of Revelation is the coming of Christ in his glory to judge the great harlot, Mystery Babylon, a code name for first century Jerusalem, the great city where the Lord was crucified (Revelation 11:8) and who murdered the apostles and saints (Revelation 18:24; Matthew 23:34). His coming ushered in the New Jerusalem, the holy city and bride of Christ which came down from God out of heaven, to be with man. (Revelation 22:1-3)

Thus, we have an everlasting covenant with God through Christ, and new relationship with him where he fulfilled Israel’s promises through her Messiah and in which both Jew and Gentile by faith attain to the status of the true sons of Abraham. (Galatians 4:26-29).