Perhaps you have stood on an eastern shoreline watching the sunrise over the ocean. How quickly the darkness of night gives way to the brilliant light of day! Yet, in another sense, there is a slow but unstoppable progression from night to astronomical dawn to nautical dawn to civil dawn to sunrise and, finally, to day. So, too, will it be with the coming of the Son of Man. The Scriptures give us a number of vistas and horizons to appreciate in relation to His return for us. There will be things to be seen upon the earth, on the hills and valleys, on the mountain top, in the sky, in outer space, and in the very heights of heaven. With unstoppable rapidity, our world will leave behind the dark night of death and destruction and demonically-driven despotism for the glorious reign of the true King. As Malachi so beautifully expresses, “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings” (4:2).1
Bible scholars have rightly pointed out that in regard to the first advent of Christ approximately 350 prophecies were fulfilled. Incredibly, when we turn our view to the second advent, there are over 1,500 prophecies awaiting their moment of completion. That so much of the program of God is yet to be revealed is stunning. However, to the student of the Word, it is also overwhelming to mentally categorize and practically conceptualize such a vast expanse of coming world events. The chart above, though woefully simplistic compared to the precision of 1,500 prophecies, seeks plainly to illustrate the horizons visible at the second advent of the Son of Man.
Some in Scripture were given a vision into the highest heaven. Isaiah, Daniel, John and possibly Paul (caught up to the third heaven) all speak of what they saw. Others could speak specifically of standing on earth and seeing the heavens opened to glimpse the reality therein. You will quickly recall the experience of the apostle Paul on the Damascus Road. He testified to the brilliance of heavenly glory and the greatness of the heavenly throne-sitter who became his Lord. In some ways, Paul’s conversion was unique. Yet, “as one born out of due time,” it is a pattern for the national salvation of Israel in a coming day (1Co 15:8). In Acts 7, Stephen also saw the heavens open. His view was not of a seated Sovereign but of a standing Savior awaiting His faithful martyr. Again, this account is a unique moment in Scripture as the first martyr of the Church leaves the scene. But would we be wrong to suggest that the glorified Lord graciously stands to receive each of His own as they come home?
The open heaven is linked with the second advent of Christ. In the comprehensive portion of Revelation 19, John states, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold …” (v11). We are invited to view the Lord as John did. So, it is quite interesting to consider the words of the Lord directed to the High Priest as He Himself describes the heaven being opened: “Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven” (Mat 26:64). John wrote to believers so that we might grasp the enormity of the moment when the Faithful Lord and King of Kings will return. The Lord, however, spoke to Christ-rejectors as He emphasized that the Righteous Judge will come in power and judgment upon His enemies.
What an awesome and terrifying view it will be on that day for rebellious humanity! Just to see the door of heaven opened which separates this material world from the spiritual reality will be frightful. Then the Judge arrives. The words of the Lord in Matthew 24 imply that they will first see Him upon His throne and they will watch as He rides upon a white horse in all His glory and with all His armies out of heaven and into time and space. Whether that happens in an instant or over hours is inconsequential, as men will be unable to turn away to anything else. Yet, how foolish and ludicrous will their reaction be, as they will wail and seek to kill Him afresh. “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, ‘Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.’ He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath” (Psa 2:1-5).
How wondrous that, like Paul, in becoming believers we have seen Him for who He truly is! How comforting that if, like Stephen, we enter into death, we shall see Him as our living and welcoming Savior! And how certain that we will indeed see Him on the great day of His glorious return to earth! Truly, “he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him” (Rev 1:7). When we see Him on that day, there will be no need to wail at judgment or weep in repentance, but rather solely to worship Him for His glory. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1Jn 3:2). We who look for the Bright and Morning Star will also behold the Sun of Righteousness rising in all His glory! “Blessed are all they that put their trust in him” (Psa 2:12b).
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV.
