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received him out of their sight” (Act 1:9).   Over the centuries many have debated
        We should be clear that this cloud is no   the phrase “every eye shall see him.” The
        cirrus, cumulus or stratus. This is not a   concern has always been as to how it is
        cloud to bring rain or shade, but it is the   possible for people living on every part
        very cloud of heaven. Daniel said, “I saw   of a round globe to all see the same sight
        in the night visions, and, behold, one like   at His appearance. Some have felt that
        the Son of man came with the clouds of   man’s technology provides an answer. But
        heaven, and came to the Ancient of days,   do God’s purposes rely upon televisions
        and they brought him near before him”   and smart phones? Consider that even
        (7:13). Nahum humorously proclaims,   today 80% of people living in Papua New
        “And the clouds are the dust of his feet”   Guinea do not have a smart phone. John
        (1:3). We marvel at the beauty of a sunset   does not say that “most” eyes will see
        as it paints the undersides of clouds with   Him, but “every.” Additionally, consider
        shades of pink and purple and red. But the   that the events of the tribulation, such as
        clouds of heaven are far greater; as is this   the sun increasing its heat, will very likely
        SON! They will not hide nor veil or dim   destroy our beloved devices with electro-
        His glory, but rather will enhance and ac-  magnetic radiation. So how is it possible
        centuate the arrival of the Son of Shekinah   that every eye will see Him?
        glory in a way that will fill all the heavens.  The simple explanation is that He will
          The horizon that day will be as if Isa-  come slowly, as a regal and military pro-
        iah’s prophecy is being painted upon   cession out of heaven. That arrival from
        our atmosphere. “I am the LORD: that is   the third to the second and into the first
        my name: and my glory will I not give to   heaven may be long enough for the globe
        another, neither my praise to graven im-  to rotate on its axis and thereby for every
        ages. Behold, the former things are come   physical eye to see Him. Indeed, the de-
        to pass, and new things do I declare” (Isa   scription of the clouds and the lightning
        42:8-9).                              may serve to highlight how His arrival
          Luke emphasizes for us the second   will fill the skies.
        element that will define His return to   We could multiply words to seek to
        the atmosphere as he records, “For as   impress upon you the glorious display of
        the lightning, that lighteneth out of the   the arrival of the Lord into the first heaven,
        one part under heaven, shineth unto the   but we would try in vain to attain the
        other part under heaven; so shall also the   beauty with which the psalmist declares
        Son of man be in his day” (Luk 17:24).   it: “Clouds and darkness are round about
        We commonly think of lightning as that   him: righteousness and judgment are
        which travels down to earth from the   the habitation of his throne. A fire goeth
        clouds above with great rapidity. But   before him, and burneth up his enemies
        please note that this description of light-  round about. His lightnings enlightened
        ning describes that which travels across   the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
        the sky and in that way illuminates the   The hills melted like wax at the presence
        entire atmosphere. So we appreciate that   of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord
        the cloud and the lightning emphasize to   of the whole earth. The heavens declare
        us that His return is an event that will fill   his righteousness, and all the people see
        all the heavens.                      his glory (Psa 97:2-6).

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