There will come a day when the skies will open, and the entire earth will witness the return of Jesus Christ, just as it was foretold in the book of Revelation. This moment will be both beautiful and terrible, a scene of overwhelming brightness in the midst of a dark night, where the sky is filled with the hosts of heaven. Angels, too numerous to count, will flood the atmosphere with their light as they accompany the King of Kings.
As Revelation 1:7 declares: “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him.” People from every nation and tribe—Chinese, Japanese, English, African, French, and more—will look up. For some, there will be great joy, the culmination of their faith, the moment they’ve waited for with longing hearts. For others, it will be a time of fear, the realization that they did not prepare their hearts to meet the Lord.
In this awe-inspiring event, graves will burst open as the dead are raised, just as promised in Revelation 20:13: “The sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.” Those who have died in Christ will rise first, resurrected to eternal life, while others will face judgment. The waters will give up their dead, and people will emerge from the earth, resurrected to stand before the Lord.
Jesus Himself will stand in the heavens, His presence undeniable. The Bible describes Him in Revelation 1:14-15: “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of rushing waters.” He will come not as the gentle Lamb, but as the righteous Judge, with a face like bronze and hair like wool, embodying the glory of God in human form.
The earth itself will shake as the power of His coming rocks the foundations of the world. Revelation 16:18 speaks of a great earthquake: “And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake.” All buildings will crumble, and every monument of human achievement will be laid to waste in the presence of the Almighty.
This is a scene of unmatched beauty and terror. It is the fulfillment of every promise God has made, the final victory of Christ over sin and death. For those who have believed and followed Him, it is the beginning of eternal joy in His presence. Revelation 21:4 offers hope: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” For those who have rejected Him, it will be a moment of fear and sorrow as they face the judgment of a righteous God.
As we meditate on this breathtaking moment, let us examine our hearts. Are we ready for His return? Will we be among those who look up with joy, or those who tremble in fear? Jesus invites us to prepare, to live each day in readiness for His glorious appearing. Revelation 22:12 reminds us: “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.”
Let us live in the light of His coming, with hearts full of faith and hands ready to serve, knowing that the day of the Lord is near. His return will be both a beautiful and terrible event, but for those who belong to Him, it will be the beginning of eternal joy.