Revelation 1:7
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The mourning described isn't just for the ones who physically pierced Jesus, but for everyone who has pierced Him through their sin and rejection, and their wailing will be one of despair, not repentance. This highlights that Christ's return will be a universal reckoning, seen by all, and will expose the true state of every heart towards Him.
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. Even so. Amen.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse marks a dramatic shift in Revelation, moving from introductory greetings to a powerful vision of Christ's return. John is being shown the ultimate vindication of Jesus, a cosmic event where His reign becomes undeniable to everyone. The context is the immediate aftermath of this divine unveiling, emphasizing that this climactic coming is not distant speculation but a certainty that will evoke a universal response of awe and terror.
Revelation 1:7 paints a picture of Christ's return. But what does 'coming with the clouds' really signify?
The imagery of Christ coming 'with the clouds' is powerful and deliberate. It directly echoes Old Testament descriptions of God's majestic, awe-inspiring presence. Think of God appearing in a cloud at Mount Sinai, or the fiery, cloudy pillar guiding Israel through the wilderness.
This isn't just a gentle arrival. The clouds symbolize divine majesty, power, and glory. When Jesus returns, it won't be a quiet, unnoticed event. It will be a public, undeniable demonstration of His sovereignty, visible to every single person on Earth.
The verse states 'every eye will see him.' What does this universal visibility mean for us?
This is a profound declaration: no one will miss this event. 'Every eye' means every single person, past and present, who has ever lived, will see Christ in His glory. This includes those who pierced Him – a stark reminder that even those who actively rejected or harmed Him will witness His return.
The significance here is twofold: for believers, it's the fulfillment of hope; for the unrepentant, it's the moment of ultimate accountability. The gaze isn't passive; it carries the weight of recognition and consequence. This seeing will lead to a deep, unavoidable reaction.
The reaction to Christ's return is described as 'wailing.' What kind of grief is this, and why?
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The 'wailing' mentioned in Revelation 1:7 is not a sorrow of repentance that leads to salvation. It's a lamentation born from despair, terror, and regret. It's the cry of those who realize too late what they have lost or what they have done.
This wailing stems from the recognition of Christ's glory and their own condemnation. It's a final, hopeless acknowledgment of His rightful sovereignty. The contrast between the joyful anticipation of believers and the terrified wailing of unbelievers highlights the ultimate division that Christ's return will reveal.
Understand the original words
nephelē · Greek Noun
In the Bible, clouds often symbolize the presence, glory, and judgment of God. Christ’s coming on the clouds signifies His divine authority and His visible, transcendent return.
Revelation 1:7 powerfully connects Jesus' future return to His past crucifixion, highlighting that those who rejected and pierced Him will be the very ones to witness His glorious, undeniable arrival, prompting universal wailing and a stark reminder of judgment.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus Christ is crucified in Jerusalem. Roman soldiers pierce his side, fulfilling prophecies and an event that would later be referenced as a moment of deep sin and future reckoning.
c. 62 AD
First Jewish Revolt Begins
Sporadic violence erupts between Jews and Greeks in Caesarea, escalating into a full-blown rebellion against Roman rule.
70 AD
Destruction of Jerusalem
Roman legions under Titus sack Jerusalem and destroy the Second Temple, a catastrophic event for the Jewish people and a fulfillment of Jesus' prophecies.
c. 95 AD
Book of Revelation Written
The Apostle John, exiled on the island of Patmos, receives visions from Jesus Christ and writes the Book of Revelation, addressing seven churches in Asia Minor.
This verse directly foreshadows the mourning that will occur when 'they shall look on me, on him whom they have pierced,' echoing the specific mention in Revelation of those who pierced him weeping.
Matthew 24:30Jesus himself prophesied his coming with clouds and that 'all the tribes of the earth will mourn' at his arrival, mirroring the language and imagery used in Revelation 1:7.
John 19:34The account of Jesus' side being pierced by a spear, as recorded by John, is directly alluded to in Revelation 1:7, highlighting the piercing of Christ and its ultimate impact.
Daniel 7:13This Old Testament vision describes one like a 'son of man' coming with the clouds of heaven, a key image that Revelation 1:7 draws upon to depict Christ's glorious and majestic return.
Matthew 26:64Jesus' affirmation before the high priest about seeing the 'Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven' directly connects to the manner of Christ's visible return described in this Revelation verse.
ellicottRevelation 1:7: "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen."
(7) Behold, he cometh with clouds. —Better, with the clouds. The reference to Christ’s words ( Mark 14:62 ) is undoubted. In the “clouds” St. Augustine sees the emblem of the saints of the Church, which is His body, who spread as a vast fertilising cloud over the whole world. Every eye shall see him, and they also…
barnesRevelation 1:7: "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen."
Behold he cometh with clouds - That is, the Lord Jesus, when he returns, will come accompanied with clouds. This is in accordance with the uniform representation respecting the return of the Saviour. See the notes on Matthew 24:30 . Compare Matthew 26:64 ; Mark 13:26 ; Mark 14:62 ; Acts 1:9 , Acts 1:11 . Clouds are…
The mourning described isn't just for the ones who physically pierced Jesus, but for everyone who has pierced Him through their sin and rejection, and their wailing will be one of despair, not repentance. This highlights that Christ's return will be a universal reckoning, seen by all, and will expose the true state of every heart towards Him.
This verse marks a dramatic shift in Revelation, moving from introductory greetings to a powerful vision of Christ's return. John is being shown the ultimate vindication of Jesus, a cosmic event where His reign becomes undeniable to everyone. The context is the immediate aftermath of this divine unveiling, emphasizing that this climactic coming is not distant speculation but a certainty that will evoke a universal response of awe and terror.
This verse marks a dramatic shift in Revelation, moving from introductory greetings to a powerful vision of Christ's return. John is being shown the ultimate vindication of Jesus, a cosmic event where His reign becomes undeniable to everyone. The context is the immediate aftermath of this divine unveiling, emphasizing that this climactic coming is not distant speculation but a certainty that will evoke a universal response of awe and terror.
"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. Even so. Amen." — The mourning described isn't just for the ones who physically pierced Jesus, but for everyone who has pierced Him through their sin and rejection, and their wailing will be one of despair, not repe…
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Last reviewed October 2026
