WHEN Jesus comes, all the holy angels will be with him. Matt. 25:31. What an immense company that will be, for according to Rev. 5:11 there will be over one hundred million. “The number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.”
Christ will come with the threefold glory,—the glory of the Father, the Son, and all the holy angels. Luke 9:26. The mind and words of the most eloquent orator can not picture the brightness and magnificence of his glorious appearing.
Let us read what Daniel says of the glory of one angel: “His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.” Dan. 10:6. If this be the glory of one angel, imagine if possible something of the glory of one hundred million, and together with this the glory of Christ and God. Read Rev. 1:10-18. John here says, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet. . . . I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” In these words John has described the glory of Christ. Let us see what we can find in regard to the glory of God. Daniel says, “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.” Dan. 7:9. Ezekiel says that the Lord’s appearance is like unto a bow that is in the cloud in a day of rain. Eze. 1:28. Who has not seen the beauty and brightness of a rainbow in a day of rain?
What happiness and joy to the Redeemed to be greeted with such a vision of loveliness when Christ comes with the retinue of holy beings! And we read in Rev. 1:7 that “every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.” Every eye shall see him. Those who in his name have overcome will be full of praise and shouts of victory; but alas! for those who mocked and derided him. These are they who will cry for the rocks and the mountains to fall upon them, and hide them from the face of him that sitteth upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.
Christ’s appearing is also likened unto lightning that cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west. Matt. 24:27.
At the coming of the Son of man the righteous will receive their reward. “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:15-17.
In Luke 21:27, 28, we are exhorted to rejoice when we see the signs of the coming of the Son of man.
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Col. 3:1-4.
The coming of Christ to this world means happiness instead of sorrow, songs and praises in place of weeping, health instead of sickness, thanksgiving and not complaining. There will be rest, joy, and peace. The young will never grow old. The old will have their youth renewed. There will be harps of gold that will send forth beautiful strains of music as the strings are touched by angel fingers, and the voices of the mighty host blend in sweet harmony in an anthem of praise. “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.”