Christ's Second Coming a Revelation
E. E. Johnson, M. A. Matthew 24:27 For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even to the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. The essential circumstance in this parable or analogy is not so much the suddenness of the splendour that breaks forth from the cloud, as the wide-reaching and supernatural illumination and revelation which come with it. It annihilates all the darkness of the night and of the storm. Each of all the hidden objects stands out clearly manifest. The daylight comes so slowly that we seldom think of its revealing power. Even when we pause to watch its increase, the world has ample time to grow into its old look of naturalness without any shock to us; and, ere the sun has fully risen and disclosed clearly to our sight the familiar objects around us, we have already well-nigh forgotten that the night ever hid them. But it is not so when the lightning comes. That has no twilight. Its dawn is its fullest day. It transfigures the world at once. It divides the light from the darkness somewhat as we imagine God did at the beginning — separating them perfectly, and leaving no neutral ground between them. (E. E. Johnson, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. WEB: For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.