Rev 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."

The clouds in the scriptures are often associated with the glory of God:

          1.  Ex. 16:10 "And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud."

          2.  Ex. 24:16 "And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud."

          3.  Ex. 40:34 "Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."

          4.  1 Kings 8:10 "And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD."

          5.  Is. 4:5 "And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence."

          6.  Ezek. 10:4 "Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD'S glory."

          7.  Matt. 24:30 "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

Thus as the cloud is associated with God's glory, the cloud also is associated with things that glorify God: 

          1.  God's everlasting covenant glorifies God: Gen. 9:13 "I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:" Just as the rainbow covenant glorifies God, even so, it points to the everlasting covenant of redemption found in Rom. 8:28-30 which gives all the glory to God for our redemption: "28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

           2.  The giving of the covenant of the law glorified God: Ex. 24:16 "And the glory of the LORD abode upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud."

           3.  God's mercy glorifies God: Lev. 16:2 "And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat." 

          4.  Prayer at God's throne of grace glorifies God: Lev. 16:13 "And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:"

          5.  The assembly of God's people to worship him glorifies God: Is. 4:5 "And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence."

           6.  God's everlasting kingdom glorifies God: Dan. 7:13 "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."

           7.  God's justice glorifies God: Zep. 1:15 "That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,"

           8.  The resurrection of Christ glorifies God: Acts 1:9 "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."

           9.     The resurrection of the dead at the end of time glorifies God: 1 Thes. 4:17 "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."

           10:  The witness of God's people glorifies God: Heb. 12:1 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"

           11.  God's leadership and direction of his people glorifies God: Ex. 13:21 "And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people."

           12.  Christ's death on the cross glorifies God: Zech. 12:10 "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."

Ref. 12 above is a parallel verse to Rev. 1:7.  The wailing in verse 7 is the same as the mourning in ref. 12.  The mourning is the mourning of God's children when they become convicted that their sins are the reason that Jesus suffered and died on the cross.  This is a bitter mourning for God's redeemed, but it glorifies God.  Their bitterness is turned to joy, however, when they come to understand that Jesus died for them to redeem them from their sins.

Yes Jesus does indeed come with clouds (glory).

Rev 1:8  "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

The term "Alpha and Omega" appears four times in the scriptures (Rev. 1:8, 11; 21:6; 22:13).  The phrase "beginning and the end" appears three times (Rev. 1:8; 21:6; 22:13).  The phrase "first and the last" appears four times (Rev. 1:11, 17; 2:8; 22:13).  Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.  They would appear to represent the initiation and completion of the alphabet and certainly the Lord is both the initiation and completion of His word. 

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God," etc.  "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."  God initiated the writing of his words and he also moved the writing unto the completion of his words.  God is the first great cause and the last great end.  God is the beginning of creation and the completer of creation.  God initiated the salvation of his people in the covenant of redemption before the foundation of the world and he is the completer of that covenant.  God is the author (initiator) and finisher (completer) of our faith.  God has begun a good work in us (new birth) and God will complete the good work (resurrection).  God is the beginner of our love (we love him because he first loved us) and the perfector of our love.  God is the beginner of the church and the completer of the church.  God is the initiator of everything that is good and he is also the completer of everything that is good. 

The phrase "which is, and which was, and which is to come" appears twice in the scriptures (Rev. 1:4, 8).  Heb. 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" also expresses a similar sentiment.  It shows us that God is eternal and unchangeable.  He is the great I AM.  When Moses asked God what he was to tell Israel about who sent him, God answered that he was to say "I AM hath sent thee."  These characteristics of God are essential in our salvation from sin and deliverance to glory.

 God is called the Almighty fifty seven times in the scriptures and as a name has reference to the characteristic of God having all power.  Of course God is the creator of all things, both natural and spiritual.

Rev 1:9  "I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."

In the above verse we see that John is addressing the brethren.  He says that I am your brother.  As far as I have found in the scriptures John had only one natural brother.  However, he had many spiritual brothers and sisters.  The appellation, brother, indicates a relationship.  Its use in the scriptures often does not indicate natural siblings, but spiritual brothers.  We are brothers and sisters in that we have all been born of the Spirit of God in the new birth.  We also have one elder brother, the Lord Jesus Christ.  The terms, brother and sister, were used in the church to indicate they were a part of the family of God.  Numerous times we find this appellation in the letters of the apostles and prophets and in over 90% of the cases it is talking about someone who is a fellow church member.  It is scriptural to use the appellation when talking to or about a fellow church member.  The term, brother, also indicates a shared and common interest as being members of the same family under the same house rules and government.  This term was sometimes used in the Old Testament to indicate a relationship beyond being natural siblings.  Abraham was Lot's uncle yet he was called his brother: Gen. 14:16 "And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people."

The word, companion, used above indicates someone who is a co-participant or co-laborer.  When brother and companion are used together it indicates that we are more than just sharing a common spiritual birth, but also that we are also co-laborers.  In the church this is supposed to be the case.  In the church we are not only spiritual brothers and sisters, but we are also co-laborers in tribulation, and the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.  Tribulation is shared by every member of the church:

          1.  John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

          2.  Acts 14:22 "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."

          3.  Rom. 5:3 "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;"

          4.  Rom. 12:12 "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;"

          5.  2 Cor. 1:4 "Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."

          6.  1 Th. 3:4 "For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know."

We are also co-laborers in the kingdom of God:

           1.  Matt. 20: "For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard."

          2.  1 Cor. 3:9 "For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building."

          3.  Phil. 4:3 "And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life."

We also are brethren and co-partakers of the patience of Jesus Christ.  The word, patience, means cheerful endurance and continuance.  Instant gratification isn't often found in the service of the Lord.  Many times we are called upon to endure hardships, trials, tribulations, persecutions, and temptations.  Often times we labor and don't immediately see the results of our labors.  Yet we are called upon to continue instant in the service of the Lord.  However, we have a promise that sustains us during these times of hardship: Gal. 6:9 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."  Also, we read in 1 Cor. 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

John was in the isle that is called Patmos.  While the scriptures do not tell us how he got to the isle of Patmos, secular history tells us that he was put there as a result of persecution.  How often do we see the Lord use the circumstances that we are in to his names honor and glory.  This punishment of the world turned out to be a great blessing that God bestowed not only on John, but upon the Lord's church.  It should cause us to reflect that before we start complaining about our circumstances, maybe God will use those circumstances to his names honor and glory.

Recently I was in a meeting where there was a young lady who had spinal bifida, which had retarded both her growth and her mental development.  Yet I have not seen any greater praise and love flow out!  She wasn't bemoaning her circumstances, but rather was giving praise and glory to God and her joy was full.

John was in the isle of Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.  He was there to record and report what the Lord said and showed him unto the Lord's church.  While the circumstances could have been harsh, the labor was one of great joy.  What greater joy can we find in life than to serve our Lord and Master in his kingdom.