Jesus Will Return Upon the Clouds

Seeing clouds in the sky is a pretty common sight for most of us.  During the time of Moses, however, it was unusual to see even a trace of a cloud between the months of May and September.¹  Throughout Scripture, there are many references to clouds that have spiritual significance. 

• In Exodus 19:9 the Lord tells Moses: Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.

• In the Tent of Meeting in Exodus 40:34 a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

• In Numbers 12:5: the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.

• In Deuteronomy 31:15: the LORD appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud: and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle.

• In Psalm 104:1-3: the Lord maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

When the Lord appeared before the people in Old Testament times, he often did so within a cloud (a word search will reveal just how often).  This was not just a cloud of mist and vapor, but a cloud of Shekinah glory, manifesting the majestic presence of God.  What a sight that must have been to behold!

Clouds in Old Testament passages also reveal the promise of what is to come, as we see in Isaiah and Daniel, two prophetic books of the Bible.

• Isaiah 19:1: the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.

• Daniel 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.

• Daniel 7:14: 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.

These verses prophesy that when Jesus returns to earth in a cloud at His second coming, His dominion will be an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.  Praise God!  

Prior to this wonderful event, Jesus will also come on a cloud to rapture believers, but He will not actually set foot on the earth.   

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17:¹⁶For 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: ¹⁷Then 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.

These passages have changed the way I look at clouds, especially when I see the glorious rays of the sun shining through.  What about you?

Reference: 1. Merril F. Unger and R.K. Harris, ed.  The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary  (Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1988), 243.