In Revelation 1:7 we read; “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.”
Did you know that when the Bible talks about Christ coming back in the clouds, it is a reference to His Deity?
Yes indeed, Jesus Christ is coming back! We don’t know when that future event will take place, but one day Christ is going to physically, visibly and personally return to Earth. However, interesting as it may be, the subject we want to consider today is neither the timing nor even the fact of this monumental event. What we want to briefly discuss is the mention of the word ‘clouds.'
In the Bible, clouds are often a signal of divine activity. They frequently announce the presence of God.
Consider this, Exodus 13:21; “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way;”
Exodus 16:10, “And it came to pass, as Aaron spoke 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. “
Exodus 34:5 declares, “And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
Numbers 10:34 “And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.”
In Psalm 104:3 we read, “The Lord makes the clouds his chariot.”
Speaking of coming judgment, Jeremiah warned, Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: Jeremiah 4:13 (see also Zephaniah 1:15).
Let’s fast forward to the New Testament to Matthew 26:64. Here Jesus is on trial for His life. Before Him stands Old Joe Caiaphas bedecked in the regalia of the High Priest. Old Joe is a jealous man, jealous of the adulation being given to the Young Prince of Glory. Old Joe is a threatened man. Threatened because the Lord Jesus has exposed the hypocrisy of the religious leaders with His ‘woe unto you’ speeches (see Matthew 23: 29-33). Old Joe Caiaphas, has been made to squirm. He is, after all, the Chief among the professional ecclesiastics who were, as Jesus had pointed out, merely white-washed tombs. As he seethes with hatred, Old Joe is determined to execute the Lord Jesus. He has brought in false witnesses to testify against the Master.
Jesus, of course, could have backed down and diffused the situation. He could have changed His story…but he didn’t. He boldly looked his satanic rival in the eyes saying, “Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven.” COMING IN THE CLOUDS! It’s no wonder Caiaphas tore his clothes. It’s no wonder he cried out, “He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.”
In this dreadful scene, the High Priest of Israel rejected the Christ of Israel and consigned Him to death. Caiaphas knew that Christ, by claiming He was coming back in the clouds had put Himself on the same footing as God. No wonder they executed Him.
And, by the way, when Jesus departed Terra Firma at the ascension, how did he leave? He left in a cloud (Acts1:9). And how will He return? He’ll return with the clouds (Acts 1:11). He is our God and we are steadfastly looking for Him.
And that’s the Gospel Truth!