The dark or varied colors, in veins or spots, on stones or other bodies, are called clouds… is true to the original, and forcible: We read, Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. I. Luke tells us that as Jesus was speaking, A cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. Consider what a cloud is and does. We also see the … The Lord promised in the Noahic covenant, "It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. God forcefully and deliberately ended that age. CLOUD kloud (`anan, `abh; nephele, nephos): I. Clouds in Israel. Moses had to be hidden from the full glory of God in the cleft of a rock, or he would have died (Exodus 33:19-23). 8. The clouds symbolize God visiting judgment on the people and the nation. Bible societies sprang up, education became accessible to many, and the common man could read the Words of Life. In the promise we see elements of God's faithfulness, but the backdrop is God's mercy in not destroying all of mankind. 104:3). Answer: The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night guided the Israelites during their exodus from Egyptian bondage. After his resurrection, Jesus took his disciples up to a high mountain where "he was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight" (Acts 1:9). Bible verses related to Clouds from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance - Sort By Book Order Matthew 26:64 - Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. To view the full ESV Copyright information, click here. (Ex. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud." The point remains that God will not destroy all flesh by any means, whether by flood or by fire. Robert D. Pace 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 The study of clouds in Scripture is fascinating. When Peter reflected back on this incident so many years later, he remembered most of all the glory cloud out of which God the Father spoke. Nick Batzig is an associate editor for Ligonier Ministries and a pastor at Wayside Presbyterian Church (PCA). This detail at first may not seem relevant, but it shows up repeatedly. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. 4:8-10). [1]. Wheat means the children of the kingdom. This is not the only way the Bible uses clouds. Genesis and Revelation mirror each other in many ways; frequently, when a matter is introduced in Genesis, it is resolved or concluded in some way in Revelation. What meaning do the clouds hold in the Bible? Some Bible scholars theorize the pillar of cloud shaded the people from the intense desert sun and also contained droplets of moisture which refreshed the travelers and their livestock. What the Bible says about Cloud Symbolism. As God had come down on and gone up from the Mount when he revealed himself to his people through the mediation of Moses, so too he came down and went up in the cloud as he led his people forward through their pilgrimage to the Promised Land. Jesus' ascension on the clouds was foretold by Daniel (Dan. All Rights Reserved. To understand the significance of this cloud, consider what a cloud is and does. Jesus Christ will be returning in glory, and that awesome glory has a terrible, lethal effect on sinful flesh. The first time the Bible uses a word or concept frequently sets the stage for how God inspired the human writers to use it throughout the rest of His Word, and clouds are no exception. Example: sheep, means God's children. Clouds and wind and no rain; A man who boasts himself of a gift of falsehood. 2. The pillar of fire at night would have provided light and warmth if there was no wood available for fires. Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on the mountain to be witnesses of his glory. He is the glory of the Lord who came to Tabernacle with his people (John 1:14). ( From Forerunner Commentary ) Genesis 9:12-17. From the genealogies, we know that humanity had been on the earth about a millennia and a half, and before the Flood, people lived much longer lives and produced numerous children. [1] The Works of Jonathan Edwards, With a Memoir of His Life and Character (1830), p. 553. All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door. They reflect both the transcendent glory of the Lord and His imminent approach to us. Deuteronomy 4:11 | View whole chapter | See verse in context And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. Many biblical names (Adam, Esau and Edom) are derived from this Hebrew word which means flesh. The metaphoric and symbolic uses of clouds are many, and furnish some of the most... 2. The second primary color is yellow. The Vulg. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. 7:13-14). Nevertheless, there is one thing a cloud will always do, if it has any size at all: It will impede light, such as the light of the sun or the moon. Christ descended and ascended in order to lead us and guide us to our eternal habitation (Eph. Water usually symbolizes clarity and purity. 1:17). That is why Christ’s coming is represented as coming on the clouds or coming as man in the flesh. Yellow. A state of obscurity or darkness. If you wanted to draw a picture of fear of disasters, you might draw dark clouds in the sky. Why are they significant to the return of our Savior to the earth? 33:9-10; 40:34). This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. Consider what a cloud is and does. 13:21; emphasis added). 14. It is a symbol of his presence and protection. Dark Clouds — represent trouble. 3 thicket as refuge Jeremiah 4:29 (perhaps under Aramaic influence). So clouds then could be symbolically seen as carriers of the sign or token of the Noahic Covenant. Having said that, there is much deeper symbolism associated with the elephants in the bible. The Shekinah glory was a glory cloud in the Most Holy Place. Even as He is about to unleash tremendous destruction on rebellious humanity, the sign of His promise not to destroy everyone is literally at the top of His head. Nahum tells us that "the clouds are the dust of His feet" (Nahum 1:3). As Moses went up into the mountain to receive covenant revelation from the Lord, "a cloud covered the mountain." By way of definition, a cloud is “a visible mass of droplets of water or frozen crystals, suspended in the atmosphere.” Sometimes clouds bring rain, which can be either a blessing or a curse depending on the circumstances, but other times they pass by without sharing a drop. All Topics, Biblical Metaphors, End Times, Prophecy, The Word of God 0. Here are a few examples: Zeph 1:15 Near is the great day of the LORD, Near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the LORD! Actually, "clouds" are symbolic. Disclosure: In order to provide this website free of charge to our wonderful readers, Beautiful Christian Life LLC uses advertisements and affiliate marketing links to generate revenue. John sees Christ clothed with a cloud and a rainbow on His head. It probably was an ineffably sweet, excellent sort of light, perfectly differing from and far exceeding the light of the sun...And there probably was an exact resemblance between the glory that the disciples saw in Christ’s face, and that which they saw in this cloud, which declared him to be the Son of God; for they saw him to be his express image. Surprisingly, the Scriptures have much to teach, by way of illustration or allusion, about the symbolic and redemptive-historical significance of clouds. We are told that, the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. In a positive sense, clouds represent unlimited extent (of God's faithfulness and truth, Psalm 36:5; 57:10; 108:4; of Babylon's judgment, Jer 51:9); life-giving refreshment (of the king's favor, Prov 16:15); a normal occurrence (cycle of nature, Eccl 11:3); shade or shelter (from the "heat" of the ruthless, Isa 25:5); calm (of the Lord in his heavenly sanctuary, Isa 18:4); covering or concealment (of Israel's sins in forgiveness, … Ezekiel 1:28 ESV / 10 helpful votes. We tend to speak of the beauty of any given day in relation to how much of the sun and sky we are able to see. (Ex. They represent the unsearchableness of God, His mysterious depths, and how futile it is for carnal men to try to understand His ways (II Samuel 22:12; Psalm 97:2; Ezekiel 1:4). (Ex. He is the Son of Man ascending on the clouds of heaven and coming to the Ancient of Days to receive the Kingdom that was promised to him. I do set my bow in the cloud. In Greek, ivory is derived from elephantinos or the elephants. Ezekiel 8:11. Moses and Elijah (representing the law and the prophets) appeared there to bear witness to the Mediator of the New Covenant. Additionally, the Lord would make his presence known to the Priest when he would come and dwell over the Ark of the Covenant. 4:17; NASB; emphasis added). A cloud came and overshadowed those present at the transfiguration. All of this is, of course, pointing forward to the coming of God in the person of Jesus. He is the glory of the Lord who came to Tabernacle with his people ( John 1:14 ). God the Father masked the scene as a cloud, as he often had in the book of Exodus. After that, the Israelites could not stand to look at Moses' face, and he had to use a veil—a cloud made of cloth, if you will—because even when the glory of God was reflected and vastly dimmed, it was too much to take (Exodus 34:29-35). What the Bible says about He explained that on the mountain Jesus, …received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (2 Pet. (Gen. 9:14-16). As Jesus was being tried before His crucifixion, He … Jesus is the “en-fleshing” of God—the imminent dwelling of God with His people. However, Scripture encourages us to view the clouds in such a way as to think of the glory and presence of God. In the Bible few references are found of particular clouds or of clouds in connection with the phenomena of the weather conditions. The first time the Bible uses a word or concept frequently sets the stage for how God inspired the human writers to use it throughout the rest of His Word, and clouds are no exception. The color amber signifies ‘God’s glory’; it rightly stands for the God’s knowledge, … Genesis 9:12-17 indicates that the rainbow is the sign of that promise, but they also show that the setting and the context of that promise is the clouds. (Matthew 24:30). Terms of Use Privacy Policy Copyright Policy, Church discipline, Repentance, Sin, Restoration, Love one another, Accountability, Submission, Mutual submission, Authority, Wives, Husbands, Children, Servanthood, Click Here to Subscribe to BCL's Free Monthly Newsletter and Weekday Devotional, Run to Jesus: Living in a Time of Great Loss, 7 Reasons Why God Makes a “Crook” in a Christian’s Lot. In some places in Scripture, clouds are a metaphor for trouble and disaster: "For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations" (Ezekiel 30:3; cf. Ezek. Jesus is the “en-fleshing” of God—the imminent dwelling of God with His people. Black is a universal literary symbol of death. While we don't always see a rainbow, we do see clouds and according to these verses there is a bow that can be seen by God in each of those clouds. The cloud shares much of its symbolism with water and air. The people could not see through the pillar of cloud. As bookends of the Bible, they contain many of the same themes. The Scriptures everywhere utilize the imagery of clouds to signal the immediate presence of God in time and space. Dark clouds mean a storm is coming. Unfortunately, some people think the Bible must be always taken completely literally—if it says "clouds" in means "clouds" and nothing more. Of course, we know from many verses that the destruction at the end of this age will involve fire rather than another worldwide flood. All That Is in God: Evangelical Theology and the Challenge of Classical Christian Theism by James E. Dolezal. As one moves into Exodus the symbolic meaning changes as God guides His people in Exodus 13:21- Read on to learn about what do elephants symbolize in the bible and to get to know them and let … The Scriptures promise that he will "come in like manner" as that by which he ascended to glory (Acts 1:11). Trying to create some sort of alternative meaning of these words is futile. As already mentioned, Jesus Christ will be returning in glory, and that awesome glory has a terrible, lethal effect on sinful flesh. When Jehovah came down on the Mount, he did so by means of a cloud. After Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission, “he was taken up before their very eyes, and a … Difficulties: Dark or grey cloud depicts difficulties or bad times that you go through in your life.The color does not only darken the environment but also makes you feel gloomy and depressed. While some of these verses also speak of “power” and “glory,” the common element in all these descriptions is the mention of clouds. 4:3). 8 Attributes of God We Encounter at the Cross, Jesus Is the True and Faithful Gardener Who Cares for Your Soul, 10 Words Every Christian Should Know (and Be Able to Explain), 8 Covenants in the Bible and What They Mean for You Personally Today. 1:7). The cloudy pillar shielded God's people from the blistering sun, as well as kept them hidden from the sight of their enemies. THE MESSAGE OF CLOUDS. Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. By way of definition, a cloud is “a visible mass of droplets of water or frozen crystals, suspended in the atmosphere.” Sometimes clouds bring rain, which can be either a blessing or a curse depending on the circumstances, but other times they pass by without sharing a drop. The coming of the Lord in the pillar of cloud is the first clear example in Scripture of the Lord using clouds to symbolize His presence. As Israel journeyed, they only did so in light of the descension and ascension of the glory cloud. 4. Rev. One of the ways in which believers are to comfort one another in this life, while we await the full revelation of Christ, is to remind each other that when Jesus comes again, Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them [i.e., believers who have already died] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. ESV Text Edition: 2016. It actually means a great crowd. Simply you can say that the clouds represent God’s people. Back to Chart. And a rainbow was on [H]is head, [H]is face was like the sun, and [H]is feet like pillars of fire. The symbolic meaning of the cloud isn’t all about its fluffy nature, but more about what makes up a cloud. We can thus see why being surrounded by clouds is an act of mercy on God's part: Mere men cannot abide the sight of One so pure and holy. What do locusts symbolize in the Bible? The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. This is one of those biblical-theological themes that has not often been given due consideration. Locusts are not common pests for those of us living outside of the Middle East, so we may not be as familiar with them. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up. In the Bible, the Hebrew word for red is Oudem. Superior Institute for Religious Sciences at St. Apollinare, Rome From time immemorial, when a rainbow appears in the clouds—almost always following a downpour—emotions of wonder and even religious sentiments have sprung into the human heart. 40:34-37). Why did God consistently inspire the Bible's writers to include that little detail? By this theophany the Lord was promising his people that he would be with them. A cloud of incense. Filippo Serafini, Professor of Sacred Scripture. They can represent the empty words of false teachers (Jude 12; II Peter 2:17), the unfulfilled promises of faithless men (Proverbs 25:14), and a number of other things. A cloud of incense. See what over 145,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Here at the end, John's vision pictures Jesus with a rainbow, showing that He has not forgotten His promise to mankind. Clouds are transient. Clouds continued to play a significant role in the further revelation and theophany at Sinai. They would have to trust the Lord and believe that his presence was sufficient to lead them to the place where He was taking them. No sooner had Noah and his family stepped off of the Ark than the Lord placed his bow in the clouds—a sacramental reminder of the covenant mercy that he was promising in preparation for the coming Redeemer. He promised that when he came, He would "appear in the cloud above the mercy seat" (Lev. Pillar of Cloud: Nevertheless, there is one thing a cloud will always do, if it has any size at all: It will impede light, such as the light of the sun or the moon. Jonathan Edwards captured the essence of the glory cloud at the transfiguration when he wrote: There was a glory in that cloud that the apostle calls an excellent glory. עָב see above Exodus 13:21–22 explains that God gave them the pillar of cloud by day to lead them in the way He wanted them to go and the pillar of fire by night to give light. Additionally, it served to teach them that God would lead them by a way that they did not know. In fact, Jesus Himself spoke of this near the end of His ministry on earth. Everyone loves a sunny day, and everyone hates a cloudy day, right? Air can represent the mind, emotion, and intelligence. The Bible says believers will, indeed, see the face of God, but in the New Heaven and the New Earth, as revealed in Revelation 22:4: "They will see his face and his name will be on their foreheads." Gen. 9. Thus, it is the root word for mankind as stated in the Bible. In particular, II Thessalonians 2:8 foretells that “the lawless one” will be “consume[d] with the breath of His mouth and destroy[ed] with the brightness of His coming.” Apparently, Christ will not always remain behind a cloud but will allow His full glory to show for the purpose of destroying unholy men. A state of obscurity or darkness. © 2021 Beautiful Christian Life LLC. (Ex. I do set my bow in the cloud Genesis 9:13. Tag Archive: Pulpit Today Sermons, Robert D. Pace sermons, significance of clouds in the Bible, what do clouds represent in the Bible. Cloud Symbolism. As Moses had seen the glory of God on Sinai, he saw that glory shining in the face of Jesus. 4:3 ). Yet, lest we think that all is hopeless and that another worldwide catastrophe could wipe out all life on the planet, God gives us this promise, repeating it several times: He will not destroy all flesh again. The people knew that the Lord had come to dwell with them when they saw the cloudy pillar come down on the Tabernacle. This covering is critical because the undimmed brightness of a God-being is lethal to mankind. There is nothing more to make of the statement that “He comes with the clouds.” It simply means that Jesus will appear to all people as He comes to earth out of the heavens. Clouds are those created symbols of transcendence and imminence. But when the clouds surround God Himself, they are a covering that mercifully impedes His full brilliance. Cloud 1. Since it is clothing Jesus Christ, this cloud filters some of His breathtaking glorious radiance. This allowed them to travel by day and by night. 'Behold, He is Coming with Clouds'. But because they are mentioned so frequently throughout the Bible, it's important to know what these bugs are, what they do, and what they symbolize. The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." 2. But this does not nullify God's promise. 3. (1 Thess. Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of … The next time we are tempted to complain about it being a cloudy day, we should pause and consider how the Lord uses clouds to remind us of his imminent presence and the promise of the coming of Jesus. How fitting then, when God promises to give mercy from his covenant throne, that he puts his bow in the clouds, as if to say, "From my majestic and transcendent throne, I will bring my mercy down to you." Clouds serve as the best picture in creation of the imminent presence of the transcendent God. All of this is, of course, pointing forward to the coming of God in the person of Jesus. טַל ׳ע Isaiah 18:4 cloud of dew, dew-mist (simile). Yahweh's Presence and Glory: From these two passages, the rainbow is seen as a symbol of Christ. (From Forerunner Commentary). The Apostle John tells us that there is a rainbow around the throne of Christ ( Rev. This article is adapted from “A Biblical Theology of Clouds” at Christward Collective, a conversation of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. The word, CLOUD, has another meaning, other than tiny mists of water in the atmosphere. Cloud Symbolism Today, we are far removed from the events of the Flood, so it may be difficult to grasp what it and its aftermath were like—every man, woman, and child dead, except Noah and his family. The Bible says that the Lord’s mercy is in the heavens and His truth or faithfulness reaches to the clouds … This is seen most fully at the transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36). As Moses explained, The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way." The last place in which clouds play a significant role in redemptive history is in the ascension and in the return of Christ. In the sequence of events, this chapter might be called “the beginning of the end” because it shows the mystery of God being finished and the point at which there would be no more delay in everything reaching its conclusion. The Bereans "received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:10-11). Only God, and perhaps the angelic host, knows how many millions or billions of people that cataclysm destroyed. An interesting parallel to this appears in the book of Revelation. Likewise, the Scriptures tell us that "He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced him. We find clouds first described immediately after the Flood, where they are linked to the sign of the rainbow and God's everlasting promise that He will never again flood the earth. The pillar of cloud was a symbol of God's guidance and presence to the children of Israel in their... 3. We know that He does not inspire empty or superfluous words; everything about His revelation is deliberate and meaningful. The gathering black clouds at the end of the story symbolize and foreshadow imminent tragedy or death. Notice what John describes in Revelation 10:1: I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. 2 (cloud-) mass, שְׁחָקִים ׳ע 2 Samuel 22:12 masses of clouds (enwrapping ׳י) = Psalm 18:12 (Psalm 13 see above). Studying into this chapter makes plain that this Being is no mere angel, but it is in fact Jesus Christ. He formerly served as the organizing pastor of New Covenant Presbyterian Church in Richmond Hill, Georgia. What meaning do the clouds hold in the Bible? It is covering Him, allowing only the brightness of His face and the fiery brilliance of His feet to show. The dark or … See what over 145,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. The apostle John tells us that there is a rainbow around the throne of Christ (Rev. The Psalmist declares, under figurative language, that Jehovah "makes the clouds His chariot" (Ps. Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys. What Symbols Does the Bible Use to Describe the Holy Spirit? — עַב Exodus 19:9 see עֲבִי below עבה. They reflect both the transcendent glory of the Lord and His imminent approach to us. Other passages describing this event echo a common element. Since it is clothing Jesus Christ, this cloud filters some of His breathtaking glorious radiance. When it is said in the evangelists that a bright cloud overshadowed them, it is not meant such a light or white cloud as shines by a cast of light upon it from some shining body, such as are some clouds by the bright reflection of the sun’s light; but a cloud bright by an internal light shining out of it, which light the apostle calls an excellent glory. Its actual meaning is “red clay”. In fact, the Bible uses a number of symbols to describe the nature, person and work of God the Holy Spirit. Behold, a white cloud Revelation 14:14. What the Bible says about The Identity of the Holy Spirit – Question 22 Scripture often uses material symbols to represent and better explain spiritual truths. This covering is critical because the undimmed brightness of a God-being is lethal to mankind. Behold, a white cloud. 3. Clouds can come and go quickly, like they’re late for a date with a cute cloud … From the post-diluvian revelation to the parousia, Scripture utilizes clouds to symbolize the presence of God. 4. It also uses them to represent multitudes of people (Isaiah 60:8; Hebrews 12:1), the sins of men (Isaiah 44:22), or the impermanence of the wealth of the wicked (Hosea 6:4; 13:3). Clouds are those created symbols of transcendence and imminence. Rev. Amber Symbolism. David C. Grabbe Jesus' well-known Olivet Prophecy contains probably the most familiar description of Christ's return: Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. In this sense, spiritually clouds are men who are spiritually born again by accepting the light of glory from the Christ. Hear Him!”, God the Father came down on the mountain and spoke out of the cloud, declaring and explaining that Christ was his eternally beloved Son—the fullness of his revelation. When the Lord brought his people out of Egypt in the Exodus, he led them out and through the wilderness for 40 years by means of the pillar of cloud. Ezekiel 32:7). Notice that He is also clothed with a cloud. The first place where clouds play a prominent role in redemptive history is in the flood narrative. The weather in Israel is more even and has less variety than that in other lands. After all, we have a singular medical classification for the negative effects of cloudy days on the human psyche. What does it mean, "with the clouds"? Probably what you think—clouds. We find clouds first described immediately after the Flood, where they are linked to the sign of the rainbow and God's everlasting … Continuing his redemptive work among his people, the Lord came and dwelt in the Tabernacle in the pillar of cloud: It came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. God led his people out of Egypt and through the wilderness by means of the pillar of cloud. A collection of smoke, or a dense collection of dust, rising or floating in the air; as a cloud of dust. Besides that, words in Scripture have a spiritual meaning, not the natural, carnal meaning. 24:15-16; emphasis added). Of course, in the days of Noah, clouds brought about the destruction of the world. A collection of smoke, or a dense collection of dust, rising or floating in the air; as a cloud of dust. The rising wind and gathering clouds (1 Kings 18:45) which, un-accompanied by rain, disappoint the expectation of the thirsty earth are an apt emblem of a man who promises much and performs nothing. Why are they significant to the return of our Savior to the earth? River means a nation of people. (Rev. 16:2).
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