Have you ever spent a warm, sunny day laying in the grass, looking up at the sky and the clouds? Have you ever seen a cloud shaped like a dog or a bear or an angel? Have you really given much thought to clouds?
Earlier this year, I told the children’s story during church one Sabbath morning. I made my own cloud—a cumulonimbus storm cloud. I used a bubble umbrella for the base, and then added webbing, a layer of batting, and a layer of polyester fiber fill. I sprayed the fiber fill with dark and light gray paint and completed it all with tiny flashing lights throughout the fiber fill to represent lightning. Blue beads hung from inside the umbrella by fishing line represented raindrops. And I made a flash of lightning from bright yellow cardstock to finish it off. Our sound techs played the sound of thunder and falling rain overhead as I jogged to the front of the church. I am told it was quite a spectacle.
I spent a few minutes naming some of the different, most common types of clouds, and that led into the real subject of my presentation.
The Bible talks about clouds. Here are a few examples.
After the flood, God said, “I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.” Genesis 9:13
After God’s fiery display on Mt. Carmel, Elijah prayed for rain. “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea! … the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain.” 1 Kings 18:44, first part, 45, first part
Lucifer wanted to be as exalted as Jesus. He said in his heart, “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:14
The Lord led the children of Israel through the desert with pillars of cloud and fire. “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way … .” Exodus 13:21, first part
After His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus returned to heaven. “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” Acts 1:9
But there is a magnificent event that is soon—very soon—to come that involves clouds.
“Behold, He [Jesus] is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him … .” Revelation 1:7, first part
“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.” Mark 13:26
“Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them [the resurrected] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air … .” 1 Thessalonians 4:17
Yes, friends, Jesus is coming soon. And it will be with a shout, the blast of the heavenly trumpet, clouds and fire, majesty and glory and all the host of heaven. Jesus is coming to take His people home at last.
“I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13, 14
Lord, we long to see You coming in the clouds of glory. Make us ready to meet You.