The Son of Man will come in a cloud
At first, we need to carefully study Jesus’ first coming, because He was also prophesied to come in a cloud. If this prophecy meant that He would come in a physical cloud of the sky, the people who do not believe will fall into destruction. But if this prophecy meant that He would come in the flesh, and not on an actual cloud, then those who insist on His coming on a physical cloud of the sky will be destroyed.
When Jesus came for the first time, 2,000 years ago, the Pharisees were aware that Elijah would come before the Messiah (Matt. 17:10-13; cf. Matt. 11:14). Elijah had gone up to heaven in a whirlwind, riding a chariot of fire (2 Kin. 2:11), so the priests, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, all believed that the Elijah to come would also come down from heaven in a chariot of fire, the same way that he had gone up to heaven. Because of their incorrect beliefs, they failed to receive Elijah, John the Baptist, and persecuted him; thus, they were all destroyed. While they eagerly looked forward to Elijah’s coming in a chariot of fire, Elijah, John, had already been born, as a child, through the body of Elizabeth (Luke 1:57-66).
All of the evildoers who had waited for Elijah’s coming in a chariot of fire were destroyed. This is God’s warning to us. In the last days, the people who believe that Jesus will come in a physical cloud of the sky will be destroyed.
We should be careful not to follow the Pharisees’ example, and make every effort to study the prophecies of Jesus’ coming in a cloud. The Bible says, "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near," and, "He will send his angels...and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."
Most Christians assume that when Jesus comes in a cloud, as the Judge, the earth will be destroyed and the "saved" will be caught in the air to meet Jesus. The Bible says, however, that "when these things begin to take place [when the Son of Man comes in a cloud], stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." The Bible also says that when Jesus comes in a cloud He will gather His elect from the four winds.
In other words, the purpose of Jesus’ coming in a cloud for a second time is not to destroy the earth, but to gather the elect. In order to be recognized as the elect, we must receive the Second Coming Christ who comes in a cloud.
We need to know the correct interpretation of the "cloud." If the prophecy refers to a cloud of the sky, where would Jesus stay until He came in a cloud? A cloud is visible water vapor, floating above the earth. It accumulates in the air and comes down as rain or snow; this is the cycle of a cloud. Then, where would Jesus stay until He came in a cloud? Let’s find out the symbolic meaning of the cloud, through the Bible.
Heb. 12:1 『Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses...』
Jude 1:12 『These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm: shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind...』
In the above expressions-"a great cloud of witnesses," and, "clouds without rain, blown along by the wind"-the clouds represent people, wearing the flesh. Since the Bible calls false prophets "clouds without rain," whom do "clouds with rain" represent? Those "with rain" are the true prophets, aren’t they?
The water within the clouds represents the water of life.
Zech. 14:8 『On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea...』
And Jesus said:
John 7:37-39 『On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.』
And the Apostle Peter said:
2 Pet. 2:17 『These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm.』
"Springs without water" and "mists driven by a storm" indicate false Christians. As you know, "mists" are "clouds without rain" (Jude 1:12). The waters that have not been vaporized represent all human beings, everyone in the flesh.
Rev. 17:15 『The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.』
Since the waters represent "peoples," whom do the clouds stand for? Clouds are suspended in the air, visible collections of water particles that have been vaporized by solar heat. Thus, clouds represent the people who have been born again through the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ coming in a cloud means His coming in the flesh.
1 comment:
Before I didn't know that cloud means flesh!! But now I know it!!
Relly thanks to God to open my spiritual eyes... I love you so much!!
Post a Comment