Why Does God Come in a Cloud?

Why does the Bible testify God will come in a cloud? Should we look to the sky to await the second coming of Jesus? The only way to find the answers to these questions is through the Bible.

The Son of Man Will Come in a Cloud

Luke 21:27-28 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

The redemption of God’s people is approaching when the Son of Man appears on a cloud, so it’s important that the people of God can recognize the cloud of the Savior. We must examine the past to understand what the future may hold for us who wait for the coming of the Son of Man. The prophecy of Daniel can help us understand how our Savior will come a second time.

Daniel 7:13-14 In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

In Daniel 7 the prophecy says that the Son of Man will come on the clouds of heaven. We can understand that the one who fulfilled this prophecy is Jesus Christ. However, how can we confirm Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophecy? Daniel 7 says He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power (kingdom; KJV), so we must confirm through the Bible that Jesus Christ received these three things when He came to the earth.

Authority, Glory, and Kingdom

Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

In the above verse, Jesus said He had received all authority. Jesus also received glory.

John 17:10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.”

Confirming this verse, Jesus also received glory. Then lastly, let’s confirm if He also received a kingdom.

Luke 22:29 “And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me…”

Jesus received authority, glory, and a kingdom when He came to this earth 2,000 years ago. These verses testify that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of the Son of Man in Daniel chapter 7. Therefore, Jesus is the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven.

The Meaning of Clouds

Jesus did not come to this earth on a literal cloud. He came in a flesh; human form, with eyes, ears, a nose, and a mouth. Then why does the prophecy say He would come on the clouds?

A cloud blocks the sun and covers the light. The flesh is symbolized as a cloud because it covered God’s holy and divine nature when He came to this earth. The Bible describes the flesh as a cloud.

Jude 1:12 These people 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; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead.

Proverbs 25:14 Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given.

These verses describe that the false prophets as clouds without rain. Simply put, the clouds represent men. Thus, the prophecy of Daniel chapter 7 about the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven was fulfilled when Jesus came to earth in the flesh as a man. However, although Jesus came in the flesh 2,000 years ago, the people did not receive Him. They waited for Elijah to open the way for the Messiah. Nevertheless, since Elijah was taken away in a chariot of fire, they believed He would return in a chariot of fire. Their own thoughts and misconceptions caused them to miss the Messiah who appeared right before their very eyes. This applies to us as well living in this age.

Christ in a Cloud for the Second Time

Just as Jesus fulfilled Daniel chapter 7 by coming in the flesh, He will come a second time in the flesh to fulfill the prophecy of Luke chapter 21. Many Christians believe that Christ will come a second time on a literal cloud in the sky to bring judgment, but their belief is incorrect.

Luke 18:8 “I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

The fact that Jesus asks this question shows that He will not find faith on the earth at His second coming. If Christ comes to a faithless world as the Judge, then who can be saved? No one can be saved. Therefore, the belief that He will come a second time to proclaim judgment is incorrect. The prophecy of Luke 21 testifies that Christ will come a second time when redemption is near. So Christ must come a second time in the flesh to restore the faith before the day of judgment. We must not make the same mistake of looking at the clouds in the sky as the Jews did 2,000 years ago. The Second Coming Christ will appear in the flesh as a man and bring to the light all the knowledge and truth of God.

Micah 4:1-2 In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.