What Do The Clouds Symbolize?

Are the Clouds Literal, or Do They Symbolize Something Else?

Nowadays, most Christians know that Jesus will appear a second time on the clouds, yet they do not understand what the clouds symbolize. They have the wrong understanding that Jesus will come again on an actual cloud in the sky, and at that time, the world will come to an end. This interpretation entirely ignores the fact that Jesus often spoke in parables when preaching the gospel. Furthermore, the idea that the clouds have a literal meaning completely contradicts the testimonies of the Bible.

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 Bible never says that the world will be destroyed as soon as Jesus comes in a cloud. It says that when He comes in a cloud, our redemption is drawing near. In other words, the Bible warns us to prepare our faith because the time to enter Heaven is close. If we do not understand what the cloud symbolizes in the Bible, we cannot receive the Second Coming Christ and will fail to receive salvation. Therefore, we must learn what the cloud symbolizes biblically.

Jesus Came On The Clouds At His First Coming

The Old Testament prophesied that Jesus would come on the clouds at His first coming. We can understand the meaning of the cloud by examining how Jesus fulfilled this prophecy.

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 peoples, nations and men 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.

The prophet Daniel received a vision of the Son of Man coming in the clouds to the earth with authority, glory, and a kingdom. Whoever comes with authority, glory, and a kingdom in the New Testament times must be the Son of Man coming in the clouds to the earth.

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

Jesus received authority from God when He came to this earth, and He 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.

When Jesus came 2,000 years ago, He testified that He received glory. Finally, Jesus received a Kingdom as well.

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

Jesus fulfilled the prophecy about the Son of Man who came to the earth in the clouds receiving authority, glory, and a kingdom. However, Jesus did not come on a literal cloud in the sky. He was born into the world through the body of a woman just like any of us. Therefore, the prophecy in Daniel about the Son of Man coming in the clouds symbolized Jesus’ coming to the earth in the flesh. Therefore, in the context of Bible prophecy, the clouds symbolize the flesh.

Jesus prophesied in Luke 21 that He would come in the clouds again when He comes a second time to the earth. Since He came in the flesh, not on a literal cloud, during His first coming, He will also come in the flesh again at His second coming. Jesus prophesied about His second coming using the same symbolism mentioned in the prophecy of Daniel 7 so that we could easily understand that He would appear in the same manner at His second coming; that is, in human form.

Clouds Symbolize People

Moreover, there are other verses in the Bible that compare people to clouds.

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; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted–twice dead.

Shepherds who feed only themselves are false prophets. The Bible likens false prophets, who are people living on earth just like us, to clouds without rain. This indicates that the clouds here also refer to people.

Proverbs 25:14 Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give.

The Bible compares a man who boasts of gifts he does not give to a cloud without rain. Therefore, the prophetic term ‘cloud’ in the Bible represents the flesh. The Biblical way of expressing Jesus coming in the flesh is His coming on the clouds. As a cloud covers the sunlight, Jesus’ coming in the flesh hides the glory of His true form and nature as God Almighty.

Why Jesus Comes Again In the Flesh

Some believers may wonder, “why does Jesus need to come in the flesh again, if He was already sacrificed on the cross and accomplished all the work of salvation 2,000 years ago?” Jesus explained the reason why He must come in the flesh again before Judgment Day.

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?”

Jesus expressed that He will not find any faith at His second coming because there are no saints who have true faith deserving of salvation. This is evident in the churches we see today; Christians are keeping services on Sunday and Christmas which are customs for worshiping the sun-god and idolatry. No churches are keeping the Sabbath Day and the Passover of the new covenant that Jesus Christ established at His first coming. The truth of salvation that Jesus taught and kept as an example for us cannot be found. For this reason, Jesus prophesied that He must come in the flesh again before the Last Judgment in order to gather His people and restore the truth leading them to salvation.

John 10:16  I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

Jesus prophesied that He will come to this earth as the Shepherd and lead His people who are the sheep. The other sheep that are not of this sheep pen are God’s people who will be saved in the last days. In order to do that, He must come again in the flesh to the earth.

2,000 years ago many of the people who believed in God Jehovah failed to recognize Christ because they anticipated His coming on a literal cloud. Those who did not accept God’s coming in the flesh were all judged and destroyed. We can see the Christians of the world are now making the same mistake; waiting for Jesus to come again on a literal cloud. Understanding what the clouds symbolize, we should accept the Second Coming Christ who will appear as a man. In fulfillment of all the Biblical prophecies, Christ Ahnsahnghong has come in the flesh and restored all the truth of the new covenant for our salvation. Let us believe in Christ Ahnsahnghong who came on the clouds and enter the everlasting kingdom of heaven.