He is Coming with Clouds

Lord, help me push aside every needless thought and concern as I turn my heart toward You and Your Word.


"Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him..." (Revelation 1:7)


When you envision the Lord's return, do you picture Him in big, billowy clouds, as is often seen in artists' depictions of the Second Coming? Well, the clouds spoken of here are not cumulus or cirrus - not a fluffy conglomeration of moisture dangling in air. These are glory clouds. They are a product of the Shekinah glory of God - the radiant splendor of His own glory shining forth!


We find God's glory spoken of as a cloud throughout Scripture. The cloud of the Lord draped itself over the tabernacle and led the children of Israel through the wilderness (Exodus 40:34-38). When the Lord Jesus went up into heaven, the Bible says "a cloud received Him out of their sight" (Acts 1:9). That doesn't mean a rain cloud or sheltering cloud. it means the glory cloud. The glory of God received the Lord Jesus. And the angel continues in verse 11, "... This same Jesus, Who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." He went in clouds of glory. He's coming in clouds of glory. And when we read, "Behold, He is coming with clouds" here in Revelation, it means He is coming in a great outshining of holy glory.


This passage also tells us that He'll look quite different to those who nailed Him to the Cross. Those who spat upon Him, battered and tortured Him, stripped Him naked and pierced His flesh with cruel nails last saw Him hanging in shame, bloodied and bruised beyond recognition as a man. When they see Him again, He'll be in royal robes. His face shining brighter than the noonday sun. The very air around Him will be resplendent with His holiness!


Praise God, Jesus is coming in glory! Whenever you see majestic clouds illuminated by the morning sun, or reflecting the hues of a glowing sunset, think of the magnificent heavenly splendor we'll see when our Lord returns!


~Adrian Rogers~