Coming in the Clouds
As Part of the series called:
Things That Make You Go H’mmm?

Mark 13:26
“And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.”

In Matthew 13:26, what did Jesus mean by the “coming in the clouds” part of His statement? Three of the four Gospel writers (Matthew, Mark and Luke) all record Jesus’ discussion with His disciples in what is commonly referred to by theologians as “The Olivet Discourse”. We are not going to keep you in suspense, “coming in the clouds” is a figure of speech, or metaphor for Judgement. More specifically the word, “clouds” in this context is a Biblical Metaphor for Judgement.

So, why didn’t Jesus just say, “coming in judgement” instead of using these grandiose words? The answer is because Jesus is speaking in another language, and I don’t mean the common Aramaic language of that time, nor Hebrew or Greek. Rather Jesus is speaking in the language of the Old Testament Prophets. The Key or Rosetta stone to this language is rooted in the Old Testament. As the everlasting “Word made flesh”, Jesus is invoking His heritage by speaking figuratively. This is why it is important that Christians know Old Testament History as it recounts the trials, tribulations, successes and failures of God’s chosen people and our hope, which is in Jesus.

This Judgement Metaphor, “coming in the clouds” has its Genesis in the events surrounding the life of Noah, even though the Noah story never actually mentions clouds. We know from the events in Genesis 6-10, that it had never rained upon the earth, until God decided to destroy all mankind, except Noah’s small family, with a flood. We all know that before it can rain clouds must gather! Clouds gathering is the basis for this judgement metaphor! Now if the flood was all the Biblical basis we had to prove this then we might be on slippery ground! However, we have a more sure word of prophecy for determining metaphorical intent and it is how other Biblical writers use clouds to invoke an image of God's judgement.

For further evidence, we need to look no further than Moses and the Exodus from Egypt. As part of the Exodus story, God judges Egypt for failing to “let His people go”. Not only did God rain down various plagues of Judgement against Pharaoh, but as a symbol of this judgement He protected and led His exiting people with clouds. (Exodus 13:20-22). Additionally, after the people began to murmur and complain we have God coming down upon the mountain in a cloud to “Judge" between the people and commune with Moses. (Deuteronomy 4:10-12)

THE PSALMIST REPEATEDLY USES CLOUDS AS A REFERENCE FOR GOD’S JUDGEMENT, NOT JUST ANY OLD JUDGEMENT BUT RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT. (See Psalms, Chapters 68, 78 and 97 to name a few.)

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Joel all use clouds as a metaphor for God’s Judgement. There is a flood of evidence in the Bible which demonstrates in this context that Jesus is using “coming in the clouds” to illustrate His coming righteous judgement. The Holy sacrifice Jesus is about to make, shortly after His Olivet Discourse, purchases our redemption, and thus confirming God's authority to forgive whosoever will call upon the name of Jesus for the remission of sins!

There are two sides to every coin and two sides to every metaphor especially this one. Which side of the clouds are you going to be on?

Revelation 1:7
7Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.