The Bible prophesies that Jesus will come on a cloud, for a second time, in order to restore the lost truth and to lead the children of God into the kingdom of heaven.
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.”』
Nowadays, every Christian awaits the coming of Christ on clouds from heaven. However, does Christ mean He will literally come down from heaven “in a cloud”? Please remember, Jesus spoke in parables. In the following paragraphs, we will biblically understand whether Jesus will literally come down on a cloud or if “coming in a cloud” represents something else.
- The Coming of Elijah
At Jesus’ first coming 2,000 years ago, the Pharisees knew that Elijah had to come before the Christ.
Matthew 17:10 『The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”』
According to the Old Testament, Elijah went up to heaven by a whirlwind in a chariot of fire.
2 Kings 2:11 『As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.』
So the Jews and the teachers of the law believed that when Elijah came again he would come down from heaven in a chariot of fire, in the same manner he went up to heaven. Because of their fixed concept, they could not receive Elijah (John the Baptist), but instead persecuted him. As a result, they rejected the Messiah.
Matthew 7:12-13 『But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.』
While they were looking forward to Elijah’s coming in a chariot of fire, the prophetical Elijah (John the Baptist) was already preaching about the coming of Christ.
This seems like merely history, but through this history we can understand that if we continue waiting for the Second Coming Christ to come down surfing on a cloud, we could make the same mistake the Pharisees made 2,000 years ago.
- The Son of Man will Come in a Cloud
The Bible also prophesied Jesus’ first coming as “coming on a cloud” of the sky. Those who took this prophecy at face value expected Jesus Christ to come just the way the Scriptures said, on a cloud; they refused to accept any other explanation and believed that those who did not receive the Christ coming on a cloud would fall into destruction. However, if the figurative meaning of “coming on a cloud” means Christ is coming in the flesh, then the ones waiting for the Christ to descend on a cloud will miss Him and not be able to receive His salvation. We should be careful not to follow the Pharisees’ example and make every effort to study and understand 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” (Lk 21:28), 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” (Mt 24:31). 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 verse says “drawing near” and not “has arrived.” 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.
- Cloud Means Flesh
Therefore, it is imperative for us to know the correct interpretation of the “cloud.” Let’s find out the symbolic meaning of the cloud, through the Bible.
Hebrews 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, in the flesh. Since the Bible calls false prophets “clouds without rain,” then “clouds with rain” represent the true prophets.
- Jesus, Who Came in the Clouds
In a vision, the prophet Daniel saw the Son of Man coming with the clouds, and he prophesied:
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.』
Jesus did not come on the visible clouds of heaven. Instead, He was born as a baby through the body of Mary. Some argue that the above prophecy is concerning Jesus’ second coming. Daniel’s prophecy is speaking of Jesus’ first coming, undoubtedly, because it states, “He was given authority, glory and sovereign power [a kingdom, KJV]; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him.” Matthew, John and Luke disclosed that, in His first coming, Jesus had been given all authority, in heaven and on earth, glory as well as a kingdom.
Matthew 28:18 『Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”』
John 17:10 『“All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.”』
Luke 22:29 『“And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me.”』
The Bible prophesied that Jesus’ first coming would be with the clouds, and yet He came secretly in the flesh. Therefore, the prophecy of His second coming, in a cloud, also reveals that He will secretly come in the flesh.
- The Last Judgment will be when Jesus Comes with Fire
When Jesus comes as the Last Judge, He is to come with fire, not on a cloud. The prophet Isaiah testified to this, as it is written:
Isaiah 66:15-16 『See, the LORD is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For with fire and with his sword the LORD will execute judgment upon all men and many will be those slain by the LORD.』
And the Apostle Paul wrote:
2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 『This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.』
Jesus also said that He would not find faith on the earth when He came on a cloud for the second time.
Luke 18:8 『“However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”』
If there is no one who has faith at the time Jesus comes, who can be saved? Regarding this, the Bible says:
Matthew 24:31 『“And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”』
In accordance with the prophecies of Jesus’ coming in a cloud again to gather His elect from the four winds, Jesus has come for a second time and is presently gathering His elect from the four winds. The one who has fulfilled all of these prophecies is Christ Ahnsahnghong.
We truly hope that you will be able to recognize the Second Coming Christ, Ahnsahnghong, through studying the prophecies of the Bible so that you may receive salvation.