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Clouds (Part Two): God's Cloud as His Chariot

'Prophecy Watch' by Charles Whitaker

God possesses His own cloud, enwrapping Himself in it with a presence that is both magnificent and terrifying. His cloud, as described by David in Psalm 18:12, discharges rain, fire, hail, and smoke, reflecting His glory and serving as a medium for both revelation and concealment. According to Exodus 16:10 and 24:16, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud and rested on Mount Sinai, covering it for six days. This same cloud filled the Tabernacle and, during the dedication of Solomon's Temple, announced God's presence while obscuring enough of His glory to protect humans from destruction. At the Transfiguration, the cloud hid God to shield the disciples from the brightness of His glory, yet facilitated the Father's revelation of the importance of His Son's words. Generally, God's cloud reflects His glory by virtue of His presence within it. In Ezekiel 1 and 10, God's cloud is depicted as a portable throne, with Psalm 104:3 portraying clouds as His chariot. Ezekiel's vision reveals intricate details of this throne, showcasing God's sovereign prerogative to disclose knowledge as He wills. Although smoke is absent from Ezekiel's description, possibly to allow a clearer view, Psalm 18:11 poetically describes God making darkness His secret place, with a canopy of dark waters and thick clouds cloaking Him. Isaiah 19:1 further illustrates God riding a swift cloud into Egypt, demonstrating His ability to transport Himself wherever He desires while enshrouded in brilliance. Additionally, as recorded in Isaiah 4:5-6, God promises a smoking cloud over Jerusalem as a covering for shade, refuge, and shelter from storm and rain, reminiscent of the protection provided to the children of Israel during their wilderness wanderings under His cloud.

The Return of the Clouds

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021)

God's clouds serve as a profound emblem of His divine presence and power, often acting as a covering that both hides and reveals Him. In Isaiah 4, a smoky cloud is created by God specifically to protect His people in Jerusalem during the last days, echoing the protective cloud of the Exodus. This cloud, present during the wilderness wanderings and at the giving of the law, shields His people while discomforting His enemies, as seen when He looked down from His cloud to protect the Israelites from the Egyptians. These clouds are not ordinary; they are supernatural coverings that envelop God, as described in Psalm 97:2 where clouds and thick darkness surround Him. David, in Psalm 18, refers to these special clouds as God's covering, carrying not just water but coals of fire. Nahum 1 portrays clouds as the dust under God's feet, emphasizing their extraordinary nature, often accompanied by fire and smoke, which are inimical to human life yet allow coexistence through His intervention. God's clouds also act as lenses for His glory. In Isaiah 4:5, His presence in the cloud manifests His glory, a theme reiterated during the Transfiguration in Matthew 17, where the cloud hides God to protect from the brightness of His glory while facilitating communication and revelation to the disciples. Ezekiel 1 and 10 describe God's portable throne within a cloud, showcasing His glory and His ability to control the revelation of information by adjusting the cloud's thickness or removing smoke for clearer vision, as seen in Ezekiel's detailed observations. In the context of the Day of the Lord, prophets like Zephaniah, Joel, and Ezekiel link clouds to God's judgment and worldwide impact, portraying them as His chariot or means of transportation across the earth. Isaiah 19 and other passages depict God riding swiftly on a cloud, cloaked yet active. In the New Testament, Christ's ascension in a cloud, as noted in Acts, and His promised return in the same manner, underscore the continuity of this divine covering. Matthew 24 and 26, along with Revelation 1:7, affirm that He will return engulfed by clouds, drawing attention and signifying His presence. During the time of Noah's flood, God sat enthroned over the deluge in His cloud, presiding over destruction and renewal, terraforming a new world while cloaked in darkness. Similarly, in the Day of the Lord, as described in Luke 17, He will spend a year in His cloud, searching out enemies and reshaping the earth with earthquakes and river changes, while protecting chosen individuals under His glorious canopy, as Isaiah 4 states, providing shelter and refuge from storms and heat. Thus, God's clouds remain a powerful symbol of His sovereign control over revelation, protection, and judgment.

Clouds (Part One): A Really Special Cloud

'Prophecy Watch' by Charles Whitaker

Clouds serve as a profound emblem of God's nature, embodying the duality of concealment and revelation. They are not mere natural phenomena but supernatural manifestations of His presence and power, distinct from everyday clouds by issuing coals of fire alongside moisture. God's clouds reflect His glory, acting as a lens to focus it, signaling His nearness. When His clouds are present, He is present. One significant purpose of God's clouds is to provide protection for His people. In Jerusalem, as described by Isaiah, God's glory within the cloud offers shelter, refuge, and a hiding place, covering everything like a vast tent. This echoes the cloud and pillar of fire during the Exodus, where God was present, providing shade by day and light by night, leading and safeguarding the children of Israel. At the Red Sea, God's cloud protected His people while discomforting and terrifying the Egyptians, demonstrating His active presence. God's cloud also facilitates revelation, serving as a vehicle for communication with mankind. At Mount Sinai, He descended in a cloud so the people could hear His voice, revealing His intent and presence. Moses reminded the Israelites of the cloud's revelatory role, guiding them for decades to find places to camp and showing the way forward. Similarly, the cloud over the Tabernacle of Meeting marked God's guidance and presence. Conversely, God's cloud allows Him to conceal Himself, cloaking His full essence to protect from harm. This act of hiding information is a manifestation of His graciousness, as premature revelation could be fatal. For instance, He used the cloud to shield Moses from seeing His face, preventing death. God's sovereignty determines what is revealed or hidden, a divine prerogative over knowledge and understanding.

'Behold, He is Coming with Clouds'

'Prophecy Watch' by David C. Grabbe

The passages that describe Christ's return in power and glory contain the same detail: that He will come in, on, or with clouds. Here is the significance.

Clouds (Part Three): The Revealing of Christ

'Prophecy Watch' by Charles Whitaker

Clouds are frequently associated with the Day of the Lord. What will those clouds conceal and what will they reveal once drawn back?

Jesus in the Feasts (Part Three): Divine King

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The trumpet blast is both a memorial and a proclamation that Almighty God is present, powerful, and personal, reminding us how we must respond.

The Glory of God (Part 1): The Shekinah

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Shekinah, the pillar of cloud and fire, depicts God's visible presence and protection. Yet His glory is manifested in many other ways as well.

Acts (Part One)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

The book of Acts could have been an exculpatory trial document designed to vindicate Paul and the early church, showing that Christianity was not a threat.

Lamentations (Part Six; 1989)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Lamentations 3 looks at the horrible affliction of the people and sees good coming from tribulation because it has been God's tool of correction.

The Fear of God (Part Two)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Even before we acquire the necessary building blocks of faith, hope, and love, we must acquire the fear of God, which unlocks the treasures of God.

The Two Witnesses (Part Seven)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Christ's Two Witnesses will accomplished their work before the Beast kills them. Humanity will feel relief at their death, but stark terror at their resurrection.

Lamentations (Part Four)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In Lamentations 2, Lady Jerusalem sidesteps godly repentance, opting instead for self-centered recrimination against Almighty God.

COVID-19 and Returning to Normal

Commentary by David C. Grabbe

While we naturally desire to 'get back to normal,' what the United States experienced before COVID-19 was hardly normal when viewed from God's perspective.