Q: What's the meaning of Jesus "coming on the clouds"?
A: The Bible says that Jesus’ second coming will be on the “clouds.”
“‘At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 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.’”
“‘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.’”
It’s common to think Jesus will appear in the literal, physical clouds in the sky at His second coming. Yet the Bible shows He also came on the clouds at His first coming.
“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 [a kingdom, KJV]; 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 arrived on Earth in the flesh during His first coming with authority, glory, and sovereign power.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’”
“‘All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.’”
“‘And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me’”
The Jews did not accept Jesus because He came in a way they did not expect. Their expectations did not match Bible prophecy, even though Jesus fulfilled those prophecies before their eyes. In the last days, Jesus will also come on the clouds. God’s people should trust the prophecies He fulfills in the flesh at His second coming. To learn the symbolic meaning of the word ‘cloud’ and see how Jesus taught about His second coming through the Bible, click here.
