The Olivet Discourse - Your Judgment is Cloudy

This quick post will finish up the discussion on the concept of “coming in the clouds.” Where we previously saw the coming in the clouds fit nicely with a fulfillment of Daniel 7 and the Son of Man coming up in the clouds to receive a kingdom, here we will discuss the use of clouds in regards to judgment in the Scriptures.

Since His kingdom revelation appears with the destruction of the city and Temple in 70AD with the the event proving His divinity and Messianic claims, the concept of judgment and the presence of clouds must be considered.

Matt 24:30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

The use of clouds to represent the power, presence and judgment of God in the Old Testament is quite common. It is also quite often associated with the darkness it accompanies.

• Isaiah 19:1 (ESV) An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.

• Psalm 104:3 (ESV) He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind;

• Ezekiel 30:3 (ESV) For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.

• Joel 2:2 (ESV) a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness!

• Nahum 1:3 (ESV) The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Even a cursory glance at these and other verses show the use of clouds in association with a coming as a judgment “coming.” This dual purpose use of clouds also ties together nicely the concept that the judgment of apostate Israel was the proof of His divinity and kingship found in Daniel 7.

Next we will consider the “gathering of the elect” in a post that will definitely not be this short!