What does "coming in clouds" symbolize in Mark 13:26 and other scriptures? Mark 13:26—The Phrase in Context “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory”. • Spoken during the Olivet Discourse, Jesus describes His visible, future return. • “Clouds” accompany His appearance, highlighting divine majesty and fulfillment of prophecy. Old Testament Foundations for “Clouds” • Exodus 13:21—The LORD leads Israel by a pillar of cloud: God’s guiding, protective presence. • Exodus 19:9; 24:16—Sinai is shrouded in cloud when God descends: holy awe and covenant revelation. • Psalm 104:3—“He makes the clouds His chariot”: sovereign mobility and kingship. • Isaiah 19:1—“Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud”: imagery of judgment upon nations. • Daniel 7:13-14—“One like a Son of Man was coming with the clouds of heaven… His dominion is an everlasting dominion”: messianic enthronement and universal authority. New Testament Echoes • Matthew 24:30; 26:64—Jesus applies Daniel 7 to Himself; the Sanhedrin will see Him “coming on the clouds.” • Acts 1:9-11—Jesus ascends and is hidden by a cloud; angels promise He will return “in the same way.” • 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17—Believers are “caught up… in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” • Revelation 1:7—“Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him.” • Revelation 14:14—The glorified Son of Man sits on a white cloud, sickle in hand, ready to reap the earth. What “Coming in Clouds” Conveys • Divine Presence—Clouds signify God Himself drawing near, as at Sinai and in the wilderness. • Glory and Majesty—They veil and reveal celestial radiance, underscoring Jesus’ deity. • Authority and Enthronement—Rooted in Daniel 7, clouds mark the public unveiling of the King’s dominion. • Judgment—Old and New Testaments alike pair clouds with decisive acts against sin. • Deliverance—For God’s people, cloud imagery also signals protection and final redemption. A Literal Expectation • Scripture unites symbolic depth with concrete promise: Jesus will physically, visibly appear amid clouds. • This event will be global, unmistakable, and climactic—no secret or purely spiritual fulfillment. Living in Light of His Cloud-Borne Return • Stay watchful (Mark 13:33-37). • Pursue holiness (1 John 3:2-3). • Encourage one another with this hope (1 Thessalonians 4:18). |
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