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Coming With Clouds
(Revelation 1:7)
Chapter 2

"Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen."                                                                                  (Revelation 1:7).

It is "A revelation of Jesus Christ," to a people, in a people, with a people.  The purpose of our seeing Him is that we might be "changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18).  And while "it doth not yet appear what we shall be: we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is."  (1 John 3:2).  And the reason He would "reveal His Son in me, (is) that I might preach Him among the heathen..." (Galatians 1:16).  To become the display vessels of His grace, to become expressions of His love and mercy, to have Him REVEAL HIS SON IN ME so that the world might see Him ever more clearly - what a tremendous high, holy, heavenly calling is this!

Preach Him - The Greek word is "euaggelizo" and while it means: to announce good news, it is made up of two parts, "eu" (good) and "aggelos" (messenger).  Of a truth, the message, and the messenger become one. "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth." (Isaiah 52:7). The message is GOOD, it is of PEACE, it is of SALVATION, reaffirming that our God reigns.  Such also is this positive message of the book of Revelation.  It is of grace and peace, it is of the final triumph of Christ in a people, and ultimately in all the universe.

Every coming of Christ is a further revelation of Himself, and the outworking of redemption in His people.  Lo, He comes! He has come, He is here dwelling within us by His Spirit, and He is yet to come in further revelations and manifestations of Himself.

"He cometh..." the Greek word is "erchomai," meaning: to come from one place to another.  He "Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things..." (Acts 3:21), is coming forth in new dimensions of revelation, to be seen, to be experienced.  Out of the invisible, into the visible, to be known more clearly, more fully, as He is revealed to man. "He comes!" Though it will also be in and with a people, the emphasis is upon HIS coming.  He is more than just and Omnipresent Spirit, He has an identity, a Being - for He is "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for the ages." (Hebrews 13:8). Saviour, Redeemer, The Anointed One, He comes in further revelations of Himself.

"With clouds..." Immediately we have before us a beautiful symbol of the saints in whom He dwells, and through whom He shall be revealed, and with whom He is coming in glory. "Lo, the Lord did come in His saintly myriads." (Jude 14, Young's Literal).

Daniel writes (7:13-14), "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came WITH THE CLOUDS of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him.  And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him:  His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."

Mark 13:26, "And then shall they see the Son of man coming IN THE CLOUDS  with great power and glory."

A definition of the spiritual nature of the "clouds" is needful, lest we be entangled in tradition's confusion, and spend our time looking for some "natural cloud" and fail to grasp the import of the truth before us.  Literally, a cloud is a visible mass of moisture suspended in the air above the ground.  Spiritually, it bespeaks of a people who have been lifted out of the debris of earth's corruption, to dwell with Him in the heavenlies - partaking of His Sprit, living and walking in the Spirit. "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenlies - partaking of His Spirit, living and walking in the Spirit. "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:6).

Underscoring the symbolism of people as clouds, we read, Hebrews 12:1-2, "Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a CLOUD OF WITNESSES, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is et before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and the Finisher of our faith."

Cloud of witnesses - clearly defined as all of those mentioned in the previous chapter, precious men and women of faith who have been gathered unto Him in the realms beyond.  Ye the focus of attention is not on the clouds that surround Him, but upon Him who is both the Author and the Finisher of our faith, knowing that HE alone is the Source of our life and victory.  There is a vast host of witnesses which already are WITH HIM, they are not yet visibly manifested, for the hour of the redemption of the physical body has not yet come, but IN SPIRIT they are with us. Ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation." (Hebrews 1:14).  We pray not to theses saints, we pray to Him who is our Saviour.  Yet the fact that He is surrounded with clouds, and can dispense their refreshing at any time, is a precious truth to comfort and encourage us.

Consider the formation of the clouds, as through the process of evaporation the water is lifted up from the earth and gathered into a mass suspended in the heavens.  The filth and corruption which polluted the water is left behind, and it rises pure and clean to be gathered in the heavenlies.  We are in a process of being raised - or shall we say, spiritized, ascending from the realms of flesh, earthiness, to rise in spirit and become one IN and WITH the Christ.

"He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth." (Psalms 137:7).

"When He uttereth His voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth." (Jeremiah 10:13).

Obviously before He can "COME WITH CLOUDS," He must first come TO each one - be revealed to each heart, and then He forms and gathers those droplets of moisture/spirit into clouds unto Himself.  This is the process which has been going on through the ages as He draws to Himself that firstfruits of each generation, to become that "innumerable company of messengers, the general assembly and church of the Firstborn,... the spirits of just men made perfect." as spoken of in Hebrews 12:22-23.  Yes, "He causeth the vapours to ascent..." as He irresistibly draws us to Himself, "one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion." (Jeremiah 3:14).

The Hebrew word translated here as "vapours" is "nasi" and has been used 127 times in the Scripture.  three times given as "vapours," once as "clouds," and 123 times as "princes, governor, ruler, and chiefs."  This immediately indicates to us that the vapours are people.  Thus we could correctly read the verse, "He causes His princes to ascend." "The earthly type bespeaks of a grater spiritual reality.  Indeed, we have already seen that we are to be "kings and priests," to rule and reign with Him.  Thus this symbol but further emphasizes that fact.  He gathers unto Himself a people, that He might be "Kings of kings, and Lord of lords."

Significant also, that the word "nasi" comes from the root: to lift.  It is not a self-exaltation. God is the Uplifter.  we are not self-proclaimed princes, or rulers.  Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased."  (Matthew 23:12).  "He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory." John 7:18). With deep inworkings God would purge us of all self-aggrandizement.  For, Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain." (Proverbs 25:14). Or, as Jude writes, verse 12, "Clouds they are without water, carried about of winds." Every wind of doctrine blows them about, there is no water of life in them - for self cannot produce spiritual reality.  Negative clouds are they.

In no way does the minute drop of water lift itself up from the muddy pool, it is a sovereign action from without.  There are no vapours ascending without warmth or heat - God's FIRE.  It is the warmth of His love that draws us upward.  It is the fiery trial that looses us from the debris of the flesh, so that our spirit can arise to higher heights.  Purged, sterilized, fired, so that our growth progress can be free of the malice, wickedness, idleness, unbelief, hypocrisy, etc.  It is in the furnace of affliction that our souls are turned heavenward in the rising flames of His purging.  All the mundane becomes as ashes when His vapours begin their ascent.

The process is initiated by God Himself, His will, His action.  "He uttereth His voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens."  It is the VOICE OF GOD WITHIN that kindles the flame of change within us.  Not the voice of church tradition, not the voice of the doctrinaire.  Rather, "The voice of the Lord is UPON THE WATERS..."  (Psalms 29:3). And out of the mass of humanity He draws to Himself a people - firstfruits of the new creation.  He speaks light into the darkened heavens of our understanding.  A still small voice in the quiet of our isolation.  A song in the night, the dark night of the soul.  And "from the ends of the earth" begins to arise a people that are to be joined unto Him.  Then indeed, it can be said, "He cometh with clouds" For, "When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:4).

"And every eye shall see Him... "In Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in His own order." (1 Corinthians 15:22-23). HE "gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time," (1 Timothy 2:6).  It is a revelation of Him - He is Lord, He is the Saviour of all men, and thus every man in his own appointed time shall SEE HIM - receive of His love and grace, and be saved.  So great is the outreach of His mercy, He says, "I am sought of them that asked not for Me,; I am found of them that sought Me not: I said, Behold Me, behold Me, unto a nation that was not called by My name." (Isaiah 65:1).

"And He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations." (Isaiah 25:7). Darkness, unbelief has been upon all men. "For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all."  (Romans 11:32).  Yet when He is REVEALED to them "it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."  (Isaiah 25:9).

"And they also which pierced Him..." So all-encompassing is His GRACE that He will reveal Himself even to those who crucified Him - including those who in their rebellion have "crucified to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame." (Hebrews 6:6).  Indeed, every one who claims an interest in the Saviour's sacrifice, must confess a share in the guilt for which He suffered, for we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  Yet HIS LOVE COVERS ALL. "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."  (Luke 23:34).

"And all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him." Wail - literally beat the breast. It is an expression of grief, but even more, it becomes and expression of REPENTANCE, as we acknowledge our guilt, and then receive of His salvation.  All the tribes of the earth shall come to this place of submission before Him - "That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow; and things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11).

"Even so, Amen." What more can be said?  He is "the Faithful Witness,  and He declares GRACE AND PEACE - manifested first in a remnant firstfruits, but ultimately in the whole world - every eye, every kindred, for "The God of the whole earth shall He be called."  (Isaiah 54:5).  Totally positive, totally victorious, such is the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen and Amen!