Clouds

The word "clouds" appears many times in the Bible. In this lecture we are going to focus on what Father would want us to understand about clouds.

God promised Noah and you that He would never flood the earth again in Gen. 9. As a sign of His covenant, God placed the rainbow in the clouds. Every time you see a rainbow you should be reminded of this promise. Let's open our Bibles to learn more about clouds. We will pick it up with Israel fleeing from the bondage od Egypt and Pharaoh's army.

Exod 13:20
20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.

Always remember, the Old Testament contains types and examples for our learning. God was with Israel night and day. We do not have a part-time Father. He is always with you. The Egyptians pursued Israel as God led them to the sea. Let's go to Exodus 14.

Exod 14:19
19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:

Don't miss the significance of this verse. God moved in a cloud from the front and stood behind Israel. Why? That is where the Egyptians were. He moved from the role of leader to the role of defender.

Exod 14:20
20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

God established a buffer zone between the Egyptians and His children to protect them. The cloud provided troubling darkness to the enemy, but it gave comforting light to His children. God will do the same today for His children that serve Him. Which side of the cloud are you on?

Exod 14:21
21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

The word "wind" in this verse is translated from the Hebrew word "ruwach" which means Spirit. The Lord will always provide the way to His children that follow Him.

Exod 14:22-23
22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

I imagine at this point the thought that the God of Israel is very real crossed the minds of several Egyptian soldiers.

Exod 14:24-25
24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,

25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.

God took the very wheels off the Egyptian's chariots. Have you ever tried to pull a chariot with no wheels? You have nothing to fear, if you are serving God. Just as the death angel passed over Israel on Passover Day, Satan must pass over those with God's truth today. God protects His children! Let's follow through on this protecting cloud of the Lord in Exodus 40.

Exod 40:34-35
34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Moses, nor anyone else, was allowed to enter the tabernacle because the Lord Himself was there.

Exod 40:36-37
36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.

God even told them which days to travel based on the presence of the cloud.Some might ask what difference this might make, since Israel would wonder in the wilderness for forty years anyway. At the time of these events such a large group should move from time to time to prevent disease. God was even watching out for His children's personal health.

Exod 40:38
38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

You might think of this cloud as a protecting canopy. Do you care what displeases God? You should. That is what gets man into trouble. God will retaliate and correct man, when we do that which displeases Him. Let's turn to the New Testament.

1 Cor 10:1-2
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

They were baptized in the mist of the cloud and in the sea. They believed and lived.

1 Cor 10:3-4
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

They ate the quail and manna. They drank of the living waters that come only from the Rock.

1 Cor 10:5-6
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

God was not well pleased they worshipped other gods in the wilderness. They made a golden calf to worship while Moses was on the mountain speaking with God. Imagine how God felt. Many today would say, "Well I certainly wouldn't worship a golden calf".

Oh? If you worship the first messiah that returns in the future, you will be worshipping a false god, antichrist. If you allow your house or car payments to get in the way of having time to study God's Word, you are worshipping an idol.

1 Cor 10:7-8
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Fornication is to practice idolatry. You may read of the 23,000 that fell in one day in Num 25:1-9. They were playing around with other gods.

1 Cor 10:9-10
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

It is difficult for me to imagine how those which saw the miracles of God performed to bring Israel out of Egyptian captivity could be tempted by a false god. the destroyer, who is Satan, is waiting to see how many of you may be tempted.

1 Cor 10:11
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

The ends of this world age are come upon you. This is the generation of the fig tree. Study the warnings and examples written in God's Word so you won't be deceived.

1 Cor 10:12-13
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

God will never give you burdens you aren't able to handle. You can count on Him. He is faithful.

1 Cor 10:14-15
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

1 Cor 10:21
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

You cannot worship the Lord and Satan. The choice is yours. Paul was one of the best Hebrew scholars of his time; however, he spoke colloquial Greek. We are going to the scripture to which the rapture believers always point. We are going to take another look at the word "clouds" found in 1 Thess 4:17.

1Thes 4:13-14
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

The subject is where the dead are. Are they in a hole in the ground? No, God will bring them with Him.

1Thes 4:15
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

The Old English word "prevent" means to precede. Those which are alive cannot precede those which are dead. They are already with God (Eccles. 12:6-7).

1Thes 4:16
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

The trump in this verse is the seventh. The dead in Christ shall rise first because they are already there. Now, be aware Paul knew very well the protection that God covered Israel with through a cloud in the Old Testament.

1 Thes 4:17
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

In colloquial Greek "cloud" also means a large group, as Paul utilized this word in Heb 12:1. The word "air" in this verse means breath, or spirit. When the Lord returns to us, those which remain faithful to Him will be gathered together with Him in spiritual bodies (1Cor 15:52-53). Don't be tempted into idolatry. Stay under the cloud of God's protection.