The visible manifestation of the "Presence" of God among his people became known as the "Shekinah Glory". Nelson's Bible Dictionary describes it as the visible manifestation of the presence of God. Although the word is not found in the Bible it occurs frequently in later Jewish writings. It refers to the instances when God showed himself visibly, as for example on Mt. Sinai and in the Tabernacle and Solomon's Temple. The Shekinah was a luminous cloud which rested above the Ark within the place of worship, the Holy of Holies, and lit up the room.
The New Bible Dictionary describes it as "the radiance, glory, or presence of God, "dwelling" in the midst of His people". The Shekinah, the nearest Jewish equivalent to the Holy Spirit, became, with other Old Testament ideas and derivatives, Word, Wisdom, etc, a bridge between man's corporeality and God's transcendence. It is used by the Rabbi to signify God Himself. It underlies the concept of God dwelling among His people. The glory of God, "kabod" in Hebrew and "doxa" in Greek, is another name for the Shekinah. It is the cloud of the Holy Spirit.
In the Old Testament, therefore, the Cloud represented the VISIBLE PRESENCE of God dwelling with his people. It is the environment of God, the place in which he dwells and functions and meets with his people. The Cloud rested in the Holy of Holies and was closely associated with the Ark of God. Once a year the high priest went into the sanctuary and met with God. The "Cloud" was God's special VISIBLE PRESENCE and GLORY abiding with His people. Jesus said he will return on the "clouds of glory". He was using Biblical terms to convey something real. Although the Cloud may not be visible any longer, it is still real in that the presence of God can at times still be felt and sensed. I know people who have seen it during times of deep worship. At least twice in my own ministry people have seen a beautiful light in the gathering of God’s people. During one ministry people saw behind and to one side of me a glowing light like a cloud. It remained there for the entire hour of my ministry only leaving when I closed the teaching. On other occasions there have been tangible manifestations of His Presence.
His presence is especially real in times of deep worship when believers have entered within the spiritual "veil of his presence". At his return, or parousia, he will appear to his people. Those who enter through the veil of the "cloud of his presence", the realm of the Holy of Holies, will see him in the cloud of GLORY. He will appear “face to face”.
THE NEW TESTAMENT CLOUD - Matt 16:27 - 17:7
When Jesus went to the mount of transfiguration he was transformed in glory. Some days before this he told his disciples they would see him “coming in glory” and then he gave them a preview of that glory on the mount of transfiguration. He met with Moses and Elijah in the bright cloud of God's presence. This event was later described by Peter as the "parousia" or “coming” of Christ and he used the same words to describe Christ's future return. Although the two events are separated by thousands of years there is a similarity in terms. Peter first described the "parousia" at the transfiguration (2 Pet 1:16-19) and then described the "parousia" at Christ's return (2 Pet 3:4,12). He looked back to the display of Christ's glory on the mount and looked forward to the promise of his future return. In Peter's mind what he saw on the mount was a preview and illustration of what will happen at the future “parousia” or “coming of Christ”. He said he was not telling stories about Christ's Glorious Coming because he was already eyewitness of it. When did he see it? - at the transfiguration.
Christ and the disciples did not leave the vicinity of earth to be in the realm of transfiguration and glory in the Cloud of God's Presence; it all took place with their feet firmly on earth. Jesus was present in glory and the past and living saints met together, "in the cloud" of God's Presence. Not all the disciples saw it at that time, only Peter, James and John. These were the closest to Jesus, they saw it others did not.
When the apostle Paul saw the Lord on the Damascus road he described it in similar terms as the transfiguration. God's glory was revealed at the birth of Jesus and at other times. All these displays of glory were NOT far up in the atmosphere but in immediate vicinity of earth. (Acts 22:6,14, 1 Cor 9:1, 15:8, Luke 2:9) It is this glory that the church will again witness when Jesus comes in the Clouds. No one will see him except in the Cloud of His Presence. Just as Moses entered the Cloud and saw God face to face so too believers will see Jesus in His Cloud. The “Clouds” are plural because wherever believers will be the Cloud of his Presence will be there too. The Glory of God is described in 1 Tim 6:14-16. No one can on their own initiative or through their own ability see that glory, but Jesus will himself appear and reveal it to those who are his. He will come back "in clouds of glory". The Clouds of God's glory were never somewhere up in the atmosphere but were always on earth in the immediate vicinity of his people.
To put it simply when Jesus comes the church is not going up into the sky but will meet the Lord in the Cloud of the Holy Spirit where He will be unveiled and visible right here in the presence of his believers.
THE "RAPTURE" - NOT A DEPARTURE BUT A CHANGING.
“CAUGHT UP IN THE CLOUDS” - 1 Thes 4:13-18
Paul wrote that we shall be changed. What did he mean "caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air"? Just as the Lord spoke in Hebrew Biblical figurative terms so Paul also used these same terms to describe the mystery of what will happen at his return. If you rely on your Gentile mind you may like to think he is talking about flying up to the clouds in departure. However, if you were a Jewish believer you would certainly not think that.
Let us establish the order. When Jesus returns he will bring back his believers who have died. They are with him and when he comes they will come with him. When Jesus was transfigured in the cloud of glory both Elijah and Moses were also there. They came from a previous time and appeared with Jesus and talked with him. Remember, when he arose and appeared to living believers many past saints also appeared. (Matt 27:51-53) They ascended with him and ever since then believers at death immediately enter His Presence. Jesus is raised in heavenly places and the church is also seated with him in that realm. (Eph 1:20, 2:6, 3:10, 6:12)
When he returns he will bring them back with him. AFTER that, living believers will be "changed" (1 Cor 15:52) and will be able to enter "the cloud of glory", his Presence. Like Moses and Elijah, Peter, James and John we will be able to enter the Cloud and see him Face to Face. This will take place at his parousia - or "Presence". The term "in the clouds" does not refer to natural clouds in the atmosphere but, as we have seen, is a spiritual term to describe Christ's power and Shekinah Glory of the Holy Spirit in His temple. Why would Jesus bring back heavenly believers to immediately turn around and take them away again? He brings them back for a reason; to give them new bodies. Why do they need new earthly bodies? It is clear that believers who have died and gone to heaven already have their heavenly bodies. (2Cor 5:1-8, 1Cor 15:40-54, 2Pet 1:13,14) We do not need resurrected bodies to go to heaven but we need them to function here on earth. The Lord will come back to earth and bring believers with him who will then be resurrected so as to function on earth. Note the order: FIRST believers in heaven come back with Jesus and receive resurrected bodies, AFTER that, living believers are changed. Together they join the glorious Presence of Christ in "clouds of glory". He comes in Clouds, plural, because it will happen throughout the world in every place there are true believers. Let me reiterate; the clouds are not up in the sky but right here in the midst of his people. Note that this is a sequence and not simultaneous. It is the individual believer's change that happens in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. When some believers insist the rapture means being taken away they are interpreting scripture from a Western mindset. A Jewish believer sees it with a Hebrew mind and understands what Paul says by the Biblical symbols he uses. The rapture is not up in the sky but right here in His Presence; it is not going up to the clouds but going through the veil.
