He left on a cloud and He will return on a cloud. This is the message of Jesus Coming on a Cloud. When Christ returns for believers, we will be “caught up” into the air, raptured into the sky to meet the Lord in that cloud. From then on, we shall forever be with the Lord. This is the blessed hope and internal longing of all believers, a yearning in our hearts to behold His glorious appearance in the sky: “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Tit. 2:13). The artwork draws its inspiration around these themes, which are herein explained.
“Tell Them I’m Coming” is the caption that appears in the left corner. Christ’s last words to His disciples before He ascended from the Mount of Olives some forty days after His resurrection included that they would be endued with power and that they would be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Luke 24:29; Acts 1:8). Ten days later, on Pentecost, the disciples were empowered with the Holy Spirit. Thereafter, they testified of Messiah to the ends of the earth, sparking a worldwide movement that would become modern-day Christianity.
“Tell Them I’m Coming” refers to the duty of every believer to share the blessed hope of the Lord’s return. We are commissioned by Christ to share the Gospel message with others (Mat. 28:19-20) and testify of His resurrection power in our hearts. Christ’s promised return for us is the pinnacle of all hope and the impetus by which we persevere another day in an evil world: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn. 14:3). Believers are obligated to publicize Love’s invitation and reflect the light of His inner glory. We serve as conduits for His Spirit, agents of His sovereign will; ambassadors for heaven on earth. Jesus is coming. Are you ready?
Christ is depicted as returning to earth on a cloud at top center. That His return is associated with a cloud is supported by several scriptures. At His ascension, he levitated into the sky and vanished into a cloud: “He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). Two angels told the astounded disciples that He would return in the like manner: “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in the like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
Other scriptures are even more explicit: “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27); “Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man” (Rev 14:14); “…And behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven” (Dan 7:13-14). Hence, He left on a cloud and He shall also return on a cloud, as stated in our opening thesis.
The coming of the Lord is a worldwide event that will affect everyone. Believers shall be raptured into the sky, called up into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And then we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thes. 4:17).
The woman sitting at center portrays the rapture. Behind her, a rainbow transporter beam connects her with Christ’s cloud above, transmuting her flesh into spirit. The rainbow symbolizes God’s first covenant: “I shall set my rainbow in the cloud… the sign of the covenant between me and the earth (Gen 9:13). Interpreted more broadly, the rainbow represents the surety of God’s promises. He shall return for believers on earth and rapture us away to heaven, the fulfillment of our hope, which is to behold His glorious appearance (Tit. 2:13).
The caption “Discover the Colors” appears adjacent the rainbow transporter beam, an inference to discover the promises, or covenants, of God. From the woman’s heart proceed two interlaced helixes that spiral up to Christ in heaven. This further pictures the rapture. Christ beams the woman up to His cloud. Her radiant body “SHINES,” appearing to transform, dissolve, and evaporate. The bottom left corner depicts another raptured believer. Her arms are raised for joy as she greets the coming Savior in the cloud. A rocket propels from her body into the stratosphere, representing Christ snatching the believer away to that spiritual palace in the sky.
That the coming of Christ is a worldwide instantaneous event is pictured by the two cities on the horizon. One city reflects the noonday sun, while the other city sits in darkness, illuminated from the inside out. This illustrates two different time zones. Regardless of whether one lives in Los Angeles, Jerusalem, or Tokyo; regardless of whether it is 12 o’clock noon or midnight, scripture declares that Christ’s return will be a conspicuous event noticed by every man, woman, and child at the same time: “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him” (Rev 1:7).
Living believers will not be the only souls harvested at the rapture. Those who died in the faith throughout the ages will also be called up to meet the Lord in that cloud: “…And the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thes. 4:16). The Moses figure and tents, depicted right, contrast with the modern cities in the background. This symbolizes past believers of previous generations, those who saw the promise of His coming from afar and were persuaded to look toward their heavenly home. The adjacent caption reads, “Expect a Miracle,” referring to our redemption and the glory of His coming. If His return does not occur in your lifetime, like this Moses figure at right, trust in His promise no less.
Christ declared Himself to be the door, the only entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven: “I am the door of the sheep… If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (Jn. 10:7, 9). This is pictured in the artwork at top center. Christ appears in an open doorway in the cloud. He offers His blood in the adjacent text, the atoning sacrifice of His death. Above the door is written “Alpha Omega.” This represents Christ eternal beyond creation. He is, was, and always shall be. He exists outside of time and is transcendent beyond the universe: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” (Rev 1:8); “I am the Alpha and the Omega… the First and the Last” (Rev 22:13).
The visible manifestation of the glory of God, also known in theological terms as the “Shekinah Glory,” abided with the Israelites as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night: “In the daytime also He led them with the cloud and all the night with the light of fire” (Ps. 78:14; comp. 13:21; 14:24).
The cloud and fire are symbols of His glory and are pictured in the artwork. The cloud sits upon a rainbow pillar, for it is associated with the return of His glory to the earth, an event also known as the rapture: “…that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Pet. 4:13). The bonfire juxtaposes with the believer at center. In ancient times, God displayed His glory as a visible sign of His presence among His people. In modern times, the Shekinah Glory is hidden in the hearts of men: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). The caption between the bonfire and believer reads, “internal flame,” communicating this concept.
The text “AWAKENING” appears in the bottom left. This has an immediate and prophetic meaning. In the immediate sense, the coming of Christ into our hearts results in spiritual resurrection, the re-created new nature quickened to life, or “awakened,” through faith. We “awaken” from being dead in our sins: “You He made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). In the prophetic sense, the Coming of Christ shall bring about the rapture and usher in His millennial reign. Believers who died since Adam shall be raised from the dust, “awakened” to a new resurrection body in heaven: “Awake you who sleep, Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light” (Eph. 5:14).
Jesus is coming. He left on a cloud and He shall return on a cloud. He transforms black holes into super novas, inviting men out of darkness and into His Light. We are the candles and He is the flame. He stands at the door of the heart and seeks a personal relationship with men. May the Light of His inner Glory shine in you and through you.
Larry Word
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