The Bible is quite specific on how Jesus will return. He Himself said He would return in the clouds of heaven. In the book of Acts right before His accession into heaven the angels spoke to his disciples and said He would return just as He left, in a cloud.
Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
This seems pretty straight forward, but there is something we miss. What or who are the clouds?
Matthew 26:64 Hereafter shall ye (King James for you’all) see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
We have a choice here. We might assume this means clouds from the first heaven, the atmosphere around the earth. But assumptions lead us astray. That would make sense only if Jesus were going to the moon or maybe Mars, but he is going to the heaven of His father.
The clouds of heaven are defined in the book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 12:1 we also 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 set before us.
In other words, clouds are the witnesses (us) those who have died and are in heaven. This is the makeup of the cloud that both received Jesus at the on resurrection Sunday and also “saints” who will come back with Him. The first cloud was made up of Abraham, David and all the luminaries of the Old Testament.
The next cloud appearance will be of those, perhaps including you and me, to come back to earth with Him. If you are Holy Spirit filled and under the Covenant of God, it is your privilege to return with Him.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 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.
At that time Jesus will not be coming as a lamb, but as an angry lion, prepared to require final judgment on a world gone bad. And that is a day we all wish to see, whether now or in the years to come.
In conclusion: Jesus is coming for believers, not unbelievers and many will not be going with him. When this happens is the main issue. We do not know when, just we have His promise that it will happen.
If you enjoy our articles here, please join the discussion by subscribing, and following us on Twitter @ImmaculateAssum and at Immaculate Assumptions on Facebook. Additional background material on the author and her writings can be found at AMAZON where you may purchase her e-book, Immaculate Assumptions: All You Heard about the Bible that Isn’t True.