This Powerpoint looks at the semantics of prophetic language, especially the idea of CLOUDS in both testaments. (A very brief introduction to the use of clouds.) It will demonstrate the in the development of language CLOUDS became convertible in meaning to THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN BLESSING OR JUDGMENT. This has implications for Jesus' prophetic claims in Matthew 24 and 26.

1. A.A.R.P.
THE AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATION FOR
THE RATIONAL STUDY OF
PROPHECY.
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

2. THE SEMANTICS OF
PROPHETIC LANGUAGE
A VERY BRIEF
HISTORY OF ‘CLOUDS’ IN THE
OLD TESTAMENT.
Morrison Lee
1/26
April 2015
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

3. Clouds in: Exodus 14:13-30
GOD’S POWER SEEN IN CLOUDS AT RED
SEA.
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

4. Clouds in: EXODUS 16:8-18
GOD’S BLESSING of BREAD IN GLORY
CLOUD at Elim Oasis.
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

5. Clouds in: EXODUS 19
LAW given by God IN A CLOUD
on SINAI.
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

6. Clouds in: Exodus 40:17-38
GODS GLORY CLOUD fills
TABERNACLE.
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

7. Clouds in: 1 KINGS 8:1-13
GOD’S GLORY CLOUD FILLS
SOLOMON’S TEMPLE.
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

8. Clouds in: ISAIAH 19:1
GOD RIDES ON CLOUDS.
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

9. Clouds in: NAHUM 1:1-3
CLOUDS ARE THE DUST OF GOD’S FEET.
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

10. Clouds in: DANIEL 7:9-14
DAY OF THE LORD A DAY OF CLOUDS:
“AND ONE LIKE SON OF MAN COMING
ON CLOUDS.”
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

11. Clouds in: MATTHEW 17:1-8
GOD SPEAKS TO JESUS IN A CLOUD;
“THIS IS MY BELOVED SON...”
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

12. Clouds in: MATTHEW 24.
Jesus came out from the TEMPLE and was going away when His disciples
came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. And He said to
them..”not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn
down.”
3. “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of YOUR
COMING [IN CLOUDS], and of the END OF AGE?”
30 “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all
the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN
COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY
34 “Truly I say to you, THIS GENERATION will not pass away until all
these things take place.”
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

13. Clouds in: MATTHEW 26:64
JESUS; “YOU WILL SEE SON OF MAN
COME IN CLOUDS.”
(TO CAIAPHAS)
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

14. Clouds in: REVELATION 1:7
“BEHOLD HE IS COMING WITH THE
CLOUDS, AND EVERY EYE SHALL SEE
HIM, EVEN THOSE WHO PIERCED HIM.”
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

15. Clouds in: REVELATION 14:14-16
“THEN I LOOKED BEHOLD A WHITE
CLOUD, AND SITTING ON THE CLOUDS
WAS ONE LIKE A SON OF MAN... AND
EARTH WAS REAPED.”
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

16. REVELATION.
WHO WAS…
THE HOLY CITY?
SODOM?
THE GREAT CITY?
THE GREAT HARLOT?
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

17. JERUSALEM WAS THE HOLY CITY.
Neh 11:1; 18; Is 48:2; 52:1; Dan 9:24; Mtt 4:5; 27:54; Rev 11:2
JERUSALEM WAS THE GREAT CITY.
“Where is now the GREAT CITY that was said to have God dwelling
therein? It is now demolished to its foundations.” WARS 7:8:7
‘Jerusalem the GREAT CITY,’the metropolis of the Jewish nation.
WARS 7:8:7
JERUSALEM WAS SODOM.
Is 1:10; 3:9; Jer 23:14; Lam 4:6; Ezek 16:46; Rev 11:8
JERUSALEM WAS ADULTEROUS HARLOT.
Is 1; Jer 2; Ezek ch.16, 23; Hos 4,5,6,9; Mic 1; Mtt 12, Mk 8.
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

18. C.1ST PROPHECY. (REV 16:19)
“ANDTHE GREAT CITY WAS SPLIT INTO
THREE PARTS. BABYLON THE GREAT
WAS REMEMBERED BEFORE GOD...”
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

19. C.1ST HISTORY.AD 70 (WARS 5:1:4)
JERUSALEM DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS.
“AND NOW THERE WERE THREE
TREACHEROUS [DIVISIONS] IN THE
CITY…ELEAZOR KEPT THE SACRED
FIRSTFRUITS, THOSE WITH JOHN
PLUNDERED THE POPULACE . SIMON HAD
HIS PROVISION FROM THE CITY.”
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

20. C.1ST Judgment on temple and Mosaic
age…IN CLOUDS.
MATTHEW 24.
Jesus came out from the TEMPLE and was going away when His disciples
came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. And He said to
them..”not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn
down.”
3. “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of YOUR
COMING [IN CLOUDS], and of the END OF AGE?”
30 “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all
the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN
COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY
34 “Truly I say to you, THIS GENERATION will not pass away until all
these things take place.”
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

21. MANNER OF JESUS COMING
(PRESENCE,PAROUSIA)
ALWAYS ‘IN CLOUDS.’
• … coming in the cloud of heaven with power Mt 24:30
• ... coming in the clouds of heaven with power Mt 26:64
• … coming in the clouds with great power Mk 13:26
• … coming in the clouds of heaven Mk 14:62
• … Son of man coming in a cloud with power Lk 21:27
• taken up in a cloud…return in the same manner Acts 1:9-11
• …from heaven clothed with a cloud Rev 10:1
• …they ascended up to heaven in a cloud 11:12
• … And I looked and behold a white cloud 14:14
• … upon the cloud sat one like unto the 14:14
• … voice to him that sat on the cloud 14:15
• … he that sat on a cloud thrust in his sickle 14:16
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

22. Clouds in: FIRST CENTURY
JUDGMENT - FULFILLED.
‘The Siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD was the decisive event of the First
Jewish–Roman War. The Roman army, led by the future Emperor
Titus … besieged and conquered the city of Jerusalem, which had
been occupied by its Jewish defenders in 66 AD.
The siege ended with the sacking of the city and the destruction of its
famous Second Temple. The destruction of both the first and second
temples is still mourned annually as the Jewish fast Tisha B'Av. The
Arch of Titus, celebrating the Roman sack of Jerusalem and the
Temple, still stands in Rome.’
(Source. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jerusalem_(AD_70)
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

23. CLOUDS SUMMARY.
• God Dwells in clouds
• Comes in judgment in clouds
• Gives blessing in clouds
• Seen face to face in clouds in tabernacle
• His glory in seen in clouds in Temple
• Son of Man comes in clouds
• Jesus comes in clouds
• Son of Man Judges the great HARLOT Babylon
in clouds – a judgment in the C.1ST.
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

24. MEASURING THEORY
and FACT.
A reliable explanation does three things. It-
1. Is suggested by facts
2. Answers more and more facts
3. Predicts new relations in the facts.
A first century (Preterist) explanation of Jesus’
coming in clouds is suggested by facts, answers
facts, and predicts new relations in bible facts in
that generation.
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

25. CLOUDS IN THAT GENERATION.
VENN.
Destroy Mosaic
temple this C.1st
generation.
Mtt 24:1-3
Fulfils ALL
prophecy in this
C.1st generation
Mtt 24:34
Jesus prophesied
to come in
clouds this C.1st
generation. Mtt
24:30
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”

26. CONCLUSION.
The uniform biblical use of ‘Clouds’ across both
Testaments is ‘The Presence of God.’ Jesus was a
prophet of God and said He would ‘return in clouds’ in
that generation – a judgment of God.
Therefore:
(1) Jesus returned in Clouds in that generation in the
judgment upon Jerusalem
(2) Jesus kept His promises to that generation
(3) Jesus is Divine to all generations.
26/26
a.a.r.p. “Measuring the relation between
biblical Observation, Theory, and Belief.”