Short url to this post: https://wp.me/p8DawH-t9
Clouds of Glory
By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved
I have been awed and drawn to clouds, sunrises, and sunsets, since I was a child. I came to know the name of my favorite type of clouds, cumulous. Those are the big puffy, cotton ball-like, marshmallows or pillow-like clouds my brother and I would often see. When the sun was going down and it was cooler, but still light out, my brother and I would often climb up onto our roof in the summer, lay down facing the sky and imagine all kinds of wonderful shapes, faces and things as the clouds seemed to move across the heavens.
When I became a somewhat knowledgeable Christian (of the scriptures), I heard about the “Clouds of Glory.” This was an expression used when speaking about Jesus Christ and his return for those dead in Christ and those alive at his return, otherwise called, the Gathering Together.
People and artists, perhaps ever since Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, have wondered what these “Clouds of Glory” at his return might look like. I too have wondered on this for most of my lifetime.
I have been to many states in our country, “many”, but not all of them. I have been to several countries across this globe of ours, “several,” but not many or all of the something numbering about 172 countries. Still, there is one thing that has been quite clear to me. Though the type of clouds may be named the same, they are still different, everywhere I have ever seen them. My explanation of this phenomenon is, the Artist, our God, is infinitely diversified in scope and reach.
Let us look at few scriptures and see where the idea of “Clouds of Glory” has come from. Jesus Christ, on the day of his ascension was standing before his 12 disciples/apostles. Then at some point, Judas Iscariot departed and the angels spoke unto the other eleven disciples/apostles, which were of Galilee or Galilean.
“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men [angels] stood by them in white apparel; 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.”
Acts 1:9-11 King James Version (KJV)
According to what we just read, “this same Jesus” at some point is going to come back through a “cloud” at the exact same spot he left from. Then he will go into the city of Jerusalem, into the temple and before the ‘Holy of Holies’, proclaim himself as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But this is after he comes for his saints (the dead in Christ and those alive in Christ when he returns). Then (time), he comes with his saints. The Bible is very clear about these events and the words “with” and “for”.
“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:”
I Thessalonians 4:16 KJV
“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
Matthew 24:30 KJV
And that verse from Matthew above may likely be where the idea of the ‘clouds of glory’ come from? But what might these clouds look like?
LOW CLOUDS (less than 6,500 feet)
Cumulus clouds look like fluffy, white cotton balls in the sky. They are beautiful in sunsets, and their varying sizes and shapes can make them fun to observe! Weather prediction: Fair
Cumulus
Stratus clouds often look like thin, white sheets covering the whole sky. Since they are so thin, they seldom produce much rain or snow. Sometimes, in the mountains or hills, these clouds appear to be fog. Weather prediction: Fair, but gloomy
Stratus
Cumulonimbus clouds grow on hot days when warm, wet air rises very high into the sky. From far away, they look like huge mountains or towers. Weather prediction: Look out for rain, hail, and tornadoes!
Cumulonimbus
MID-LEVEL CLOUDS (6,500-23,000 feet)
Altocumulus clouds have several patchy white or gray layers, and seem to be made up of many small rows of fluffy ripples. They are lower than cirrus clouds, but still quite high. They are made of liquid water, but they don’t often produce rain. Weather prediction: Fair
Altocumulus
Altostratus clouds are gray or blue-gray mid-level clouds composed of ice crystals and water droplets. The clouds usually cover the entire sky. Weather prediction: Be prepared for continuous rain or snow!
Altostratus
Nimbostratus clouds are dark, gray clouds that seem to fade into falling rain or snow. They are so thick that they often blot out the sunlight. Weather prediction: Gloomy with continuous rain or snow
Nimbostratus
HIGH CLOUDS (16,500-45,000 feet)
Cirrus clouds are delicate, feathery clouds that are made mostly of ice crystals. Their wispy shape comes from wind currents which twist and spread the ice crystals into strands. Weather prediction: A change is on its way!
Cirrus
Cirrostratus clouds are thin, white clouds that cover the whole sky like a veil. These clouds are most commonly seen in the winter, and can cause the appearance of a halo around the sun or the moon. Weather prediction: Rain or snow will arrive within 24 hours!
Cirrostratus
Cirrocumulus clouds are thin, sometimes patchy, sheet-like clouds. They sometimes look like they’re full of ripples or are made of small grains. Weather prediction: Fair, but cold. However, if you live in a tropical region, these clouds could be a sign of an approaching hurricane!
Cirrocumulus
All the descriptions and images of clouds above are from:
The sun draws water from the sea. Have you ever read or thought of such a thing? Well, the ancient Greeks were very logical and used words to explain such physical or real phenomenon that they also believed, were produced by the gods. These rays are sometimes called ‘backstays of the sun’. These are also known as crepuscular rays. Crepuscular means “twilight” as this is usually, but not always or exclusively, when they may be seen.
Crepuscular rays are shades of sunlight from below the horizon shining through openings and edges of clouds into the evening sky during sunset. They primarily occur when sunlight travels through broken clouds, but also happen when the light travels through other objects under the right conditions.
Due to its mystical or supernatural appearance, this phenomenon has been adopted and used by different religions and cultures to portray a form of higher power or divine presence. It is no wonder they are commonly referred to as, “god rays” or God’s rays.”
Crepuscular rays are more noticeable during the late afternoon and early evening because, the beams of sunlight are most visible when there is a strong contrast between light and darkness. These conditions are optimal during sunset.
The crystalline paths become visible to the naked eye when particles of dust in the atmosphere are touched by the light. It is a “reality parallel.” The same effect, though not with light touching particles of dust, we see by looking at a railroad track as it reaches into the distance.
The Greek word αποσπερνός apo + spao means to draw out or away from like a knife or sword from a sheath. Sun Drawing Water is phrase based on an old Greek belief system that the rays of sunlight pull water into the atmosphere. The clouds fill up and rain will come soon.
In 1872, artist William Trost Richards painted ‘Beach with Sun Drawing Water.’ We can see how the idea of “God’s rays” came about. When I see these rays, I like to imagine that wherever they are touching the earth, miracles are occurring there. I call them, ‘Miracle Rays’ or ‘God’s Miracles Rays.’
“Beach with Sun Drawing Water” by William Trost Richards
Artist Arthur Garfield Love painted a work he called, ‘Sun Drawing Water.’ His paintings did not always represent the real objects. He was one of the school of abstract painters. But in 1925, he had written a poem which he entitled ‘A Way of Looking at Things’ and his abstract painting of ‘Sun Drawing Water’ was done in 1933. to illustrate his poem.
“The sun draws water from the sea,…”
Except from the poem ‘A Way to Look at Things’
by Arthur Garfield Love (1925)
In the fall of 2003, my wife Susan and I were on our way back home to New York. We had just left Boston, MA and were just outside of the city, when it was close to sunset. We were so astounded at what we saw, I had to pull over and take pictures.
A copy of the following photograph hangs in my office and is available on my website for sale, along with my other ‘cloudscapes’ or photographs of clouds. I said earlier in this post that I have for a long time, been awed and inspired by clouds. I have known about crepuscular rays and this figure of speech, “Where the Sun Draws Water,” for many years. But I did not know the ancient Greeks used these words and gave this explanation, thousands of years ago. But I named my picture, “Where the Sun Comes to Draw Her Water.”
“Where the Sun Comes to Draw Her Water.”
(outside of Boston, MA)
© 2003 By Dahni, all rights reserved
If you are interested in viewing my collection of photographs and artwork under the category of ‘cloudscapes’, click the following link:
https://dahni.com/Cloudscapes.htm
I have seen and I’m sure you have seen many sunrises and sunsets, paintings and photographs with awe-inspiring clouds. Perhaps like me, you too have longed wondered, what these “Clouds of Glory” might look like?
I felt like the “Clouds of Glory” would be these huge clouds with the sun shining through them and rays everywhere. Then, Jesus Christ would appear in the middle and he, the son of God (God’s firstborn), would “draw” first, all those dead in Christ and then all those alive in Christ at his coming. This “second coming” has two parts. First he comes “for” his saints (“heaven’s holiest”), the dead in Christ and then those alive at his coming (second). This is referred to as, “Our Gathering Together unto him.”
“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,”
II Thessalonians 2:1
It is here and now interesting, about the word “draw” Look at this verse –
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will DRAW all men unto me.”
John 12:32
What if in keeping with the ancient Greek belief that the sun draws its rays, its backstays or corpuscular rays or miracle rays or God’s rays from the water. What if the return of Jesus Christ is marked by a tower of clouds, ascending from the earth and water and there appears a round opening with Jesus Christ in the midst? Since heaven is technically anyplace above earth, what if the feet of Jesus Christ at this time are neither on land or touching the water? He would then have his feet still technically, in heaven and that he would be drawing others up to him is accurate.
What if the following picture is like what it will be when Jesus Christ comes “for” his saints and the dead in Christ rise first, and then they (those Christians), which are alive at the time? What if this cloud formation is over water and on land in the horizon? No one knows the day time and hour. And no one knows what these ”Clouds of Glory” will look like. But what if, it is like the following photograph I found, but do not know who the photographer is that took it?
Coming in the Clouds of Glory? Unknown photographer
Now if you want to dispute any of this (Bible quotations), Go for it, but I did not write the the Bible, I am just…
…a witness!
Dahni
Pentecost 