Coming in the Clouds

The disciples watched Jesus leave the planet shrouded in a cloud. A couple angels appeared to them and said Jesus would return in the same manor he left. The number in the passage points to the definitive story in the Bible for Jesus' return.

Acts 1:6-11

⁶When they were assembled they asked him, saying, Our Master, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? Acts 1:6⁷He said to them, It is not for you to know the time nor times which the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸When the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will receive power, and you will be witnesses to me 1|4 in Jerusalem, 2|4 and in all Judah, 3|4 and also in the house of Samaria, 4|4 and to the ends of the land. Acts 1:7-8⁹When he had spoken these things, while they were looking at him, he was taken up and a cloud received him, and he was hidden from their sight. Acts 1:9¹⁰When they were gazing into the skies where he went, 2 men stood by them in white robes, K Exodus 2:10 K 1 Kings 17:1 ¹¹and they said to them, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into the skies? This same Joshua who has been taken up from you to the skies will come in like manner as you have seen him go up to the skies. Acts 1:10-11

(Acts 1:6-11 BRB)

Count

2 = Exodus

Exodus

There are many places in the Bible where Jesus showed up in a private and secretive way to an individual or small group, but Exodus is the only book with a story where Jesus shows up in glory for all to see, like we're told he will at his return.

The Mount and the Cloud

In Acts the main details are that Jesus left from the Mount of Olives, was shrouded by a cloud, and the event was witnessed by his disciples. In Exodus the same thing happened in reverse. Yahvah (and probably Jesus) came down to the top of Mount Sinai, in a cloud, while the nation of Israel watched.

¹⁶It came to pass on the 3rd day in the morning there were sounds and lightnings and a mighty cloud on the mountain and the sound of a trumpet that was very powerful and all the people trembled who were in the camp. Q Hebrews 12:21 ¹⁷Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God and they stood at the base of the mountain. ¹⁸The mount of Sinai was smoking entirely because the Master descended on it in fire and the smoke of it ascended like the smoke of a furnace and the whole mountain quaked greatly. Exodus 19:16-19

(Exodus 19:16-18 BRB)

The Nations

Jesus told his disciples that they would be witnesses to him in all the nations of the world beginning in Jerusalem and Samaria. This general idea is also conveyed in Exodus just prior to the mount and cloud story.

³Moses went up to God, and God called to him out of the mountain and said to him, Thus you will say to the house of Jacob and tell the children of Israel: ⁴You have seen what I did to the Mizraim and how I bore you as though you were on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. ⁵Now if from hearing you will hear my voice and preserve my contract you will be beloved to me from all peoples of the land because the land is mine. ⁶You will be to me a holy kingdom and priests and people. Speak these words to the house of Israel. Exodus 19:3-6

(Exodus 19:3-6 BRB)

The vocabulary in Exodus is a little different from that in Acts, but the idea that Israel would be a priestly kingdom, means their ultimate role was to mediate between Yahvah and the other nations.

Like Jesus told his disciples, Israel started in Jerusalem, their first capital, then some went to Samaria, a second capital, then eventually all but a remnant were sent into the nations of the world, though by force. These Israelites and Jews did not know the coming messiah by name in order to speak about him directly, but they took with them the promises to Abraham, their language and their scriptures, and paved the way for the work of the disciples sent later. Reviewing the history involves more than the book of Exodus covers, but this passage in Exodus contains this seed and therefore relates profoundly to what Jesus told his disciples in Acts.

Isaiah's Bit

Isaiah also attests to Exodus as a "last days" book.

^2.1It will come to pass in the latter days ^2.2that the mountain of the house of the Master ^2.3will be established above the mountains ^2.4and will be exalted above the hills ^2.5and all peoples will look to it. I Exodus 19:2 Isaiah 2:2^3.1Many people will go and say, ^3.2Come let us go up to the mount of the Master ^3.3and to the house of the God of Jacob ^3.4and he will teach us his ways ^3.5and we will walk in his paths, I Exodus 20:1 ^3.6for out of Zion will go forth the law ^3.7and the word of the Master from Jerusalem. ^4.1He will judge among the peoples ^4.2and will rebuke many peoples who are far off ^4.3and they will beat their swords into plowshares ^4.4and their spears into sickles ^4.5and people will not lift up sword against people ^4.6nor will they learn war any longer. Isaiah 2:3-4

(Isaiah 2:2-4 BRB)

Isaiah gets us into the general space of thinking about Exodus as a last days story, but Acts is adding considerably by showing that Jesus' return is one aspect of the last days covered by Exodus.

Ryan Eaton 2012-09-07