Matthew 27:51-54: “Then behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
Acts 1:8-11: “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a ‘CLOUD’ received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men (angels) stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in ‘LIKE MANNER’ as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Cloud-
A ‘cloud’ received Jesus out of their sight. I was taught, and consequently always taught others, that Jesus ascended into the clouds, as the puffy white clouds in a beautiful sky. When I see pure white clouds floating lazily in the Eastern sky, it causes me to always think is Jesus going to appear in those clouds?
Paul teaches us in I Thessalonians 4:17; “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (Raptured) together with them in the ‘CLOUDS” to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
In the Greek text, there is no definitive article before “CLOUDS.” The text could read that the living saints shall be caught up “IN CLOUDS” to meet the Lord Jesus in the air.
The ‘CLOUD’ that received Jesus into heaven on Mount of Olives could have been a ‘CLOUD of SAINTS’ that were resurrected in Jerusalem when the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected from the tomb.
Firstfruits-
This was the ‘firstfruits’ of a greater harvest that was to come fulfilling the Feast of the Firstfruits. Israel was to bring the first fruits of their barley harvest to the Temple, where the priest would wave the ‘omer’ or ‘sheaf’ of barley before the LORD. This acknowledged their thanks for God giving them the harvest and for the full harvest that was to come.
Setting the Captives Free-
Jesus raised the Hebrew saints from the grave as He descended into the lower parts of the earth, to Abraham’s Bosom, taking the keys of death, hell and the grave from the devil, and escorting the Hebrew saints into Paradise with Him as He ascended back to His throne.
The ‘CLOUD of SAINTS’ became the omer or sheaf of barley in His hand as our High Priest, waving all the way from earth to God’s throne!
Luke said, Jesus will return in ‘Like Manner’.
When He returns in the Rapture, in ‘Like Manner’, He will open the graves of all the saints who have believed in Him as Lord and God since His ascension almost 2000 years ago! He will release a ‘CLOUD’ of New Testament saints!
Clouds of Saints Everywhere-
Picture the Rapture taking place around the world, with ‘CLOUDS of SAINTS’ being caught up to heaven to meet with Jesus;
- a cloud of saints over America
- a cloud of saints over Europe
- a cloud of saints over Africa
- a cloud of saints over South America
- a cloud of saints over Asia
- and clouds of saints all over the world.
Pray for Laborers-
“These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” (Luke 10:2)
Pray for Believers-
May we all be counted worthy by the covering of His Blood, and by the infilling of His Holy Spirit, as we cleanse ourselves with the washing of His Word, to be part of these ‘Clouds’ of saints. No more Hebrew, no more Gentile, just one body with Christ as our Head.