THE CLOUD RETURNS
Is. 4:5-6 then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.
This prophecy from the book of Isaiah has always mesmerized me. Mount Zion is considered a type of the New Testament church and Isaiah’s reference to “assemblies” makes the prophecy even more specific, The Lord is talking about the local church. I view this word as a direct prophesy about the great visitation in the church of the last days. I believe The Lord will visit His church with unmistakeable, unignorable, signs and wonders. Recently we had an unusually strong manifestation of the presence of The Lord in our church. A number of people commented about how they felt like they were looking through a fog in the service. I wonder what Isaiah saw when he said smoke was filling the temple as the glory of The Lord filled the atmosphere? Here is what Albert Barnes said about this passage from Isaiah.
“For a place of refuge – A place to which to flee in the midst of a storm, as a tent would be. In eastern countries this idea would be very striking. While traversing the burning sands of a desert, exposed to the rays of a tropical sun, nothing could be more grateful than the cool shadow of a rock. Such figures are, therefore, common in oriental writings, to denote protection and agreeable shelter from calamities; The idea in these verses is:
(1) That God will be a defender of his people.
(2) That he will protect their families, and that his blessing will be upon their dwelling-places
(3) They may expect his blessing on their religious assemblies.
(4) God, through the promised Messiah, would be a refuge and defense.
The sinner is exposed to the burning wrath of God, and to the storms of divine vengeance that shall beat forever on the naked soul in hell. From all this burning wrath, and from this raging tempest, the Messiah is the only refuge. Through him God forgives sin; and united to him by faith, the soul is safe.”
Our world is becoming more and more dangerous as time goes on. From terrorists to gangsters, from home invasions to car jackings; sometimes it is terrifying to just walk down the street. Barnes points out that this word is a promise of supernatural protection
in this unusually stressful time. The Lord Himself is our defense and refuge and He has purposed to reveal this place of refuge in His local church. As the glory of The Lord is poured out in greater and greater measures in His church it will become our place of refuge and comfort in the midst of a world falling apart. If you feel alone and a little afraid, get closer to your home church, don’t be surprised when the foundation shakes and the sanctuary begins to fill with smoke.
4 thoughts on “THE CLOUD RETURNS”
Whew, Hallelujah, I see a cloud, ha, Lord show me YOUR GLORY. I’m not afraid.
Fill YOUR place LORD. He is my SHELTER, ROCK all thing’s. LORD let YOUR will be done on earth as it is in Heaven
Pray, Pray and Pray. Seek, Seek and Seek. I’m watching. Good morning Pastor Frank, :).
What PEACE, AND STRENGTH HE GIVES. Thank You Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit.
Praise Him in the Sanctuary and all around. With love.
May we be known as carriers of that glory cloud. 🙂
Souls Harbor And Refuge: May Our Dwelling-Places And Assemblies Always Remain Under The Cloud!!! Shelter Of The Rock: Salvation’s Station!!! Thank You Lord. Please Send Heaven’s Dew Kiss. Please Keep Us Lord, Even Beyond The Mist. Please Teach Us To Fervently Hold On Tight, To Trust You More And More. “More Of You Jesus, More Of You,” Amen! Amen!! Amen!!!
I share this because I must. Before I came into my new birth there was a time when I was working at a propane tank shop. It was on the West Bank. The job was at night and it was part time. They wanted me there by myself from twelve to 4am. All I had to do was unload all the tanks on two trucks and fill them back up for delivery. It was a time of deep depression for me. One night I had a nudge to open the truck door to listen to the radio. I would listen to any man preaching. I did not know they had Christian music believe it or not. I thought the only music they had was in that old baptist church my parents raised us for a time. The song was I am lost without u by Rebecca st. James. I like it. This one particular night. I jumped off the dock outside to go use the bathroom inside. Walking to the door I notice a dark thick cloud hovering over the yard. I shook so hard I fell and crawled inside. The more I looked out the window I would panic. I could not go back outside. I left a message and a note. That I was sick and needed to go. Now as being born again. When I first got touched. I saw things in his word about his presence in the cloud. And man I would give anything for that to happen again.