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Chapter 12: The Cloud Rider

Supernatural

December 6, 2020 • Chris Reighley

Supernatural:
What the Bible Teaches about the Unseen World—And Why It Matters

by Dr. Michael S. Heiser

Uncover the Supernatural in the Bible

Introduction: The Divine Identity Hidden in the Heavens

What claim could be so powerful—so undeniable—that a high priest would tear his robe in fury and accuse a man of blasphemy? When Jesus stood before Caiaphas and declared, “You will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven” (Matt. 26:64), He wasn’t just speaking metaphorically. He was invoking a title known across the ancient world: the Cloud Rider—a divine role uniquely associated with Yahweh.

In this chapter, Dr. Michael Heiser helps us trace this biblical image back through the Old Testament and ancient Near Eastern thought, revealing that “the one who rides the clouds” was a title of supreme authority, divine judgment, and sovereign glory. In Scripture, only Yahweh rides the clouds—until Jesus applies that title to Himself.

Heiser walks us through the key identifiers of this divine figure in the Old Testament: the Word, the Angel of the Lord, the Name, and finally, the One who rides the clouds. These are not four beings—they are four revelations of the same Yahweh, manifest in visible form, interacting with His people, and prefiguring the incarnation.

When Jesus calls Himself the Cloud Rider, He is not just claiming to be Messiah—He is declaring, unmistakably, that He is Yahweh in the flesh.

Chapter Outline: The Cloud Rider

I. Fundamental Questions

  • Is the idea of God appearing as man only a New Testament concept?
  • Are Old Testament appearances of God as man pre-incarnate Christ?
  • How does the Old Testament prepare us for the identity of Jesus?

II. Scriptural Road Map of Divine Identity

  1. The Word of the Lord
    • Genesis 15:1, 1 Samuel 3:10–21, Jeremiah 1:4–10
    • The Word is personified, speaks, and appears—pointing to divine agency.
  2. The Name of the Lord
    • Deuteronomy 12:4, 11 – God’s Name “dwells” in a place.
    • Exodus 23:20–22 – The Angel has God’s Name “in him.”
    • Psalm 20:1, 7; Isaiah 30:27 – The Name acts, defends, judges.
  3. The Angel of the Lord
    • Judges 2:1, Deut. 4:35–37, Joshua 5:13–15
    • The Angel leads, speaks for God, and receives worship.
    • He is distinct from Yahweh, and yet Yahweh.
  4. The One Who Rides the Clouds
    • Deuteronomy 33:26 – “Rides the heavens to your help.”
    • Psalm 68:32–33, Psalm 104:3, Isaiah 19:1 – Divine warrior imagery.
    • Daniel 7:9–14 – The Son of Man comes with the clouds.

III. Jesus as the Cloud Rider

  • Matthew 26:57–68 – Jesus before Caiaphas invokes Daniel 7.
  • This identifies Jesus as the Son of Man who shares authority, glory, and dominion with the Ancient of Days.
  • Caiaphas’s reaction proves the claim was understood as divine.

IV. New Testament Confirmations

  1. The Word – John 1:1–3, 14
  2. The Angel – Jude 5 – Jesus saved Israel from Egypt.
  3. The Name – John 17:6, 12, 26; Acts 5:41; 3 John 7
  4. The Cloud Rider – Matthew 26:64, Revelation 1:7

V. Implications of the Cloud Rider Title

  • Jesus is not merely claiming kingship—He is claiming equality with Yahweh.
  • This image unites both Testaments in affirming Jesus’ deity.
  • Psalm 22:12–14 references the “bulls of Bashan” surrounding the crucified one—another layered supernatural allusion.

VI. Why This Matters

  1. Jesus Was Not a Blasphemer—He Was Telling the Truth
    • His declaration at His trial was a direct fulfillment of Daniel 7.
  2. This Was Always God’s Plan
    • The incarnation was foreshadowed in the Old Testament through divine appearances.
  3. Jesus Didn’t Just Fulfill Prophecy—He Embodied the Pattern
    • He is the Word, the Name, the Angel, and the Cloud Rider.
  4. The Divine Council Framework Supports This Identity
    • Jesus reclaims the nations and takes His seat as co-ruler in the unseen realm (cf. Ps. 82; Luke 10:17–20).
  5. We Are Sent in the Authority of the Name
    • Matthew 28:18–20 – All authority has been given to Him.

Key Scriptures

  • Daniel 7:9–14 – The Son of Man and the Ancient of Days
  • Exodus 23:20–22; Psalm 68:32–33; Deut. 33:26 – Cloud-riding imagery
  • John 1:1–14; Matthew 26:64; Revelation 1:7 – Jesus as the visible Yahweh
  • Jude 5; John 17 – Jesus as the Name and the Deliverer
  • Matthew 28:18–20 – The Great Commission in divine authority

Reflection & Discussion Questions

  • How does understanding Jesus as the “Cloud Rider” deepen your faith?
  • What are the implications for evangelism when we proclaim Jesus not just as Savior, but as Yahweh?
  • How can your understanding of “the Name” transform your view of spiritual authority?

Key Takeaway

The divine figure who appeared in fire, walked with Abraham, led Israel from Egypt, and rides the clouds in power—that One became flesh and walked among us.

Jesus is the visible Yahweh, the Cloud Rider, the one who reigns, redeems, and returns.

This study was taught by Chris Reighley to the Sunday Night Bible Study at Rolling Hills Community Church in Lago Vista, Texas in 2020

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