The next time you look at a cloud you may just see them as baptisteries in the sky. You may also imagine the Lord welcoming people up to these suspended pools of waters that they may be baptized. After all, when He left He was hidden by a cloud and when He returns He will welcome His church from one. But what do clouds have to do with baptisms? The answers may surprise you.
As far as the Day of Atonement, three sets of baptismal clouds were evident on that very special day. These clouds involved the three elements of water, blood, and Spirit respectively and also prophetically pointed to the acts of baptism in water, salvation, and Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Before entering the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest had to first baptize himself with "clouds" of water and incense. The waters of cleansing and incense served as preparatory devices for ministry, as well as, seals between flesh and what was sacred. The waters of cleansing first of all prepared the way to put on the priestly garments and gave witness to the glory of the priesthood (Hosea 4:7 and Hebrews 5:1-4). Likewise, the incense prepared the way to make contact with the glory of the Lord.1 When the High Priest came before the Ark, he did so with clouds that bridged the gap between what was blood and what was glory.
Second, the High Priest symbolically produced two clouds of blood in the Holy of Holies. The first cloud was formed when he sprinkled blood on the ground in front of the Ark of the Covenant. The second was formed when he sprinkled the blood on the Mercy Seat. Together, both sprinkles represented a cloud of blood whose billows covered (baptized) both heaven and earth. The clouds signified to the Universe that the wages of Sin had been paid for (Rom 6:23; 1 Cor 6:20). When the Lord looked out from His throne atop the Mercy Seat, He did so through a cloud of blood (Hebrews 9:14, 22), one that baptized an entire nation.
Lastly, enthroned above the Ark and the High Priest was the cloud of glory. Many times in Scripture, this cloud was known to float away from the throne. When it did, it would overtake the High Priest, effectively mix with blood and incense, and fill the whole temple. Moses, for instance, was more than enveloped by this cloud. He lived in it, carrying it on his face afterwards. When the cloud of glory arose from the throne and filled the temple, the priests could no longer minister. They could no longer speak for the people. When the Lord baptized the temple, He was the one who ministered and spoke through the cloud of glory (Exodus 24:16; 2 Chron 5:13-14, 7:1-3; Ezekiel 10:1-8; Isaiah 6:1-6; Mark 9:7; Matt 17:5; 1 Cor 6:19; Rev 15:8).
As we have seen from the Old Testament, Israel was covered by clouds of baptism on the Day of Atonement. On that day, it could be said that clouds made the Day of Atonement into a "Day of Baptisms." Likewise, in the New Testament, clouds of baptism formed on another very special day atop a very special mountain. That day was when Jesus was transfigured before three of His disciples. It could be said that the Mount of Transfiguration was also a "Mount of Baptisms."
In order to see all the baptisms that took place on the Mount of Transfiguration, one first has to see Jesus, whose name means "the Lord saves," as a baptism in bodily form. To prove this point, one can look at examples from the sacrifice of Jesus and the ordinance of communion. In the Book of Luke, for instance, Jesus referred to His physical body in these terms:
"'But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!'" (12:50)
"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'" (22:19-21)
Other clues in the Transfiguration point to the related cloud baptisms of water and Spirit, but involve the actual players and settings of the account. By this, I refer to the three disciples, the "high mountain," the Prophet Elijah, Moses, and the bright cloud. Why three disciples? Why a high mountain? Why Elijah and Moses? Why a bright cloud?
Why three disciples? Because three proto-baptisms occurred on that mountain one for each disciple. All three were mediated by Jesus. Why a high mountain? Because high mountains are where water clouds are reborn from ocean water (a process known as orographic lifting). Why Elijah and Moses? First, because they symbolized the Law and the Prophets, but secondly, because they symbolized three-part baptisms themselves. Elijah's baptisms were atop Mount Carmel (blood, water, fire) and those of Moses began at Passover, continued in the Red Sea and culminated on another mountain - Sinai. Note: Jesus also experienced three proto-baptisms simultaneously at the River Jordan involving blood, water, and Spirit.
Why a bright cloud? Because a cloud of glory was about to baptize them, making them fall face down.2 Thus, the disciples experienced three baptisms on the Day of Transfiguration that involved clouds: one in blood, one in water, and one in light. Putting the events of the Transfiguration together in terms of clouds and baptisms, the story reads like this: "a cloud of blood lifted the disciples up a high mountain, to a place where clouds of water are reborn, to be baptized by a cloud of light.
In closing, we have seen that clouds played a surprising role in baptisms throughout Scripture.3 In Old Testament days, clouds of blood, incense, and glory baptized Moses, the priests, the children of Israel, and at times the whole temple. In the New Testament, they baptized three disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration. But what is even more exciting than this, is that they still appear over children of God today. Is there a baptism in the clouds waiting for you?
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? (1 Cor 3:16)
1. The cloud of water and incense as preparatory devices for ministry gives insight into the ministry of John the Baptist and even the baptism of Jesus at the River Jordan. As far as the High Priest was concerned, passing through the waters of baptism and incense prepared him for the baptism of glory on the other side of the veil. The same could be said for the Baptisms of Noah, Moses, and Jesus. The ark of salvation prepared the way for baptism of water, which prepared the way for the baptism of glory (rain and rainbow had never appeared before). Likewise, the salvation on Passover paved the way for the baptism in the cloud and in the Sea, which further paved the way for the baptism in glory at Sinai. Lastly, salvation in the name of Jesus (blood), should lead to baptism into the name of Jesus (water) and baptism by Jesus (Spirit).
2. Whether one is talking about Mount Sinai shaking, disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration falling, or believers acting like drunk men at the Temple Mount on the Day of Pentecost, when clouds of glory manifest in Scripture, things tend to shake and fall (e.g., Isaiah 6:4). Furthermore, when these clouds of glory overtake people, they allow the Spirit of the Lord to do the talking and as He alone enables. As long as Jesus and His baptism have not changed, we should expect no different today.
3. Before closing, I must mention three elements aside from the clouds of blood, water, and Spirit that are present in the accounts of the Atonement and the Transfiguration. These elements are substitution, obedience, and sovereignty. First, each baptism by blood required substitutionary sacrifice. In the case of the Atonement, sacrifice came in the form of a bull and goat. At the Transfiguration, sacrifice came in the form of the Lamb of God. Second, each baptism in water required an act of obedience. In the Atonement, instructions for the use of incense and water washings had to be meticulously followed. In the Transfiguration, the disciples followed the Lord in obedience and were told by the voice to "Listen to Him!" (Matthew 17:5). Lastly, each baptism in the Spirit required a sovereign act of God. In the Atonement, God chose to appear in a cloud above the Mercy Seat. In the Transfiguration, He chose to appear in a bright cloud. The timing and manner in which He manifests, fills a Temple or mountain top, or even a person is decided ultimately by His sovereign will. Today, the elements of substitution, obedience, and sovereignty are still very much evident in salvation, baptism in water, and baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Light the Fire Ministries ©2006
