Jesus Christ: The God Who Descends
The Old Testament depicts YHWH descending and ascending in a cloud, which at times is accompanied by fire and a trumpet blast:
“Yahweh said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever.’ Then Moses told the words of the people to Yahweh. “Yahweh also said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and set them apart as holy today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day Yahweh will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.And you shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, “Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or surely shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.” When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.’ Moses went down from the mountain to the people and set the people apart as holy, and they washed their garments.And he said to the people, ‘Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.’ So it happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. “Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because Yahweh descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. And the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder; then Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. And Yahweh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and Yahweh called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, ‘Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to Yahweh to see, and many of them perish. Also let the priests who come near to Yahweh set themselves apart as holy, lest Yahweh break out against them.’ And Moses said to Yahweh, ‘The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us, saying, “Set bounds about the mountain, and set it apart as holy.”’Then Yahweh said to him, ‘Go down and come up again, you and Aaron with you; but do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to Yahweh, lest He break out against them.’So Moses went down to the people and told them.” Exodus 19:9-25
I include here the English translation of the Greek version of Exodus, in order to highlight the specific terms which directly tie in with the New Testament witness:
“And let them be ready against the third day, for on the third day the Lord will descend (katabesetai kyrios) upon mount Sina before all the people… And it came to pass on the third day, as the morning drew nigh, there were voices and lightnings and a dark cloud on mount Sina: the voice of the trumpet (phone tes salpingos) sounded loud, and all the people in the camp trembled. And Moses led the people forth out of the camp to meet God, and they stood by under the camp. The mount of Sina was altogether on a smoke, because God had descended upon it in fire (to katabebekenai auto ton theon en pyri); and the smoke went up as the smoke of a furnace, and the people were exceedingly amazed. And the sounds of the trumpet (phoai tes salpingos) were waxing very much louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him with a voice. And the Lord came down (katebe de kyrios) upon mount Sina on the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.” Exodus 19:11, 16-20 LXX
The Psalms also describe YHWH as descending and ascending in a cloud and with the sound of a trumpet:
“O clap your hands, all peoples; Make a loud shout to God with the sound of a shout of joy. For Yahweh Most High is fearsome, A great King over all the earth. He subdues peoples under us And nations under our feet. He chooses our inheritance for us, The pride of Jacob whom He loves. Selah. God has ascended with a loud shout, Yahweh, with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises; Sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a skillful psalm. God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne. The nobles of the peoples have assembled themselves with the people of the God of Abraham, For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.” Psalm 47:1-9
Note the translation of the Greek version:
“God (ho theos) is gone up with a shout, the Lord with a sound of a trumpet (Kyrios en phone salpingos).” Psalm 46:6 LXX
Remarkably, the NT portrays Jesus as the Lord who descends and ascends in a cloud, and who will appear in flaming fire with his angels and with the blast of the trumpet of God:
“And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.” Acts 1:9-12
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord (ho kyrios) Himself will descend (katabesetai) from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God (en salpingi theou), and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
“and to give rest to you who are afflicted and to us as well at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire (en pyri phlogos), executing vengeance on those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our witness to you was believed.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
As the readers can see, the NT even employs the same Greek terms used in the LXX!
It is, therefore, clear that the inspired NT writers are deliberately portraying Jesus as that very YHWH God who ascends and descends in a cloud. This is reinforced by what the Apostle Paul writes elsewhere:
“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, ‘When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men.’ (Now this expression, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean except that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)” Ephesians 4:7-10
The blessed Apostle has directly taken the words of Psalm 68:18 and Jeremiah 23:23-24 and applied them to the Lord Jesus Christ!
“Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Lift up a song for Him who rides through the deserts, Whose name is Yah, and exult before Him… The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands; The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness. You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives; You have received gifts among men, Even among the rebellious also, that Yah—God—may dwell there. Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. Selah. God is to us a God of salvation; And to Yahweh the Lord belong escapes from death… To Him who rides upon the highest heavens, which are from ancient times; Behold, He gives forth His voice, a voice that is strong. Ascribe strength to God; His majesty is over Israel And His strength is in the skies.” Psalm 68:4, 17-20, 33-34
“‘Am I a God who is near,’ declares Yahweh, ‘And not a God far off? Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?’ declares Yahweh. ‘Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?’ declares Yahweh.” Jeremiah 23:23-24
What this proves is that the NT has explicitly identified Jesus Christ as YHWH God Almighty who became a human being for our redemption. At the same time, the NT is equally clear that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who is personally distinct from both the Father and the Holy Spirit.
There’s simply no honest way of getting around these revealed truths of the God-breathed Scriptures.
Scriptural references taken from the Legacy Standard Bible (LSB).