Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Ro 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Ro 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

First off, before you can learn anything, you must decide if you are carnal (natural) minded, or is you have a spiritual mind. If you are trying to discern the Word of God with a carnal mind, know that it cannot be done. The above Scripture proves that a carnal mind is death and the enemy of God. It is not subject to the law of God and indeed cannot be.

When you read the Word of God with a carnal mind, you will come up with foolishness every time. When you read works of other men, who were also carnal minded (and after all, you do not know that person or what kind of mind he had) you will again be given foolishness.

1Cor 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

1co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Now that proves that if you are natural minded the things of the Spirit of God will be foolishness to you, and you cannot know them. The things of God are spiritually discerned, or understood. So when you try to interpret the Word of God with a natural, carnal mind, you are going to come up with utter foolishness!

So what does this mean? It means that you cannot understand the spiritual language of the Word of God, and you interpret it a natural, carnal language, of man’s understanding. This means you are seeing only lies, and this is how men can lead you into all kinds of foolish, unscriptural teachings. In fact this is the very basis for all the false teachings in the world of religion. Carnal minded men could not understand what they read, so they made up false doctrine. Other carnal minded men picked up those false doctrines and spread them to the ‘wind�? Now they are everywhere and truth is made to seem to be the foolishness. What a shame.

Ask yourself, did the Holy Ghost teach you what you believe? Or did you get it from some carnal man?

Realize that when Strongs or any other concordance or dictionary gives you the meanings of words, they are giving you the carnal, natural meanings. You cannot prove Spiritual things with these natural meanings. That is where most people are being misled. Only the Word of God can give you the spiritual meaning which God intends. God used natural words to teach spiritual things. Only a spiritual mind can get the spiritual meanings of the words. They must be found and proven in some Scripture, other than the Scripture which you are reading. Scripture must interpret Scripture, comparing Spiritual to Spiritual.

So with that foundation, lets take a look at the word ‘cloud�? The natural understanding of this word is one of the main basses for the false rapture teaching, so many are deceived with today. Now this word is even more misunderstood than most other words, for almost no one seems aware that the word, ‘cloud�? does have another natural meaning which they overlook. Look this word up in Webster’s. One of the meanings, natural meanings, is a great crowd of people. It also means a swarm of insects. But when people read this word in Scripture they can only think of the mass of particles and find mist of water which appears visible in the atmosphere or even on the ground.

So now, which of these meanings do you suppose was the Cloud which followed the Israelites in the wilderness? Was it an atmospheric cloud? Could not be, for it is said to be the glory of God. So if that were the meaning in the OT, what makes you think it is different in the NT? Is not this also the Word of God? And doesn’t the Scripture also make it clear that cloud represents people? Of course it does.

Jude 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Jude 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Jude 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Jude 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

Now for another witness of this: 2Pet 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

2pe 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

2pe 2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

2pe 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 2pe 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

2pe 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 2pe 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 2pe 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. (Sounds like all these who fight truth and teach these carnal lies.)

Now that clearly identifies these filthy dreamers as CLOUDS, spots, trees, blemishes, and waves of the sea and stars. All of these ‘natural�?words are spiritual explanation of these brute beasts, filthy dreamers. So if these wicked ones are called clouds, then the Holy ones are also called clouds. Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

That CLOUD of witnesses is speaking of all those people of faith mentioned in chapter 11. So this clearly identifies both evil and holy people as CLOUDS. We have proven that God called his presence a CLOUD.

What do you make of this: La 2:1 How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger!

Did God cover them with an atmospheric cloud of water? Of course not. That is foolishness and carnality. He covered them with human flesh, which he is calling this cloud. This is the covering he clothed Adam and Eve with.

2Thes 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

2th 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Now this says that Jesus is coming from heaven with his mighty angels. He is coming to be glorified IN his SAINTS. These saints are clouds. He is going to be admired IN ALL THAT BELIEVE. These believers are CLOUDS. Didn’t I prove with Scripture that both evil and holy people are called CLOUDS? Didn’t Hebrews call the witnesses CLOUDS?

Mt 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (See coming in the clouds of heaven is the same as being glorified IN HIS SAINTS.)

Mt 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Now can you rightfully claim that these clouds of heaven are atmospheric clouds? If so, know that you are carnal minded and cannot receive the things of God.

Of the 23 times ‘clouds�?are mentioned in the New Testament, only one of them could rightly be interpreted as the atmospheric clouds which brings rain in the natural, and that is this: Lu 12:54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

Rev 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

Re 14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

Re 14:16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

Now I submit to you that only a carnal minded, fleshly person, could declare that Jesus is actually SITTING on an atmospheric CLOUD and coming down to earth sitting on this watery cloud! Have any of you ever been in one of these clouds? I imagine all of us have. It is NOTHING solid. It is only a fine, very fine mist of water and particles. And you would have us believe that Jesus is coming down from Heaven sitting on one of these ‘nothing�?clouds, and that this is the clouds of heaven? Then know for sure that you are just TOO CARNAL MINDED to ever learn any truth of God.

And since those verses said that Jesus would be sitting on a white cloud, what about this? Re 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Now this says that Jesus will come sitting on a white HORSE. So which is it? A horse or a cloud? Do you know? Have you considered it? Does Jesus come riding down through space sitting on a white cloud? Or a white Horse? If you believe that then for sure you are too carnal minded to be trying to teach Scripture.