The Great Cloud of
Witnesses
Hebrews 12:1-2—Therefore, since we have
so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding
us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance
and the sin which so easily entangles us,
and let us run with endurance the race that
is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,
the author and perfecter of faith, who for
the joy set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at
the right hand of the throne of God.
I. One common denominator among
the heroes of faith known as the
"Cloud of Witnesses" is that they all
died in faith without witnessing the
fulfillment of God's promise.
Nevertheless, they made an
investment towards it through a future
generation.
II. My First Encounter with the Cloud of
Witnesses
III. Do not focus on the experience but
the Voice.
Luke 9:34-35—While he was saying
this, a cloud came and overshadowed
them; and they were fearful as they
entered the cloud. 35 And a voice
came out of the cloud, saying, "This is
My beloved Son. Hear Him!"
IV. Sometimes better to keep things to
yourself concerning these type
experiences. Luke 9: 36.
No controversy over who they are, only
what they do.
V. William Branham's Testimony
VI. Wade Taylor's Testimony
VII. This passage is likened to a sporting
event requiring skill and endurance.
Keep your eyes on the prize.
VIII. Avoiding excess and fanaticism:
Necromancy is a claimed form of magic
involving communication with the deceased
either by summoning their spirit as an
apparition or raising them bodily for the
purpose of divination, imparting the means
to foretell future events or discover hidden
knowledge. It is taken from two Greek
words "nekros" dead body and "manteia"
denoting prophecy or divination.
IX. The Testimony of Joan of Arc-- "St.
Michael, when he came to me, told me
that St. Catherine and St. Margaret
would come to me and that I should
act by their advice, that they were
bidden to lead me and what I had to do
and that I should believe in what they
would say to me and that it was by
God." --Joan of arc speaking at her
trial.
One of the voices that spoke to Joan of
arc was Saint Catherine who was an
early Christian in Alexandria Egypt
under the control of Rome. The legend
of her life is that she was a young
woman of great faith to decide the
Emperor Maximim and was martyred.
A. The Cloud in Scripture
I. Cloud Defined—Cloud= Nephos—a
cloud, a large dense multitude, a
throng used to denote a great
shapeless collection of vapour
obscuring the heavens as opposed to a
particular and definite masses of
vapour with some form or shape. a
cloud in the sky
II. Acts 1:9-10—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…
III. Daniel 7:13—I kept looking in the
night visions, And behold, with the
clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man
was coming, And He came up to the
Ancient of Days And was presented
before Him.
IV. Luke 21:27—Then they will seeTHE
SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD
with power and great glory.
V. Revelation 1:7—BEHOLD, HE IS
COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every
eye will see Him, even those who
pierced Him; and all the tribes of the
earth will mourn over Him. So it is to
be. Amen.
VI. Isaiah 60:8—Who are these who fly
like a cloud And like the doves to their
lattices?
B. What Constitutes A Witness
I. Witnesses— martus or martur—One
who bears "witness" by his death
denotes "one who can or does aver
what he has seen or heard or
knows";testimony or witness as borne,
a declaration of facts. One who
testifies of what he has seen and
heard.
II. John 3:32—What He has seen and
heard, of that He testifies; and no one
receives His testimony.
III. 1 Peter 5:12—Through Silvanus, our
faithful brother(for so I regard him), I
have written to you briefly, exhorting
and testifying that this is the true grace
of God. Stand firm in it!
IV. Acts 22:15—For you will be a
witness for Him to all men of what you
have seen and heard.
V. Revelation 22:16—I, Jesus, have sent
My angel to testify to you these things
for the churches. I am the root and the
descendant of David, the bright
morning star."
C. The Context of Hebrews 12
I. Hebrews 11:39-40—And all these,
having gained approval through their
faith, did not receive what was
promised, because God had provided
something better for us, so that apart
from us they would not be made
perfect.
II. Hebrews 11:13-14—All these people
were still living by faith when they
died. They did not receive the things
promised; they only saw them and
welcomed them from a distance. And
they admitted that they were aliens
and strangers on earth.
III. 1 Peter 1:10-12—As to this
salvation, the prophets who
prophesied of the grace that would
come to you made careful searches
and inquiries, seeking to know what
person or time the Spirit of Christ
within them was indicating as He
predicted the sufferings of Christ and
the glories to follow.
It was revealed to them that they were
not serving themselves, but you, in
these things which now have been
announced to you through those who
preached the gospel to you by the Holy
Spirit sent from heaven — things into
which angels long to look.
IV. The Testimony of Abel—The
importance of integrity of heart and
the gift of revelation.
V. The Testimony of Enoch—The
importance of pleasing God and the
opportunity for friendship with Him.
VI. The Testimony of Noah—Believing
for the unprecedented and that God
will do what He said. The importance
of godly fear.
VII. The Testimony of Abraham and
Sarah—Obedience to the promises of
God despite circumstances. Leaving the
comfort of the familiar for the
unknown at the word of God. Sarah
overcame her doubts and believed that
nothing is too hard for the Lord. The
Word of the Lord visited her and
fulfilled His promise.
VIII. The Testimony of Isaac, Jacob and
Joseph.—The power of blessing.
IX. The Testimony of Moses—
Understanding the importance of
identification with Christ and His plans.
X. But Testimony of Gideon, Barak, Samson,
Jephthah, David and Samuel—Discovering
the power to do great exploits to His Glory.
D. The Cloud of Witnesses and the
Justice of God.
E. The Catholic Position of Communion
of the Saints
I. Dictionary.com.— communion of
saints The spiritual fellowship existing
among all faithful Christians, both
living and dead.