The word glory cloud isn't used in the Bible, and many people are justifiably sceptical of its legitimacy. The fact that all of the "proof texts" for a glory cloud come from the Old Testament is important. There are no examples of God showing Himself in such a cloud in the New Testament. We have no foundation for believing such a thing is a real act of God because the church lives under the New Testament covenant.
Exodus 13:21 is the first biblical allusion to God's presence in a cloud. "The LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to show them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to walk by day and night," the Israelites wrote. "And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the assembly, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle," Exodus 40:35 says of the cloud. The "glory of the Lord" had to have a tangible manifestation that the people could recognise in order to fill the tabernacle. The Bible, on the other hand, makes no mention of the clouds being sparkly or loaded with golden dust. In fact, whenever gold or gems are associated with God, they are always of the purest variety. No independent gemologist has yet validated the authenticity of any of the elements generated by these businesses.
"No one may see me and live," the Lord warned Moses (Exodus 33:20). Moses was only given a momentary glimpse of His grandeur (Exodus 33:22–23). In the Old Testament, those who saw the cloud of God's glory were frequently unable to approach it (see Exodus 40:34–35; 2 Chronicles 7:2; and 1 Kings 8:11). Those who encounter the current equivalent of a "glory cloud", on the other hand, welcome it with singing, dancing, shouting, and relishing in the glitter that envelops them. The biblical accounts do not support this response. When God's splendour shone in a cloud, the force of His presence was so great that mortal men were unable to penetrate it.
Ezekiel seen the Lord's glory firsthand. "The light around him was like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day," he writes. This was the appearance of the LORD's splendour in its likeness. I fell facedown when I saw it, and I heard a voice speaking" (Ezekiel 1:28; cf. 44:4). "Woe to me!" Isaiah said as the Lord showed him a vision of His grandeur. I've been wrecked! Because I am a man of unclean lips who lives among unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty" (Isaiah 6:5). Old Testament displays of God's glory were usually accompanied with abject humility bordering on horror (2 Chronicles 5:14; 7:3; Isaiah 6:5). The reactions of Ezekiel and Isaiah to the Lord's glory were nothing like the reactions of modern Charismatic groups.
Although the Lord God can manifest in whatever form He sees fit, He does not require a glittering cloud to proclaim His presence to people who have accepted His redemption offer. We are not looking for a sign (Matthew 16:4). As we yield to Him and choose to walk in the Spirit, we can enjoy His presence every moment of every day (Galatians 5:16, 25).
