THE ORIGINAL RIDER OF THE CLOUD - Revelation 1 verse 7

INTRODUCTIONS

Well people it is that time of the month again!  This month's topic I promise is non-controversial or so I think, we will see.  I was out of circulation for a number of years, the last major breakthrough in technology for me was the Blackberry.  The providers of email on your handheld device.  One of these days I will tell you what happened to my new shiny Blackberry bold.  Anyway,  since 2015 I have been hearing about this CLOUD and everybody is talking about the CLOUD.  However, no one seems to be able to define this CLOUD.  Then it came to me, who was the original rider of the cloud?  Hence, the title of this blog.  In fact I am so embarrassed because I was dealing with an organization and I wrote then and told them I was not able to save my document and asked What happened to the save button?  I am still waiting on the reply. So just in case you are like me and need a basic grasp of this technology (it is really not new seem to have been around for a number of years).  So we will be looking at what is happening in the natural and tying this in with matters spiritual.  People remember that Satan is the original counterfeiter who has a 6000 years advantage, as one man of God would say.
In the book of I Corinthians 15 verse 46 it states:

46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

Before we continue lets listen to a song Behold He Comes

CLOUD TECHNOLOGY 

People I am going to attempt to use my experience as a teacher to take this topic to a level where it is easily understood.  I am going to demystify the topic so you are able to speak to the subject in an intelligent manner.  After this you can tell me whether I should complete my Postgraduate Diploma in Education.  I only need to write the final section.  I must find out if I still can.

Definition

Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g. network, servers, storage, applications and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.  This cloud model promotes availability and is composed of five essential characteristics, three delivery models, and four deployment models.

Simply put you can buy computer services based on your needs with little or no red tape there a five features of this service, three packages and four ways to get the three packages.

Notes 

1. Cloud computing is still an evolving paradigm.  These definition, attributes, and characteristics will evolve and change overtime.

2. The cloud computing industry represents a large ecosystem of many models, vendors, and market niches.  This definition attempts to compass all of the various cloud approaches.

Essential Characteristics

1. On-Demand Self Service- Access of computer services, such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically without requiring human interactions with each service's provider (self-provision resources).

 2. Ubiquitous Network Access- Services available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g. mobile phones, laptops and PDAs).

3. Location Independent Resource Pooling:  The provider's computing resources are pooled to serve all consumers using multitenant model, with different physical and virtual resources, dynamically assigned and reassigned according to consumer demand.  The customer generally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of the provided resources but may be able to specify location at a specific country, state, or data center. Examples include storage, processing, memory, network, bandwidth and virtual machines.

4. Rapid Elasticity: Capabilities can be rapidly and elastically provisioned to quickly scale up and rapidly released to quickly scale down to the consumer, the capabilities available for provisioning often appear to be infinite (massive scalability, super computer power on demand) and can be purchased in any quantity at any time.

 5. Measured Service: Cloud systems automatically control and optimize resources use by leveraging a metering capability appropriate to the type of service (e.g. storage, processing bandwidth and active user accounts).  Resources usage can be monitored, controlled and reported providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the service (a pay as-you-go model).

All the foregoing is saying is that you can get the service when you need it, on any platform anywhere in the world using any device, also your business may be located in one state and you are able to access information in another state using the services of the state you are in, the service will automatically adjust to the level you need it and finally you are charged based on your usage. There are many people that are using the services at once.

Note

Cloud software takes full advantage of the cloud paradigm by being service oriented with a focus on statelessness, low coupling modularity (well structured computer system)  and semantic interoperability (exchange of data with unambiguous shared meaning).

Delivery Models

The central concept and language used for cloud computing essentially relates to supplying "Everything as a Service"

1. Cloud Infrastructure as a Service- In this model the consumer does not mange or control the underlying cloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage, deployed applications, and possibly select networking components (e.g. firewalls, load balancers). Companies are always looking for ways to run existing applications that decrease the cost of providing technology infrastructures. A hosting service provider such as Google, Amazon or Microsoft provides "virtual machines" on demand with payment geared to the amount of usage.  Thus, the time and cost of procuring and installing actual physical machines at the client's premises is avoided and what behaves as a single machine is made available across the internet. The term "virtual machine" means that a portion of a server farm or compute grid is made available as a separate machine from the user's perspective.

2. Cloud Platform as a Service- This is a developers model in which the consumer has the means to develop applications using programming languages and tools supported by Cloud services provider (e.g. Java, Python, .Net).  The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure, network, servers, operating systems or storage, but the consumer has control over the deployed applications and possibly application hosting environment configuration.

Such platforms can be pre-configured to support a specific programming language in a standard hosting environment.  Platforms can be built for specific use by an industry or an enterprise, complete with management and governance capabilities.

3. Cloud Software as a Service (SaaS)- This is the delivery of actual end-user functionality, either as "services" grouped together and orchestrated to perform the required functionality or as a conventional monolithic application. Basic packages such as Microsoft Office Suite or Google Packages. The consumer uses the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure and accessible from various client devices through a thin client interface such as a Web Browser.

There are two other models that are defined which we will not deal with in this Blog.  They are Business Process Management as a Service and Management Controls as a Service.

Deployment Models

1. Private Cloud: This cloud infrastructure is operated solely for an organization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party and may exist on premises or off premises (a Virtual Private Cloud or VPC).

2. Community Cloud: This cloud infrastructure is shared by several organizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns .  It may be managed by the organizations or a third party and may exist on premises or off premises.

3. Public Cloud: This cloud infrastructure is made available to the general public or a large industry group and is owned by an organization selling cloud services.

4. Hybrid Cloud: This cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or more clouds (private, community or public) that remain unique entities but are bound together by standardized or proprietary technology that enables data and application portability. 

Again, cloud computing isn't new technology, it's a newly evolved delivery model.  The major players in this industry are Amazon - Amazon Web Services, Microsoft - Azure and Google - Google Cloud Platform. The key point is that cloud computing focuses on the end users and their abilities to do what they want to do, singularly, or in communities without the need for specialized IT support.  The technology layer is abstracted, or hidden and is simply represented drawing of a "Cloud." This same principle has been used in the past for the Internet.

The major concerns with the technology from my discussions with persons seem to be security and privacy.  However, I am saying those were the same problems with the World Wide Web and the Social Media but now we are all surfing and connecting. Cloud computing can provide powerful business benefits to companies. For many companies, by the time new hardware and software can be specified, procured and implemented, the business opportunity has passed and the value is lost.  With the cloud this risk is eliminated because many of these elements can be accessed immediately as services.  This is especially important as the outlook for business suggests more frequent changes in both its external products as well as its internal systems in increasingly competitive global markets. 

SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES TO THE CLOUD

There are many references to cloud/s in the scriptures I really did not realize how many until I started doing this research.  We will only look at a few instances and realize the spiritual significance of the cloud.  There are a number of scriptures that refers directly to Jesus returning in the clouds.  Hence, the reason I became fascinated when I heard mention of the Cloud Technology.  I have heard say time and again that the invisible world is more real that the visible world and this research has driven home the point even more so. We could also look at the significance of different colour clouds but we would go on and on.

THE GLORY CLOUD

In Revelation 1 verse 7 it states

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

In Revelation 14 it states:

 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.

The sickle speaks to harvesting and we know who is coming to separate the wheat from the tares.

Let's now look at an Old Testament example, one of my favourite guys in the Bible King Solomon himself. In 2 Chronicles 5 verse 14 it states

14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.

My challenge with this has always been, this is Old Testament and as New testament believers we have been give the Holy Spirit, why dont I  see things like this taking place in the present day new Testament church?

GOD'S PRESENCE

In Exodus 13 verse 21 - 22 it states

21And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

This passage speaks to the benefits of God's presence protection, warmth, redemption Psalm 103 verses 1 - 5.  Thank God for His continuous Holy Spirit living on the inside of us. It is He that filleth all in all.

In I Thessalonians 4 verse 17 it states:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Just a word to my unsaved friends, you are excluded if you have not made Jesus your Lord and saviour.

NATURAL AND MIRACULOUS USES 

In the book of Genesis we encounter the story of the Noah and the flood and God gave a sign to Noah to indicate that He would not destroy the Earth by flood again.  Let us examine the verse in Genesis 9 verse 13 it states

13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

From the captioned verse you get the clear picture that it is God's bow.  However, in our times persons have taken God's bow to justify their unrighteous causes.  I tell you Satan is a bad devil, he distorts any and everything.

Let us look at our final scripture Acts 1 verses 9 - 11 it states

9And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (emphasis mine)

CONCLUSION

So everyone is heading for the cloud.  The world is heading for the cloud and Jesus is coming back in the cloud.  First the natural then the spiritual.  Let us all be mindful of the times we are living in and remember to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.  We know not the time we know not the hour.

Once again it was a blessing losing my sleep to bring you this Blog.  This is me Raphleta, Lillene's baby girl coming to you from the true North.

Love you be blessed c'est bon!!

Reference:

Enterprise Cloud Computing - A strategy Guide for Business and Technology Leaders,

Mulholland, Andy; Pyke, Jon; Fingar, Peter; Landmark Books