There are "two men" who appeared with Jesus in the light bathing him, as the bright cloud hovers overhead.

• "But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him." (Luke 9:32)

And, these men were then are taken back up into the bright cloud.

• "While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud." (Luke 9:34)

Here are just a few of the biblical references to bright clouds:

• Exodus 40:34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

• Exodus 16:10 ... behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.

• Deuteronomy 5:22 These words the Lord spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud

• Job 37:15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?

• Ezekiel 1:4 And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.

The only bright clouds ever seen outside of the Bible, and other ancient writings, relate to a specific modern development; artificial lighting, which is caused by, either the glow of cities, or spotlight beams projected on to clouds.

The Star of Bethlehem

At the occasion of Jesus' birth, certain wise men, (scientists, no specific number), from the East came to Jerusalem searching for the birthplace of a child they had determined would become a great leader and King of the Jews. Herod, the king of Judea, appointed by the Roman senate, found this upsetting and brought his counselors together to determine the validity of the scientist’s quest. When his advisors confirmed that the prophecy was known, he attempted to enlist the travelers as informants, demanding that if they indeed found this child, they should return and report it directly to him.

Having left Herod's company, they encountered what Matthew describes as a "star' that apparently led them to the place of the birth and hovered over it.

• "When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was" (Matthew 2:9-10)

This, obviously, was a very bright object, as stars do not travel ahead of, and lead, groups of people to, and hover over specific locations. In the Old Testament, bright glowing vehicles did lead Moses and the nation of Israel on their 40-year journey and were known to hover over specific locations.

After they delivered gifts to the Christ child, they were warned not to return and inform Herod. So, they departed, returning to their homeland by another route. As soon as they departed, an angel appeared to Joseph and told him to take the child to Egypt, and that this same angel would come to him when it was safe to return. This was done after Herod's death.

The Shepherds, Angels, and Bright Lights

Also, at the birth of Jesus, there were shepherds with their flocks in the immediate vicinity of Jesus' birth, who were visited by angels. During this encounter the shepherds, were greatly frightened by bright lights and it is clearly noted that the angels "went away" into the sky.

• "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid." (Luke 2:8-9)

There is no source described for this bright light bathing the shepherds in its glow, but we do know there was a "star" guiding the wise men in the same area, at the same time. It is not until over thirty years later that we see anybody else bathed in great light and, this time, it is directly associated with a bright object in the sky.