'This same Jesus,...will come back...'
He(Jesus)
said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father
has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy
Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in
all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They
were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly
two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they
said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who
has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you
have seen him go into heaven.”
As soon as the Savior had
commissioned His disciples, He was taken up into heaven. Such a
spectacular event, yet it is described so simply and quietly! The
restraint which the writers of the Bible used in telling their story
points to the inspiration of the Word; it is not customary for men to
handle such unusual events with such reserve. The appearance of two
men in white apparel follows Christ’s ascension. These were obviously
angelic beginnings who were enabled to appear on earth in the form of
men. Perhaps these were the same angels who appeared at the tomb
following the resurrection.
The angels first addressed the
disciples as men of Galilee. As far as we know, all the disciples except
Judas Iscariot came from the region west of the Sea of Galilee. Then
the angels awoke them from their reverie, as they looked into heaven.
Why were they gazing up into heaven? Was it sorrow, or worship, or
wonder? Doubtless it was a mixture of all three, through primarily
sorrow. So a word of comfort was given. The ascended Christ would come
again.
He will return to the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4).
He will return personally (Mal. 3:1).
He will return visibly (Matt. 24:30).
He will come on the clouds of heaven (Matt: 24:30).
He will return with power and great glory (Matt. 24:30).
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