“And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight, And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’” Acts 1:9-11
For 40 days after his resurrection Jesus had appeared and disappeared to His disciples at different times. He had continued to teach them. He had fed them. He had comforted them. He had assured them when they doubted it was Him. But this time they watched Him ascend into heaven. Can you just imagine the sight? He had just reminded them of the Holy Spirit which would come to them and they wanted to know if this was when He was going to take over. He told them, they (we) would not know the time or the season that the Father has in mind. But when you receive the holy Spirit you should bear witness to Him. And then he started lifting up to heaven. I can understand why they stood there gazing into heaven. I can understand why they were fixed at the sight. When suddenly there were angels there questioning them as to why they were. And the angels said to them.
“This Jesus,” (the same one that walked with you, the same one that healed the sick, the same one that you ate with and ministered with!) “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, WILL COME (emphasis mine) in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
He will come back just as He left.
He left physically and will so come in like manner.
He left visibly and will so come in like manner.
He left from the Mount of Olives and will so come in like manner.
He left in the presence of His disciples and will so come in like manner.
He left blessing His church and will so come in like manner.
(David Guzik BLB commentary).
This is a promise and it’s one we can hang our hat on. He will come back. We don’t know the time, we don’t know if this is the last days or not. If it is the last days we don’t know how long they will last. We don’t have any idea if Jesus will return in our lifetime or if we will go to heaven and get to watch from the sidelines. The timing does not matter as much as the being ready for whenever. I may take my last breath and see Jesus or He may return during my lifetime and I see Him in the sky. The thing for me to concern myself with is that I be ready to be on the train when He comes. But we can rest assured He will come back. Scripture says it! He WILL COME! It’s a promise!
Restore 