“These were his last words. As they [his disciples] watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! They said, “You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left.”
Acts 1: 9-11 The Message Bible
These words describe a sad scene that took place nearly 2,000 years ago. A crucified, buried, and returned from the grave, Jesus uttered his last earthly words to the 120 followers on Olive Mountain before levitating in front of them as he rose upward towards the sky.
His followers watched as he disappeared from sight, their hearts filled with wondered amazement at what they saw. However, that amazement turned to shock as suddenly—out of nowhere—two white-robed men stood before them with a profound question, why are you looking up at an empty sky?
I can imagine that it was Peter who thought, “Why? I’ll tell you why pale. Jesus, standing right where you are just a blink of an eye ago, just levitated out of our sight into the sky.”
But in shock, the disciples looked at the two men as the words from their mouths penetrated their hearts.
“This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left.”
1—Jesus was taken up into heaven
2—He will certainly return as mysteriously as he left
For nearly 2,000 years, Christ’s followers have waited for his return, and for almost 2,000 years, humanity has fallen further away from the Godhead.
A recent Pew Foundation study reported that 40% of evangelical Christians in the US believe that we are living in the last days. This means that 60% (well over half) do not think that way.
So, who is right?
The answer is it doesn’t matter. The angels in the Acts account of Jesus’ ascension made two proclamations:
1—Jesus went to heaven
2—Jesus will mysteriously return to earth
Why is this important?
Jesus did not disappear only to die in some unknown location. Around 120 people watched him ascend into the sky until they lost sight of him.
Jesus made it clear that he came from the Father (in heaven) and would return to the Father (in heaven).
In the New Testament Gospel of John, he told his followers that he was going to the Father’s house to prepare a dwelling place for them. He clearly stated that if he went to prepare a place, he would return to gather them to be with him in heaven.
The angels affirmed what Jesus told his followers—I am going to my Father.
The angels said his return would be mysterious. Mysterious does not mean in secret. The Bible says that every eye will see him when he returns.
Mysterious means unknown or hidden. It is a mystery that will be revealed with the blast of an angel trumpet and the ability of every eye (all of humanity) gazing at his appearance in the Eastern sky. So, believing or not believing that humanity is living in the last days does not impact his return.
The focus of this weekly blog is to encourage people to draw close to God by having a daily relationship with him in his three-fold expression as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Being close to the creator allows you to pick up on things missed by others—like being in the last days.
It is not an insider thing, only the understanding of being close enough to experience God in a way those far away from him cannot.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead is a journey. I invite you to follow along. I hope that as you learn, you can pass it along so that I (and others) might learn. As I learn, I will pass it along so you, too, can learn.