Ascension and Return

Final Instructions

V 48-49

Jesus is telling these men that they are to be witnesses about Jesus to the world

but they are to wait in Jerusalem until they are filled with the Holy Spirit

Jesus had been with them for about 40 days at this time and the wait time would be 10 days until pentecost

Jesus then led them to Bethany

V 50-53

Jesus had told them that he was going to go back to the father and he was gonna send them the Holy Spirit

So here is the time that he has done this

So they’re on the amount of olives on Bethany side, and He was talking with them Blessing them, and then he ascended to heaven

in Acts we see this same scenario the same thing, but in Acts, something is added

Acts 1:9–11 LSB

And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

So in this account, we see that these men are standing there looking up of course they’re looking up. They’ve never seen anything like this before.

And they’re gazing up to heaven and wondering when he’s coming back in and when is he gonna do the kingdom and and so all of a sudden there was two men standing beside them

And these men are asking a question why are you standing here looking up as if to say you guys got work to do you guys need to go back to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit

And Jesus has done what he said he’s going to do by ascending to the Father

And they tell them One more thing he will come back the same way as you have watched him go into heaven

So these angels are telling the apostles that He’s coming back to the same place the same way when he returns

This is what we’re going to look at for the most part today the return

Jesus Return

Turn to Zachariah chapter 14

V 1-3

A day is coming /

The day of The Lord

This is called the day of the Lord. The day that Jesus Christ returns to earth to take vengeance on his enemies to rule the nations.

The day of the Lord is not just 1 24 hour. Period. It’s a period of time.

At the end of the tribulation period the armies of Satan have surrounded Jerusalem and they are ravishing the people

2/3 of the people will be killed and 1/3 the remnant will escape, but they will only escape because Jesus returns

When Jesus returns, he’s gonna provide a way of escape

Remember that Jesus is going to return as a conquering king on a white horse

But the angel said that he is going to return the same way that he left

So I don’t know if he gets off his horse and us descends down to earth and land On the Bethany side of Mount of olives

V 4

The Mountian itself is going to split and provide a valley for those in Jerusalem who need a way of escape

This splitting of the mountain is like G when God opened up the Red Sea for the Israelites to escape from the Egyptians

When God stop the waters of the flooding River so the Israelites could cross over into the promised land

V5

This earthquake must’ve been quite an event that happened in Jerusalem on the days of Uzziah

Because people at the time of Jesus still remembers this terrible earthquake

But this valley is going to be a way of escape and they are going to be able to escape Jerusalem

V 6

There will be no light, remember, when Jesus died on the cross and judgment was being given out onto Jesus for our sin there was no light

Sun will be darkened:

Isa. 13:10 = The sun will be dark when it rises 

Isa 24:23 = Then...the sun  ashamed 

Jer 4:23-28 = the heavens above be dark

Joel 2:10 = The sun and the moon grow  dark

Amos 5:20 = Will not the day of the LORD be darkness

Amos 8:9 = the sun will go down at noon and make the earth dark in broad daylight

Rev. 6:12 = the Sun became black as sackcloth made of hair 

V 7

A unique day /This day of the Lord

This day would be like the birth of our Lord.

When the angels visited the shepherds and told them of a savior being born

A unique day that the star was seen in the east and the wisemen started making preparations to come visit the new king

When Jesus died on the cross, there was darkness total darkness at noon time this was a unique day

The second coming of our Lord will be just as unique except in different ways

After the people escape, waters will start flowing from the temple down these valleys that were just made to the east and into the west

This water will flow in all seasons, making the Dead Sea alive For the first time

and every thing around this river

Jesus the Good Shepherd

Ezekiel 34

Above all when Jesus returns he will be a shepherd of the people of Israel

The priest And Levites have had their chance and have been bad shepherds

The nations have plundered and abused the Israelites

And now, Jesus Will be a good Shepherd to his flock

Read Ezekiel 34

The return of Jesus will be a unique day a unique time period. That begins a unique thousand years and go on and into eternity.