3 key Facts about jesus' return

Acts 1:10–11
[10] And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, [11] 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.”


How could you look away?  Jesus. The resurrected from the dead, appearing in rooms with locked doors, wonder-working empowered Jesus Christ was just raised into the sky in front of you.  That’s not a show you leave early. And certainly, not a sight you glance away from carelessly.  First of all,  you have never seen a man fly before.  So, your awestruck, jaw-dropped face is fixed upward anticipating more while still not even grasping the gravity of what just took place before your eyes.

But the angels who appeared out of nowhere while they were watching have a message for us.  And it’s good news: THIS JESUS.  Not a different one.  The very Son of Man who died and rose again.  This same Jesus is coming back.  The show is not over.  And the grand finale is going to be epic.  Because He is coming back in the same way as you they Him go.

We did not get to witness His ascension over 2,000 years ago.  But, I am filled with anticipation that I might get to witness His return any day now.  And since we live in a time where “reputable news” is being manufactured with the very same CGI animation used to bring the latest superhero movies to your screens,  it is important to zero in on a few key words in this passage.  When Jesus comes back - he is coming back the same way as he went.  So,  how exactly did he go?

1.  Physically & Visibly

Jesus’ exit from earth was done so in a physical, visible manner.  This was perceivable to the human eye.  His exit was not just a dream.  It wasn’t a vision. It was the visible, touchable King Eternal.  Matthew 24:30 reminds us that when Jesus returns, “…they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.”  The whole earth will see Him. And after they have pinched themselves, blinked their eyes, and tapped their neighbor,  the earth will see the Son of God.  Just as He left, with physical audience in awestruck wonder,  so shall He return.  No one will be wondering if that is a green screen, projector, or sci-fi stunt.  Trust me,  they will know.

2.  From the Mount of Olives

I have been here, and as a believer in Christ,  I could sense the spiritual anticipation at this very location.  Interestingly enough, the enemies of the nation of Israel have studied the Word of God in antiquity. They see the Old Covenant regulations and rituals for the priests regarding dead bodies, and understand Scripture’s regard for Jesus referenced as a high priest.  And on the chance that all the glorious details of the Messiah’s return are true, and every evil will be overcome - they have turned the Mount of Olives into a massive burial ground. Too bad, they missed a few details.

Jesus fulfilled the law and replaced it.  He is not bound by any Old Covenant restrictions regarding dead bodies.  As a matter of fact, He is not bound by any restrictions regarding death at all.  He owns those keys.  So when Jesus returns,  Zechariah 14:4 says, "On that day His feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.”    Jesus is not only coming back on the same place He left from.  But He plans to split that graveyard wide open and walk right up in that place.  Jesus seems to have a habit of destroying human misconceptions and disrupting funerals.

3.  With His Followers

Can you imagine the emotions you would have felt watching Jesus depart?  They would have been vastly different from those you will feel when He returns to earth.  There will be those looking on with fear and trembling.  But not you and me.  Revelation 19:14 describes this moment when John writes, “And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.”   That’s our cue. (Hope you’ve been practicing your horseback riding.)  We will have just concluded the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and we have mounted white horses to return to earth for the King’s Millennial reign on earth.   That’s right.  “THIS SAME JESUS” who assembled a group of common sinners and empowered them to serve is coming back to earth with me and you.  Common sinners who He has empowered and given the privilege to serve.