And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Act 1:9-11
This same Jesus:
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
It will be the SAME Jesus who, being born of Mary, baptized by John the Baptist, tempted by the devil after a forty day fast, turned water to wine at Cana, raised Lazarus from the dead ,betrayed and sold by Judas, forsaken by his disciples, denied by Peter, condemned innocently by the Sanhedrin, crucified horribly by Pilate, buried by His disciples, but arose triumphant from the dead by the power of the Holy Ghost...this SAME Jesus is coming again!
Fact: JESUS is returning to earth...literally!
The announcement was that Jesus shall so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven
How did Jesus go to heaven?
From the mount of Olives
He was taken up
His ascension was witnessed
A cloud received Him out of sight
He will return in like manner!
He will return to the mount of Olives
And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
He will descend
He will be seen when He returns
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
He will appear with the clouds
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
NOTE:
The angels also do not know the time of the second coming!
This is NOT referring to the Rapture of the believers
This is not where the believers will be caught up to meet Him in the air
This refers to when He returns for a showdown against the nations gathered against Israel!
In the meantime what should the believer in Christ be doing?
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
There are many speculations about the coming of the Lord and the day of His coming. In light of all these different soundings and announcements what is a Christian to do? We are to be expectant, ready and prepared. We should be occupied, watchful, vigilant...
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
