In Like Manner

 Greetings to you all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

     Acts 1:9-11 says, “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.”

     Every now and then you may experience what I would call a “wow” moment.  Something unusual takes place.  I recall that when we came back from Canada, we took time to stop at Niagara Falls and that was a “wow” moment  for me.  Another time we stopped at Hawks Nest  in West Virginia and I was reading the map near a large window, then turned to look out the window and the view was breathtaking.  Yes, it was another Wow moment.

     Forty days after the resurrection, the disciples were with Jesus on the Mount of Olives and were receiving some final instructions.  Then, there was the greatest of “wow” moments when the Lord Jesus Christ began to rise.    It was the ascension of the Lord Jesus christ back to heaven.  What happens next is equally  a “wow” moment as the angels give some logical instructions to the disciples.  It is a promise that is also mentioned throughout the New Testament and was also mentioned in John 14:1-6.  The Lord Jesus christ, would be coming back the same way, in the clouds. The Apostle Paul clarifies some things in First Thessalonians four when he tells the Thessalonians how it is going to happen.  Paul goes on to the end of that fourth chapter and says, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”  They sure are a comfort.  The world is going to stand in awe when this takes place.  We are living in a world where the signs are prevalent that the end is near.  The characteristics of Second Timothy 3:1-5 are clearly seen not only in our own country, but around the world.  The Antichrist could already be walking on the face of the earth as the world gets ready  amid the economic crisis, storms that break all kinds of records and the hearts of all mankind seem to be against God and against the church, the Bride of Christ.  It is interesting to also notice that the final instruction, in Acts 1:8 was for the disciples to go out with t he message of the Gospel, the dea th, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ  to a world that needs to hear it before it is too late.  As believers, we know that there are but two choices, heaven or hell for all eternity.  There is no Hollywood  place where the dead go from earth to heaven and fulfill a quest  nor is there sitting on a cloud playing a harp.  Praise God that He has made it clear about the second coming of His Son,   the Lord Jesus christ,  Be ready!