In Acts 1, we have the account of Jesus speaking and exhorting the disciples just before He ascended to be with the Father. As He spoke with them, here is what Luke recorded of the next event. “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11)

Picture that event and what that must have been like. Jesus is talking to the men and all of the sudden He is taken up into the clouds. The eyes of the disciples would have been fixed and focused on Him as He ascended. While they are giving His ascent their undivided attention, they hear voices; the voices of two angels. Did they speak this in unison or did they take turns speaking? Luke did not tell us. But here is what we can glean from what the angels said:

1. He actually came the first time; He will actually come again
2. He came to earth the first time; He will come to earth again
3. He came personally the first time; He will come personally again
4. He was taken up into the clouds; He will come back through the clouds

There is one more truth we can glean from what the angels said: Our job, our task on earth, is not to be staring into the skies looking for His return, but we have other tasks we are to be doing while we maintain readiness for His return.

Be ready and have a great day!

Note: See the Events page for information about the verse-by-verse study through the book of Revelation.