◄ What Does Acts 1:10 Mean? ►

Following forty glorious post-Resurrection days, the risen Lord Jesus led His little band of disciples out from the tiny town of Bethany to the beautiful Mount of Olives, where He spoke to them for the very last time before being taken into heaven. It must have been a time of such expectancy tinged with hesitancy, for His words were those of a dearly loved friend bidding His precious followers farewell.

And so, lifting up His hands, He blessed the disciples that He loved so dearly and began to be taken up into heavenly places, as they watched in astonishment. Finally, their beloved Lord Jesus and Saviour was lost from view. No doubt their eyes were straining to capture this poignant picture as their hearts must have trembled in wonder - until a cloud finally hid Him from their vision.

How that memory must have been etched forever on the minds of each one who was silently standing in that little olive grove, a place that had become such a setting of significance to our Lord Jesus. He was hidden from their view, but He would never again be gone from their thoughts from that day forward.

As Jesus ascended into heaven, He reminded them of the promised presence of the Holy Spirit Who would come to them a few days hence. How their hearts and minds must have started to pound in hopeful expectation, as they considered those words of Jesus. As we reflect on their plight, we know that the Holy Spirit would be sent to them in 10 days' time. They, however, had to spend those same 10 days exercising faith in Christ and believing His word would come true.

"And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven while Jesus was ascending, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them." God, in His grace, sent two angelic messengers to these men, with information designed to strengthen their hearts and allay any confusion that most likely flooded their minds at the pivotal point in history.

Trust God and keep on trusting. Believe in Christ and keep on believing was the message these heralds were to relate to these disciples. The precious promises and many assurances of His never-failing presence would not fail for His Word is true, but they were to exhibit FAITH in His Word. And so He sent two men, dressed in shining white to comfort His people and remind them that this same Jesus Who had been taken from them into heaven, would one day return in the same manner that they saw Him go into heaven.

What a glorious experience the disciples had that day, as they watched Jesus ascend into heaven and received the message of His return from those two men dressed in white raiment! And how precious is this picture in our minds today, for we too have a time of hopeful expectation on which to train the eyes of our hearts. 

The hope that was placed into the hearts of the disciples on that wondrous ascension morn, kept the expectation of their Lord’s return alive in His disciples' hearts for the rest of their difficult lives. They believed that one day their Lord would return in like manner to take them to be with Himself and to bring in the promised age of peace and prosperity. And one day yet future, the prophecies from Zechariah, Joel, and other Old Testament prophets will finally be fulfilled when Jesus returns at His Second Coming (at the end of the Tribulation Period), to the Mount of Olives to set up His Millennial Kingdom.

Just as the disciples were awaiting the Second Coming of Christ, we in the Church age are eagerly awaiting the Rapture (before the Tribulation Period begins). We do not know how many days will pass before the Church will be "caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air," as Paul foretold. But we know that these things will happen, and that same hope that the disciples had is kept alive in our hearts. With each passing day, we are one day closer to that time when the trumpet will sound, the dead in Christ shall be raised first, and we that are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to be with the Lord forever.

Let us keep watching with eager anticipation: "Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ."

Loving Father, thank You for the hope of our resurrection and rapture knowing that the Lord Jesus is the firstborn from the dead. Because He lives we too will live, and that day He is coming to take us to be with Himself. Thank You for this hope in my heart. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.