'This Same Jesus'

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. - Acts 1:9-11

    These three verses of Holy Scripture are both solemn and delightful, instructive and practical. They speak of the glorious ascension and second advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. Having finished his work upon the earth (John 19:30), our Lord Jesus, the God-man, ascended into heaven and assumed his rightful place upon the throne of God, as King of kings and Lord of lords (John 17:1-5; Rom. 14:9; Phil. 2:5-11; Heb.1:3; 10:12-14). In the same way, when he has finished his work in heaven, our Saviour will come again to this earth in power and great glory (Rev.1:7; 19:11-17; 1Thess.4: 13-18; 2 Thess. 1:8-10; John 14:1-3). Here are four things that are of paramount importance.

    1. The Lord Jesus Christ has ascended into heaven

    'And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight' (1:9; Luke 24:50-52). What is the meaning of the ascension? Why was the Lord Jesus taken up into heaven? What happened to the Son of God when he went back to glory clothed in human flesh? What is he doing in heaven? All these questions are plainly answered in the Word of God. Read the answers for yourself (Ps. 2:6-8; 68:17-20; 110:1-4; Isa. 53:10-12; John 16:7; Acts 2:25-36;4:1l-12;5: 30-32; Eph.4:8-12; Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 10:12-14).

    Christ Jesus ascended back into heaven to claim his rightful place as King of the universe (Dan. 7:13-14). The Father's reward to the Son for his mediatorial obedience as our substitute is dominion over all things (Ps. 2:8). God the Father has put all things into the hands of, and under the rule of, Jesus Christ, the God-man. In heaven the Son of God is carrying on his great intercessory work as our Advocate and High Priest. Entering into heaven with his own blood, he sat down upon the throne of God, having obtained eternal redemption for us (Heb. 9:12). By virtue of that blood he offers continual intercession for his redeemed people (Rom. 8:34; 1John 2:1-2). And through the virtue of his blood all the blessings of grace are bestowed upon God's elect (Eph. 1:3-6).

    The exalted Christ has claimed and taken possession of heaven as the forerunner of his people (Heb. 6:14,16-20). He has claimed all the inheritance of heaven's glory for all God's elect, for all for whom his blood was shed, for all who will believe on him.

    Our Saviour took his place upon the throne of glory to secure the everlasting salvation of all his redeemed ones. He reigns in life to save those he purchased in death (Rom. 5:10). He rules all things for the salvation of his people (John 17:2; Rom. 8:28). In a word, Christ has gone to prepare a place in the Father's house for all his adopted sons and daughters, and he will bring them there.

    2. The Lord Jesus Christ is coming again

    'And while they looked steadfastly 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' (1:10-11). God sent two angels with this word of promise to his beloved children upon the earth, so that we might constantly live in antic potion of it—Christ is coming again! This promise ought to cheer our hearts, enliven our souls and encourage our hope. God has not told us when Christ is coming. He does not intend us to know the time of our Lord's appearing. But the second advent of Christ is a matter of certainty. It should be, to every believer, a matter of imminent expectancy (Heb. 9:26-28; Zech. 14:4,5,9; Matt. 16:27; 24:27; John 14:1-3;Phil. 3:20; 1Thess.4:16; 2Tim.4:8;Titus 2:13; James5:7-8;Jude 14;Rev.1:7; 22:20). Here are four things revealed in the Scriptures about the Lord's coming:

    1. Christ's second coming will be a personal, bodily advent (Rev. 1:7).

    2. It will be a glorious appearing (2 Thess. 1:7-10).

    3. It will be the consummation of our salvation (Rom. 13:11; Eph. 1:14).

    4. Our Lord will appear suddenly, without warning, as a thief in the night (1 Thess. 5:1-6).

    3. Our Lord's second advent will be the climatic consummation of God's eternal purpose (3:19-21; 1 Cor. 15:24-28)

    From a careful reading of the Scriptures it appears that once our Lord Jesus appears in his second advent everything after that will happen with great speed. With great swiftness, the Lord God will wrap up his work among men. The resurrection of the dead, the judgement, the conflagration of the earth and the new creation, the final separation of the righteous and the wicked—all seem to take place in a matter of moments!

    There will be a general resurrection (John 5:28-29). The dead will be raised. The living saints will be changed, translated in a moment and gathered out of the earth. All men will stand before God and be judged by him. According to the strict standards of inflexible justice, everyone will receive exactly what is his due. The righteous, made righteous by grace, will inherit glory. The wicked will be cast into hell.

    There will be a great regeneration (2 Peter 3:9-14). Our God will indeed make all things new! There will be a new heavens and a new earth where nothing dwells but righteousness!

    There will be a global reconciliation (Rev. 5:13). The Lord God will demonstrate to all creation how that all creation has served his purpose and brought glory to him.

    Then there will be a glorious rest (Heb. 4:9). The triune God and all the countless multitude of his elect will enter into an eternal sabbath. In heaven's glory we shall rest from all our troubles and from all our works. There we shall worship our God perfectly, serve him without labour and love him completely!

    4. The one who is coming for us is 'this same Jesus'!

    The angelic messengers assure us that our Lord will never forget his people. The one coming to bring us home to glory is the very same Jesus who died to redeem us. 'This same Jesus', who is full of love and sympathy, who brought in everlasting righteousness, who has gone into heaven for us, who now appears in the presence of God for us, who sits upon the throne of universal dominion, ruling all things for us—'this same Jesus' is coming again!