The Second Coming of Christ is a central tenet of Christian eschatology, anticipated as the future return of Jesus to Earth. The manner of His return is often discussed in light of His ascension, as described in the New Testament. The ascension of Christ provides a framework for understanding how He will return, emphasizing continuity and fulfillment of divine promises.

Ascension of Christ

The ascension of Jesus is recorded in Acts 1:9-11 : "After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.'"

This passage highlights several key aspects of the ascension that inform the understanding of His return:

1. Visible and Personal: Just as the disciples witnessed Jesus' ascension, His return will be visible and personal. Revelation 1:7 affirms this, stating, "Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him."

2. Bodily Return: The ascension was a bodily event, and likewise, His return will be in bodily form. This is consistent with the promise that "this same Jesus" will return, emphasizing the continuity of His physical presence.

3. Clouds as a Symbol: The mention of clouds in both the ascension and the Second Coming signifies divine glory and presence. Daniel 7:13 also references the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven, linking the ascension and return to prophetic fulfillment.

4. Heavenly Origin: Jesus' ascension into heaven underscores His divine authority and origin. His return will similarly be from heaven, as stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 : "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God."

Implications for Believers

The manner of Christ's return, as He ascended, carries significant implications for believers:

· Hope and Expectation: The promise of His return provides hope and encourages believers to live in expectation and readiness. Titus 2:13 speaks of "waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."

· Assurance of Fulfillment: The certainty of His return, as assured by His ascension, reinforces the reliability of God's promises. John 14:3 records Jesus' words: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am."

· Call to Witness: The ascension narrative in Acts 1:8 precedes the description of His return, emphasizing the call to be witnesses "to the ends of the earth." The anticipation of His return motivates the mission of the Church.

In summary, the manner of Christ's Second Coming, as He ascended, is characterized by visibility, bodily presence, divine glory, and heavenly origin. These elements provide a framework for understanding the nature of His return and its implications for the life and mission of believers.Acts 1:9,11
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Departing Christ and the Coming Spirit
... That coming is gain. ... sweep away all his sin and make him righteous as Christ is
righteous ... The one conviction without the other is misery, the second without the ...
/.../the departing christ and the.htm

On the Third Day He Rose Again from the Dead; He Ascended into ...
... almost equal to that about the second traveller to ... in the constant, present, till
His coming again].' This ... authority as the Father had sent Christ, does He ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xvii on the third.htm

Twenty-Second Day. In Christ Our Sanctification.
... Twenty-second Day. In Christ our Sanctification. ... He makes holy by coming near. ... Just
think, Christ, God's own Son, made to be sanctification to you. ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/twenty-second day in christ our.htm

The Resurrection of Christ; his Last Interview with his Disciples ...
... be directed, is the certainty of his second coming; for this ... of the character and
doctrine of Jesus Christ. ... In the second place, Christians may place unbounded ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture i the resurrection of.htm

Was, Is, is to Come
... Ascension was not only the close of Christ's earthly life ... on earth, can only end
in that coming again of ... Look, in the second place, at the threefold phases of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/was is is to come.htm

Steadfast unto the End
... in the world just prior to the second coming of Christ ... godliness, looking for and
hasting unto the coming of the ... called to mind the words that Christ had spoken ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 52 steadfast unto the.htm

Of the Fourth Degree of the Coming of Christ
... THE SECOND BOOK CHAPTER XXVIII ... His heat, this is the first work, and the new coming,
of this ... Then Christ speaks in ghostly wise within this man, saying: "Go ye ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter xxviii of the fourth.htm

"But if the Spirit of Him that Raised up Jesus from the Dead Dwell ...
... the two fountains of all Christianity, both of the first and second resurrection ...
into a choice stock, and by virtue and sap coming from Christ's death and ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxxi but if the.htm

His Future Work
... also" (John 14:3). He did not tell them in what manner He would keep ... establish the
fact that this promised Kingdom comes with the second coming of Christ. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the work of christ/iii his future work.htm

"To My Father, and Your Father"
... you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye ... who shall come forth from the
grave at His second coming. ... to us on earth the echo of Christ's own wonderful ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 87 to my father.htm

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