HE WILL RETURN

At the end of the forty days he was lifted up and a cloud received him out of their sight. We are not told how high he went. Contrary to the popular concept of him rising high into the sky he just lifted himself up and was received by the cloud into which he disappeared. (Acts 1:9) This was the Cloud of God, NOT a weather cloud. It was the portal through which the Lord appeared and disappeared. He did what he had done during the previous forty days as he appeared and disappeared except this time he did not return. As we have already considered, heaven is not far away but is another dimension close at hand yet invisible to the finite eye. It is said to be "up" but this is not a physical but spiritual elevation. The idea of him ascending high in the sky comes out of our Western expectations of going up to heaven. This is a Gentile concept. Jewish beliefs see heaven here on earth. The disciples were not gazing into the sky but were looking into heaven. Heaven is not in the upper reaches of the atmosphere but very close, in another dimension. When “heaven opens” it is near by, alongside us.
When Stephen was about to die he saw heaven opened and Jesus standing in the glory of God. He was not looking far into the sky but right in front of him. The veil opened so that he could look into the invisible realm. It was like a portal before Stephen and through which he gazed. Heaven is the spirit dimension. When Jesus stepped into it two men in shining robes stepped out of that dimension and appeared to the disciples. They had a message, "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 1:11)
This SAME JESUS, who in risen glory came to his disciples for forty days in his resurrection body, will return in the SAME manner. The same person who died on the cross and rose again will return in his risen body. He will come in the same way he left. He will simply step out of the "cloud" and once more be with his people. When he returns from the invisible realm he will be visible just as he was during the forty days. He will appear to all who love him, to individuals, small groups and to large crowds anywhere in the world. When he comes he will not be confined to an earthly body walking the dusty roads of Israel but will be in a risen body everywhere in the world! He is God and has all Power and Glory of the Godhead. He is also the risen man of glory and as such will be perfectly fitted to live in the realm of earth. His body of glory will have no limits of any kind. He can appear in different forms and in different places. He will be invincible and his disciples will be able to see him and meet with Him. Unbelievers will not be able to enter his presence but believers will and as they do they will meet the Lord, FACE TO FACE, just as Moses did long ago. They will see the King, will be changed to be like him and will never be separated from him.