Dec 4
So we need the power of they received in Acts. The power of the holy spirit that came upon them all through the book of Acts was offered to all the believers and even the Gentiles in chapter 10! This holy spirit is the witness, that testifies, manifest, shows the evidence that Christ is really here with us and in us today.
Luke wrote the account of Jesus ministry from His birth to His death and resurrection from death! And then Luke continues in the book of Acts to show how the Risen Christ ascended but continues to live in His new Body which is us the assembly of believers from all ends of the earth.
Here is the account Luke gave of the ascension of Jesus to Heaven.
Act 1:9
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
What things?
- He commanded them not to leaver Jerusalem
- Wait (there) for the promise of the Holy Spirit
- They heard this promise from Jesus as it was recorded in John 14-16)
This was the “Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Ghost, Pnuma Hagion,
- He told them it was the baptism not of water but Holy Spirit (Pnuema Hagion) in not many days (Pentecost)
- The disciples asked Him if He would restore Israel at this time and He did not give them the answer the wanted (a restored earthly Israel)
- Instead He promised the potential power of the Holy spirit to build His kingdom of Israel unto the furthest corners of the earth.
These final instructions were key to the continuity of the ministry of Christ from heaven
When they received the Holy spirit on Pentecost they knew by experience that God was in them and they were in God. But before Luke gives the details of the day of Pentecost he gives us the detail of how Jesus ascended.
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
He was lifted up as they watched. He was lifted up from the earth and welcomed to heaven in a cloud. Away from their sight.
1. No one knows the hour or day
The disciples wanted to know when Jesus would come and he replied, “I don’t know” (see Matt 24:36). Evidently the disciples had a hard time accepting this, because after he rose from the dead they asked him again. In other words, “I still don’t know and it’s none of your business.” The timing of the Lord’s coming is the Father’s business. Paul wrote of the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ “which God will bring about in his own time” (1 Tim 6:15).
Clouds have always been as symbol and cannot be literal clouds. The clouds are mentioned to be where God lives in Heaven. And Angels arrive with the coming of Jesus Christ. That makes sense to me. The angels are ministering spirits and guard for Christ and His Body (US) And Clouds are where God symbolically lives in Heaven.
There is a confusion about he “comings of Christ” and so much bad teaching we have heard about it for 2000 years. He is not coming soon but “quickly” He will come announced but His return to earth may be 2022 or 20, 022 AD we do not know and even Jesus doesn’t know the time. It is when God say to Him”GO”
But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father
Every coming is a going. When we come to a place we have left from another. We are confused about the “comings” in the scripture because we forget is Jesus coming to earth or coming to the Father in heaven? IS He going to heaven or is He going to the earth.
Interesing how the vision given about the Messiah way back in Genesis spoke of an exchange between Heaven and Earth.
Gen 28:12
And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
This ladder is Jesus. This ladder is the bridge bringing Heaven to Earth.
And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Clouds are not literal and must be understood as figures and symbols of a greater reality than H2O vapor.
These were symbols of the presence of God on a mountain in the first encounter of Moses and God Deut 4:11. When Lucifer wanted to ascend to take Gods place, Gods place was in the clouds Is 14:14. When the disciples saw the transfiguration of Christ they say God and a cloud, because symbolized Gods place in Heaven where He resides. Mat 17:5; Mar 9:7; Luk 9:34-35. And when
And when Christ returns finally to restore the earth he will arrive with his angels and in clouds. We will be taken away from all death to live with Him for ever. Let heaven invade this earth and it will be a new heaven and earth! 1 Thes 4:17
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
So here is the fulfillment of Daniel:
Dan 7:13
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
This verse is translated not so well in my opinion. Looking at the Septuagint it reads
“I viewed in a night vision, look! With the clouds of heaven, the son of man was coming, and unto the Ancient of days (Father) He (Jesus) came, and before Him (God the Father) He (Jesus) was brought.”
Jesus did not come with the clouds but came to the clouds that surround God, the ancient of Days. The clouds are always around God not the Son in the scriptures. As when God appeared to the disciples on the mount at the vision of the transfiguration. Mat 17:5; Mar 9:7; Luk 9:34-35.
And as we see Jesus welcomed home to Father this was the vision of Daniel fulfilled!
After he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight.
To him was given ruling authority, honor, and sovereignty. All peoples, nations, and language groups were serving him. His authority is eternal and will not pass away. His kingdom will not be destroyed.
And once Christ was seated in the heavens at the right hand of the “Ancient of days” He began to rule His kingdom from heaven through his faithful disciples on earth until his return. Acts tell us this story as the kingdom started to unfold on earth and will be completed when He returns again with his angelic entourage and clouds of heaven. Let thy kingdom come! Thy will be done on earth as on heaven!
As they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood near them
The disciples were without a clue and ready for more instruction. They were looking to where the last saw their Master disappear…in the sky. But two men in white clothing appeared ….these were angels.
and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.”
So instead of wasting time looking at nothing, the obeyed the last word of Jesus on earth…..they went to Jerusalem. And it is a good things they did because the received the promise of the Farther the holy spirit.
So then, exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you both see and hear.
For this reason it is by faith so that it may be by grace, with the result that the promise may be certain to all the descendants – not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
The Holy spirit or Christ “living in you” is the promise of the Father and has always been
All promises are included in this one promise.
And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
And we proclaim to you the good news about the promise to our ancestors,
that this promise God has fulfilled to us, their children, by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son; today I have fathered you.’
And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors,
a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve God night and day. Concerning this hope the Jews are accusing me, Your Majesty!
The promise and covenant God had to Adam, to Noah, to Abraham was His seed and the promised seed was Christ. This is the promise of the Father not Israel.
Truth Prospector 