This study was first taught on February 4, 2018

Topic: The Ascension and The Return

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Background
In our last meeting, we asserted that the Lord Jesus’ primary concern for His disciples, both then and now, is that they make known the gospel of the salvation and deliverance of mankind from the shackles of sin, and self, and from the punishment of God, because of His death on the cross at Calvary.

We were challenged to go and preach to all nations, kindred, tribes, and tongues. There should be no human being that should be deprived the knowledge of the good news of Christ’s salvation and deliverance.

The kingdom the disciples were thinking about was not the kingdom which the Lord has in mind. The kingdom of the Son is not of this world and can only have its citizens through the agency of the preaching the word of the glad tidings of salvation and deliverance because of what Jesus did on the cross at Calvary. We are to preach “Christ and Him crucified”; not pressure people with gimmicks, deceit, and lying wonders as many are doing today, all to get a following.

We noted that we are saved, so that we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives here on the earth. And the Book of the Acts of the Apostles is the story of the Apostles and the Early Christians doing what the Lord had commanded—preaching the word of God, teaching and making disciples, and perpetuating these by replicating same in others.

Scripture Text(s)
Acts 1:9-12
After the Lord had given His last instruction that His disciples wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them before going out to bear witness of the salvation and deliverance the Lord has won for mankind at Calvary, “He (the Lord Jesus Christ) was taken up. And while His disciples were gazing into heaven, two men (actually angels) stood by and said, “Why are you gazing into heaven? This same Jesus … shall come in the same way as you have seen Him go into heaven.””

Today, we shall be looking at the implications for us, about this event and the angels’ statement. May the Holy Spirit open our eyes and understanding to receive truth therefrom, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Just as the birth, life, ministry, death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is true, so also is the Ascension forms a part of what we believe of the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:8-10; 1 Timothy 3:16). Yet the Ascension did not end the work of the Lord Jesus Christ here on the earth. There is yet one major event and that is the Return of the Lord Jesus Christ; and this is our hope in the Lord as Christians (Hebrews 10:32-39).
Acts 1:9; Matthew 24:36-44; Revelation 16:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Acts 1:10-11; 2 Kings 2:11-18; Matthew 24:14; Hebrews 13:8; Galatians 1:6-17; Matthew 25:14, 19; John 14:2-3; Matthew 25:1-13; Luke 12:35-40; Matthew 24:44-51.

Conclusion
The Ascension of the Lord was a real event, and so shall His Return be; therefore;
• Watch Soberly: Keep your eyes on the Lord’s Return, not by star-gazing, neither by fortune-telling, nor by pre-occupying yourself with visions of visitations to heaven and hell; but by going about doing the work He has committed into your hands.
• Work Earnestly: Like those given talents, who applied themselves to its use, work actively, be not slothful.
• Wait Patiently: And if your work is finished, wait patiently for His Return, and be on the alert at all times.

The Lord’s word to us is; Watch soberly, Work earnestly, and, Wait patiently. BE READY AT ALL TIMES; TIME CAN BE UP AT ANYTIME!

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