Description
When Jesus physically ascended from the Mount of Olives and disappeared into the clouds, the apostles were told by two angels that he will come back in the same way that he left them.
Commentary
During the forty days between his resurrection and his ascension, Luke tells us that Jesus gave many convincing proofs that he was alive, and he spoke about the kingdom of God (v3). In particular, he told the apostles to wait in Jerusalem until they were baptised in the Holy Spirit (v4-5).

The apostles asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" This reflects their Jewish expectations of Messiah's role, based on many Old Testament scriptures. Jesus in no way denies that he will one day restore the kingdom to Israel, but he tells them they 'are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority' (v7). This reflects what he said during the Olivet discourse, that only the Father knows the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36).

Meanwhile in verse 8, Jesus tells them they have a job to do. The Holy Spirit will empower them to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. This reflects another statement from the Olivet discourse, namely that the gospel will be preached to all nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).

Verse 9 describes the ascension, when Jesus is caught up in front of their eyes and disappears from sight in a cloud. In verses 10 to 11, two angels appear as the apostles are gazing upwards and say, "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.” And verse 12 tells us that the ascension took place on the Mount of Olives. This is significant as it matches the location of Messiah's appearing in Zechariah 14:4.

Given that Jesus' ascension was literal, physical and visible, the angels statement that he will return in the same way means that his second coming will also be literal, physical and visible. It appears from the bible that the second coming will occur in at least three stages, the first of which is his return to the Mount of Olives. According to Zechariah 14, this occurs when Jerusalem falls. The fall of Jerusalem marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation (Luke 21:20) when the abomination of desolation is set up (Matthew 24:15). Zechariah 14 indicates that by splitting the Mount of Olives, Jesus provides Jerusalem's refugees with an escape route. Revelation 12:5-6 implies that Jesus will then be caught back up to heaven, while the Jews escape to a place of safety in the wilderness where they will spend the next 1,260 days of the Great Tribulation.
Tags
Places: Mount of Olives
Symbols:
Tags: Second coming appearance, Second coming reverse of the ascension, Jesus comes on the clouds
Jesus Ascends to Heaven
1 I wrote the former account, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach
2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after he had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
3 To the same apostles also, after his suffering, he presented himself alive with many convincing proofs. He was seen by them over a forty-day period and spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God.
4 While he was with them, he declared, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what my Father promised, which you heard about from me.
5 For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him, “Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He told them, “You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.”
9 After he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 As they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood near them
11 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.”
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Mount of Olives (which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away).
(NET)