There are those who doubt CHRIST JESUS was resurrected, and yet, there are documented eyewitness accounts, not only to HIS appearing to over 500 after HE died in the flesh, but to HIS ASCENSION! Christianity was borne, and is NOT premised upon FAITH alone, nor on tales, and fables, instead on THE TRUTH THAT our LORD DID die in the flesh, WAS resurrected, and ASCENDED before numerous witnesses!!!
During the forty days that HE remained on Earth before HIS ASCENSION, HE spent time with HIS people; the Disciples/Apostles, and HIS followers; exhorting, and continuing to teach them, explaining their work to them, and even telling them of the things they would suffer in HIS name; as well as, a matter of course, HE GAVE them THE GIFT of THE HOLY SPIRIT, which is TRUE Baptism...
1+++The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach,
2+++until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.
3+++To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.
4+++Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of 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 come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
7+++He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;
8+++but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
9+++And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10+++And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.
11+++They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
They were earnest in asking about that which their Master never had directed or encouraged them to seek. Our Lord knew that his ascension and the teaching of the Holy Spirit would soon end these expectations, and therefore only gave them a rebuke; but it is a caution to his church in all ages, to take heed of a desire of forbidden knowledge. He had given his disciples instructions for the discharge of their duty, both before his death and since his resurrection, and this knowledge is enough for a Christian. It is enough that He has engaged to give believers strength equal to their trials and services; that under the influence of the Holy Spirit they may, in one way or other, be witnesses for Christ on earth, while in heaven he manages their concerns with perfect wisdom, truth, and love.
When we stand gazing and trifling, the thoughts of our Master's second coming should quicken and awaken us: when we stand gazing and trembling, they should comfort and encourage us. May our expectation of it be stedfast and joyful, giving diligence to be found of him blameless.
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