Taken Up

Jesus stated before the "whole Council" (Mk 14:55) that he was the Christ. Then "tearing his clothes, the high priest said, 'What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy'" (:63-64). Jesus had told them, "'I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Hiim who sent me'" (Jn 6:38). Consequently, everyone who "'believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day'" (:40). Then Jesus replied regarding their reaction, "'Do not grumble among yourselves'" (:43). He continued saying, "'This is the bread which came down out of heaven; . . . he who eats this bread shall live forever'" (:58). Jesus had explained that "no one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, even the Son of Man'" (3:13). Expectedly "His disciples grumbled at this" (6:61) and Jesus asked, "'Does this cause you to stumble?'" (:61). He then elevated the dialog asking, "'What then if you should behold the Son of Man ascending where He was before?'" (:62).

Jesus had gathered his disciples together (Ac 1:4) locally proved by their return "from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem" (:12). He ascended from there accordingly as "He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight" (:9). He did not dematerialize as though he was beamed up. As "they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing two men in white clothing stood beside them" (:10). It's easy to conclude that they were angels, but it says men. "Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; [since] . . . God took him up" (Heb 11:5). Moses "died there in the land of Moab" (Dt 34:5) "but no man knows his burial place to this day" (:6). "There appeared a chariot of fire . . . and Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven" (2Ki 2:11). The men said, "'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'" (Ac 1:11). Consider that he was "lifted up" (:9) and "taken up" (:11) and did not fly up as if he was a super science-fiction character. Consider also that when he comes again "His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives [where he departed from] which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split" (Zec 14:4).