Hi, I'm trying to understand Acts 1 (3-11), which describes Jesus going to heaven. I have some questions... 1. Before he leaves, Jesus says to his apostles: 'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift I told you about, the gift my Father promised'. What exactly is he talking about here, could anyone explain it? 2. Second, the passage describes Jesus as 'going up to heaven' ('and a cloud hid him from their sight'). What does this mean? Why would Jesus fly up into the sky? Heaven obviously isn't in the sky, so why did Jesus do this? 3. The passage describes two men dressed in white who come along after Jesus leaves, who talk about his return. Are these men angels? Any thoughts on this? 4. Just before Jesus leaves, the apostles ask him when God will give the kingdom back to Israel. Jesus replies that the time is not for them to know, but tells them when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, they will be filled with power and will be witnesses for Jesus all over the Earth. I don't quite get this answer. It doesn't seem to relate to the question, or is that just me? Any thoughts on any of these questions would be appreciated!
Ok..I can answer, some things, IMO: 1. He's talking about the Holy Spirit (or Ghost...) which will be received on the day of penticost (sp?). 2.No answer. I guess it could be him symbolizing something...maybe he used it to show that he didn't go to hell...but heaven...:/ 3. I think they're angels. Not sure though. 4. Maybe it symbolizes something? And we hafta interpret it... I know I'm not of much use, but it can give ideas! (except no.1, I'm 100% sure on that one.)
1.I dont know 2.Hevan is beond this earth right?He has to get off the earth first.The could more than likely was likely just passing by Jesus when he was turning back into and invisable angle 3.I dont know 4.It is very related.To be part of the new kingdom his apostles,and everyone else after,will have to talk to people all over the world about Jesus and his messege.
2. If Jesus literally ascended into the sky, even at the speed of light he would still be within our galaxy. Obviously the image is a metaphor, and most likely Jesus ascended into the heaven that is inner space, not outer space.
Thanks for the answers, guys! I'd still like to hear anyone else's answers, if you've got any! I feel this part of The Bible is quite ignored, considering its significance — it's the very last time we see Jesus! I'm trying to make a little more sense of it.
1. Ryupower was correct. This verse is speaking of the gift of the Holy Spirit. 2. At the time he appeared to them, he was still in Spirit form after his death. 3. Yes, the two men were angels. 4. Restoring the kingdom of Israel refers to Christ's second reign on earth, when all of Israel will be saved (according to Romans 11:26). Jesus is evading the question, in a sense, because he was speaking of the future. Since we do not know the exact date and time as to the moment Christ does return on earth, he could not elaborate. As far as him being hidden by a cloud and the angel's statement: "will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven", refers to the actual moment of Christ's second coming. Scripture states that he will descend on a cloud and the remaining believers will be caught up with him in the air (i.e. the rapture).
Thanks, Epiphany! This is all really helping me. It's one passage that I've never really understood but I'm starting to understand it now!
I personally believe that of the "spoken" words of JC, some are approximately accurate, and some are total fabrications used to provide (false) proof of doctrine. I don't think he could have said anything (if the christ crucifixion is a truth). Awful grunts at best. One must understand the extreme pain involved (pain further enhanced by scourging the skin from the back so that as the sufferer pulled and pushed upward using the spikes in the feet and wrists - which were driven into the nerves of the feet and wrists - to take and release breath, the scourged back rasped on the ragged wood of the upright). I think the jesus crucifixion is a very effective tool that grabs people's emotions and sympathy drags them into submitting to christian doctrine. But no-one gives two hoots for the tens of thousands of others similarly crucified by the romans. Just my 2c's Jesus was quickly thrown backward, with His shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire felt for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drove a heavy, square wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Quickly, he moved to the other side and repeated the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flexion and movement. The patibulum was then lifted into place at the top of the stipes, and the titulus reading "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" was nailed into place. The left foot was pressed backward against the right foot. With both feet extended, toes down, a nail was driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees moderately flexed. The victim was now crucified. As Jesus slowly sagged down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating, fiery pain shot along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain. The nails in the wrists were putting pressure on the median nerve, large nerve trunks which traverse the mid-wrist and hand. As He pushed himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, He placed His full weight on the nail through His feet. Again there was searing agony as the nail tore through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of this feet. At this point, another phenomenon occurred. As the arms fatigued, great waves of cramps swept over the muscles, knotting them in deep relentless, throbbing pain. With these cramps came the inability to push Himself upward. Hanging by the arm, the pectoral muscles, the large muscles of the chest, were paralyzed and the intercostal muscles, the small muscles between the ribs, were unable to act. Air could be drawn into the lungs, but could not be exhaled. Jesus fought to raise Himself in order to get even one short breath. Finally, the carbon dioxide level increased in the lungs and in the blood stream, and the cramps partially subsided. http://www.ourcatholicfaith.org/crucifixion.html http://www.konnections.com/Kcundick/crucifix.html
1. The Holy Spirit 2. Don't have the faintest idea, but I don't think you should take this literally. 3. I suppose they are angels because they mostly wear white clothes (check out the story of Easter in Matthew, the Bible says the angels wear clothes 'white as snow' there) 4. Hm...I don't have any relevant answers.
1. An order to things had to be fulfilled. The gift went first to the Jews, and then to the rest of the world. Christ's death and resurrection is symbolized in the planting of a seed and the subsequent growth of 'the full corn in the ear': John 12:24 & Mark 4:28. 2. Jesus walked on water; commanded the wind and the waves. I am comfortable with Him floating or flying, but the wording in the KJV is that he was 'taken' up. We are all aware of UFO phenomena. Some speculate that the sudden appearance of some UFOs is a sign of transdimensional travel. Some claim to have photos of such sudden appearances. Clouds are present. When the two appeared with Christ in the transfiguration, clouds were present; in eschatology, the 'bottomless pit' opens in association to clouds. Heaven may not be necessarily 'up', but it is certainly 'other'. 3. Many people dressed in white - that's the color you have before the dye is applied. However, angels have always appeared at pivotal points in mankind's history to give promtings and direction. Note the question these two ask: why are you just standing there looking up; don't you have things to prepare for? 4. Christ had dealt with that issue before. It seems clear to me that He felt it was more important for them to stay focused on priorities.
