712
The Desire of Ages
While the disciples were still gazing upward, voices addressed
them which sounded like richest music. They turned, and saw two
angels in the form of men, who spoke to them, saying, “Ye men of
Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which
is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye
[832]
have seen Him go into heaven.”
These angels were of the company that had been waiting in a
shining cloud to escort Jesus to His heavenly home. The most exalted
of the angel throng, they were the two who had come to the tomb at
Christ’s resurrection, and they had been with Him throughout His life
on earth. With eager desire all heaven had waited for the end of His
tarrying in a world marred by the curse of sin. The time had now come
for the heavenly universe to receive their King. Did not the two angels
long to join the throng that welcomed Jesus? But in sympathy and
love for those whom He had left, they waited to give them comfort.
“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them
who shall be heirs of salvation?”
Hebrews 1:14
.
Christ had ascended to heaven in the form of humanity. The
disciples had beheld the cloud receive Him. The same Jesus who had
walked and talked and prayed with them; who had broken bread with
them; who had been with them in their boats on the lake; and who had
that very day toiled with them up the ascent of Olivet,—the same Jesus
had now gone to share His Father’s throne. And the angels had assured
them that the very One whom they had seen go up into heaven, would
come again even as He had ascended. He will come “with clouds;
and every eye shall see Him.” “The Lord Himself shall descend from
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the
trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise.” “The Son of man
shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall
He sit upon the throne of His glory.”
Revelation 1:7
;
1 Thessalonians
4:16
;
Matthew 25:31
. Thus will be fulfilled the Lord’s own promise to
His disciples: “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,
and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
John 14:3
. Well might the disciples rejoice in the hope of their Lord’s
return.
When the disciples went back to Jerusalem, the people looked
upon them with amazement. After the trial and crucifixion of Christ,
it had been thought that they would appear downcast and ashamed.