Bible Study Acts 1:11

[atpollard]

When Jesus ascended...He did it "on a cloud". And Him "coming on clouds" is a reference to the 18th (?) Psalm of David where he described himself as coming on clouds to the Philistines...Meaning war and destruction.

It's those pesky euphemisms and metaphorical expressions of that day in time that elude our speech patterns today.

Acts 1:1-11 [NIV]
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

I do not understand your statement.
Jesus didn't ascend in a metaphorical 'war and destruction' and Acts 1:11 seems to promise a return the same way he left.

I welcome enlightenment.
(I didn't want to drag the other thread off-topic).

 

[Eugene]

.
Act 1:9 And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He (Jesus) was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, . .

I do not know if any can receive this but when Jesus died, He first went into the lower parts of the earth. Who were those of Abraham’s bosom (Elect, those we read of in Heb Chap 11?)? If Jesus first descended was the thief on the cross really in paradise that day? Jesus said He hadn’t ascended to His Father.
Joh 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father (and this the first day of the week?): but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.


1 Pet 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

We later see the Apostle Paul speaking of paradise being up heaven as it were. 2 Cor 12:4 How that he (Paul) was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Could this cloud of witnesses be those receiving Jesus back into heaven after forty days back on earth with the apostles?

When Jesus comes for us in the air, will those that precede us come with Him?

 

[JohnDB]

Going is different from coming. IOW going on a cloud isn't the same as coming on clouds. The cloud Jesus went on was real but the one He was going to return on was metaphorical.

And "Men of Galilee" is an expression of derogatory connotation.

It's all Greek translated from Aramaic speakers...Of the Jewish community. It's not devoid of idiomatic expressions. In fact where they are left in versus translated out is something of a mystery to me at times with the different translations.

 

[smaller]

Trying to understand these matters in terms of physics is a waste of time.

Take a look at variety:

In Mark 13:26 He comes with CLOUDS.
In Matthew 24:27 He comes as LIGHTNING.
In Revelation 16:15 He comes as a THIEF.
In Matthew 25:6 He comes as the BRIDEGROOM.
In Revelation 22:16 and 2:28 He comes as the MORNING STAR.
In Malachi 4:2 He comes as the SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ARISING.
In Philippians 3:20-21 He comes in RESURRECTION POWER.
In 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 He comes in FLAMING FIRE.
In Malachi 3:1-3 He comes to His priesthood company as REFINER'S FIRE and FULLER'S SOAP.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 He comes IN THE AIR.
In Hosea 6:3 and James 5:7-8 He comes as the RAIN.
In Revelation 19:11 & 14 He comes on a WHITE HORSE.
In Matthew 25:31-34 He comes as KING.
In 1 Peter 5:4 He comes as the CHIEF SHEPHERD.
In Matthew 16:27 He comes WITH HIS ANGELS.
In Jude 14 He comes WITH HIS SAINTS.
In John 14:18 He comes TO HIS SAINTS.
In 2 Thessalonians 1:10 He comes IN HIS SAINTS.
In Jude 14 & 15 He comes in JUDGMENT.
In Revelation 22:12 He comes WITH REWARDS.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 He comes with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, with the trump of God.

He comes to the Mount of Olives;
He comes to His temple
He comes in glory

It's a much more interesting and diverse category than we give it credit for.

Physics are laughable by comparisons to the above. What any student will QUICKLY come to realize is that these are Spiritual endeavors of understandings. Physics will not and can not cut the mustard in this subject matter.