who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven.

'WHY STAND YE LOOKING INTO HEAVEN?'-'There seems to be. slight degree of censure implied in these words, and the angels are calling the apostles away from their vain attempt to see the departed Savior one more time.' (Reese p. 16)

'THIS JESUS..SHALL SO COME IN LIKE MANNER'-(1 Thessalonians 4:16). Reese says, 'Note that neither the coming of the Spirit on Pentecost, nor the destruction of Jerusalem, nor the death of the believer, is the "second coming" of Jesus. Jesus himself is to return!' (p. 16)

Points to Note:

1. The practical application of this "rebuke", is that the apostles are not to be "sky-scanners". Looking intently at the sky won't bring Jesus back, nor will it make Him came back that much sooner. 'Their calling was to be witnesses not stargazers.' (Stott p. 51)

2. '"this same Jesus" certainly indicates that his coming will be personal, the Eternal Son still possessing his glorified...body.' (Stott p. 50)

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Old Testament