“They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘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.’” – Acts 1:10-11 “Jesus died for our sins, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and sent the promised Holy Spirit, ushering in the Church Age. The work of the Church is to spread the good news of Jesus and extend his kingdom, so that more and more people will come in. The Church Age will end when Jesus comes the second time. When he was here on earth, Jesus himself said that he is coming again at an hour when we are not expecting him. And when he ascended to heaven, two angels appeared to the disciples and proclaimed that he would return. Jesus was born in weakness in a manger when he came the first time. He knew what it was to be tired; and at the end of his life on earth, he suffered a cruel death on a cross. When he returns, there will be no more manger or beatings or mocking or cross of Calvary. He is coming back to establish his kingdom as King of kings and Lord of lords. There will be a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness will prevail and time will be no more; and there will be a dwelling place for us. There will be no more Satan or temptation or crime or abuse or cursing or hatred or death; and there will be no more tears. Our Lord’s second coming is the Blessed Hope of the Church. No wonder the Bible ends with the words, ‘Come, Lord Jesus.’” – Pastor Cymbala