I have been enjoying the on-line discussions I have started with Angela and Debby in the book of Acts. If you missed our first discussion question it can be found here: http://wp.me/p39vIx-Ei
Now onto our next question from Acts:
The Bible says that after his final teaching Jesus ascended into Heaven.
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.” Acts 1:9-11
The last thing the angels tell the witnesses to the ascension is that Jesus will come again. That second coming is described in Zechariah and Revelation.
“A day of the Lord is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls.
2 I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. 3 Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5 You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake[a] in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.” Zech. 14:1-5
“Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.”
Imagine the emotions being experienced by the disciples during the ascension. How would you feel if you were there?
Now imagine being a witness to the return of Jesus. How will you feel on that day? What do you imagine the emotions of others you know will be? What feelings does this motivate inside of you?
Lillie-Put 
I think the feelings I would have upon His ascension would of abandonment and dismay. My heart would be wondering how can He leave us now, especially now? And on His second coming I would be having feelings of great joy and great sadness. The feelings of other Christians(born-again) would probably be I guess close to my feelings but for most of my family it would be one of disbelief and even some anger to the revelation of what is really going on. I truly hope the later. The feelings I am getting of motivation is “the need for speed.” We need to be bold witnesses so that none will parish.
Yes I do wonder about the sense of shock that the disciples might have felt that day. I also wonder when the shock will set in if at all about our missing loved ones when we get to Heaven after the rapture if at all.How do you think sadness is expressed by the saints in Heaven during that time of the tribulation?
I think during the time of tribulation the saints in Heaven will express their sadness by pouring it out in fervent prayer for those left behind. Praying and hoping they choose Jesus this time around.
Oh that is a great point Deb. I actually never thought of how much intercession we may be doing in Heaven during the Tribulation period. I think many times I think I may be totally unaware of what is going on on Earth but your words have made me wonder. How much will I be crying out for mercy as God takes the seals off of the scroll of His wrath?
Thank you Joseph for this exercise in how we see ourselves reacting. On that day, in the flesh there would have been that momentary panic in the flesh of what will I do now as I search my feeble memory banks for what He had told me.. That panic was suddenly washed away by the remembrance of this Jesus just arose into the clouds before my very eyes. If He could do that He was who He said He was and He and His Father will do as they promised.
He will come again, as the angels told us it is time to get busy doing His work. We can’t only gaze but we need to be about the Father’s business.
I hope to be prepared for battle on the day of His return. My flesh will most likely experience panic again yet my heart, I pray, will be equipped by what the Holy Spirit has written into stone in my soul. That I will stand up in that day to praise His name and comfort His people. I am sure there will be wrath and the search for logical explanations from the unbelievers who will continue to deny Him even in His presence and I pray I will be bold and prepared to sing a new song of praise to the accompaniment of His roaring sounds.
I am motivated to have the LORD prepare my heart and to grant me His power to overcome my flesh and trust in His Spirit to be prepared and to prepare others for that day that is most certainly coming.
Thanks Joseph…hope to continue on this study:)
Hi Tom! I am so glad you joined in the conversation! Your recognitions of the supernatural power of Jesus show great insight. I think you are right; In the moment I would have panicked but hopefully the conversations I would have had with Jesus in John 16 and acts chapter 1:4 would have equipped me with enough truth to calm my panic. Here is a thought though…not all 500 of the people present were privy to those teachings in John 13-17 or even in the 1st chapter of Acts. I wonder how much understanding they actually had about what was going on.
I think it will be like that at the end of time too. So many people are being brainwashed today towards the idea of being met by alien races I wonder if they will not misunderstand the coming of JEsus as first contact and will see it therefore as a hostile take over.
>> How will you feel on that day?
Will there be time to feel anything? “In a moment – in the twinkling of an eye” I am waiting and watching, but I think my only thought will be to SEE Jesus and praise Him.
>> What do you imagine the emotions of others you know will be?
Sheer and utter panic as so many disappear. Sadly, some will realise that what we have told them was true – but too late for them!
>> What feelings does this motivate inside of you?
Time is running out (for them). I must be constantly tuned in to Holy Spirit, and always ready to tell of the Good News of a Saviour.
(I know you are referring to the Second Coming but I have chosen to answer in respect of Jesus’ coming for His own as in 1 Thess 4:16-17)
Yes I believe that the rapture will be the first time of panic. The panic will quickly be quelled in most though I believe by a firm hand in government (antiChrist). The panic will be renewed when He comes to Earth and sets His feet upon the Mount of Olives. My hope is that any of my loved ones left behind will have come to believe on Jesus by that time.