"There is no evidence, whatsoever, that Jesus will ever return physically to earth."
This was your response, in arrow brackets:
>>>Act 1:11 They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."<<<
>>>Once in a while you come across a passage that really needs no interpretation ... there are no textual or translation issues ... we just need the courage to accept what it plainly says.<<<
I wholly agree, Dartuser. It takes a lot of courage to accept what it plainly says. It might contradict every thing you have ever learned about the coming of the Lord and the resurrection!
This is what is written, in context:
"And when [Jesus] had spoken these things, while [the disciples] beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, 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 have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:9-11 KJV)
Okay. Where does it say anything other than the Lord would return from heaven in a cloud? Where does it say he "physically returns to earth?" Where does it say he returns to earth, in any manner, or in any way?
I realize those answers will take a lot of courage, Dartuser. Take your time. I am in no hurry.
Now that we are on the subject, is that explanation of the return of the Lord from heaven, from within a cloud, not the same as the way Paul describes the first resurrection?
"For 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 first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1Th 4:16-17 KJV)
They certainly read like they are the same events. Jesus does not return to earth; rather those in Christ rise up to meet him in the air, where they remain with him, forever.
Philip
He departed from the Mount of Olives right? If He comes the same way ... how is it a stretch to believe He will return to the Mount of Olives?
In fact, one of the most significant passages in the OT depicting this coming is in Zechariah 14 ... in which it specifically says He will return to the Mount of Olives.
After His return ... vs 9 And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one.
Do you believe the Lord is king over all the earth today? Is He the only one worshipped? Is His name the only God who is named on the face of the earth?
If you are honest Philip, you must answer 'no' ... and I think you would answer that way. He is not the only one ... there are many false religions, false gods, false teachers today ...
I look forward to the time when He alone will be King over the earth (yes, the earth) ...
Then you and I will agree on everything ... ok, maybe you will still have a different philosophy of the best chess openings for white.
The differences outweight the similarities. And if this is the first resurrection, and it happened in 70 AD, then there were no believers left on the earth after 70 AD. Where did all the believers after 70 AD come from? Where is the record of thousands of believers disappearing off the face of the earth in 70 AD? Who was left to preach the gospel to the world?
Doesn't add up exegetically ... or historically.