Tonight, I invite you to turn with me to Acts chapter 1. Acts 1, as we read together the first 11 verses, considering verse 11 as our text for this evening. Acts 1, beginning at verse 1, as we give our attention to the reading of the Holy Word of God. In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day He was taken up to heaven after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. After His suffering, He showed Himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of 40 days and spoke about the Kingdom of God. 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. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. So when they met together, they asked Him, Lord, are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? He said to them, It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority, 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. After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 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. Congregation beloved of our Lord Jesus Christ, it may seem strange to you, especially the boys and girls, that tonight on this last Sunday evening before our formal celebration of Christ's birth on Christmas Day, that which we consider Christmas Day, it may seem strange that we would consider this passage of Scripture that talks about our Lord's ascension into heaven. Here we are in the season that celebrates His coming to earth, but we're considering tonight the fact that He went away, His going away. Now we know, of course, that Jesus ascended into heaven after His resurrection, and He did because His ministry on earth in bodily form was finished for now. And by His ascension, He took His seat at the right hand of His Father, Even as Scripture tells us, as believers, are called to seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. But His ascension didn't mean that His work on earth or that His work for earth was finished. Indeed, His work continues down here as He placed it in the hands of His disciples. Now, our focus tonight is not on the ascension event itself, but on the message of the angels to the disciples in the context of this Ascension event. You see, again, as we all know, we make such a big deal out of Christ's birth and we should in the proper way. But there are Christmas programs and there are presents and there are parties and there's traveling and vacations and so much more. As well, His birth is celebrated each and every year maybe because we like to celebrate birthdays. Yet, congregation, if we truly understand the significance of His first coming, then we cannot miss the significance of His second coming. Or did you forget about that? Have you forgotten about that? Do you live your life as if this around us is all there is, or do you live in a way that expects and anticipates and looks forward to the return of our Lord? You see, the biblical record of our Lord's ascension before us tonight anticipates, looks forward to His return. Therefore, we want to consider this Word of God. The angels announce the forgotten advent of the Savior. First of all, we consider the prelude of intensity. And there was intensity, you see, before the angels gave their announcement. And this intensity is seen in both the actions of the disciples as well as in the question of the angels. The angels said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? And verse 10 tells us exactly how the disciples were looking into the sky. They were looking intently. And the idea here is that it was what we might call a dumbfounded look. A look of disbelief at what they had just witnessed. They couldn't believe it. Their eyes were fixed on the sky as if nothing else could draw their attention away. I still remember, as I'm sure many of you do as well, that tragic event back in January of 1986 when the space shuttle Challenger exploded way up in the sky only minutes after liftoff. And that's one of those events in which most people can tell you exactly where they were and exactly what they were doing when they first heard that news. I was sitting in a banking class in downtown Los Angeles when I heard the news. And I'm sure that most of us, if none of us most likely, were there to witness the event up close and in person. But we saw the replay over and over again on the news, on the television, didn't we? And not only did we look close, at least I did, looked close at the TV screen each and every time at the pictures of the sky to see if there was any hope whatsoever of survival. But we also saw the picture of those who were there, those who were on the ground, who witnessed the event firsthand as they watched in disbelief. They just gazed up. They couldn't figure out and believe exactly what it was that they were seeing. And I think the attack on the World Trade Center buildings a couple of years ago was the same kind of situation as people on the ground really just watched in disbelief as they saw the fires coming out of the buildings even before they fell. I know for myself too, I watched the TV screen intently to watch in the distance as the planes that you could tell were going to hit the buildings were coming. We gaze. The gaze of the disciples here in the text is somewhat the same as the gaze recorded in Acts 7, verse 55. And there we read that as Stephen was being stoned to death, it says, but Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. You see, His eyes were fixed upon the open heavens and no stone, no matter how painful it might be against His body, no stone could draw His attention away from the sight of God the Father and God the Son, Stephen's Savior. The difference is that Stephen would shortly be in the very presence of God, but that wasn't the case for the disciples at this particular time in this text. The idea here is also that they were looking intently as if Christ was going to reappear at any moment. That's kind of what they expected the idea is. They expected He was going to come back. But the question of the angels pointed to the fact that He wasn't going to come back right away. Why do you stand here looking into the sky? What are you doing this for? As if to say, you're wasting your time. The cloud had hidden Christ from their eyes. Now we know that in Scripture, in many cases, a cloud was a sign of God's presence. There was a cloud that led the Israelites by day in the wilderness. The cloud as well that came down to surround the tabernacle when Moses went to meet with God. The cloud that came down on the Mount of Transfiguration. Now the disciples didn't see Christ physically take His seat on the throne at the right hand of God. the Father, but the cloud was a barrier between heaven and earth. It was a symbol of that reunion between heaven and earth. To be sure, the disciples had faith. But up until this time, we might say it had been a faith exercised according to what they had seen. They walked and they talked with Jesus. They saw His amazing miracles. But now, now the time had come that their faith must take on an even greater character as Hebrews 11 verse 1 says, Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. The angels confirmed what had just taken place. This same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven. Indeed, Jesus had gone to heaven, but you are still here. You are still here. The angels addressed them as men of Galilee. They are men of this earth. That is, they are still here and they have work to do. And the angels verify this through the proper identification. As they announce the forgotten advent, they say, this same Jesus. In the Greek, the emphasis is on the word this. In other words, the angels are saying this very one, not another, but this one and only Jesus. This Jesus who had walked and talked with them, who taught them many wonderful things, who healed the sick and raised the dead and cast out demons. This very same One is in focus here. Not another. But there's so much more that can be said about this same Jesus. This One who has been taken up into heaven was the One who was crucified, died, and was buried. He was the One who gave His life on Calvary's tree to endure the wrath and the punishment of God and pay for our sins. He was the one who rose again on the third day and appeared to His disciples in His glorified body. He was the one who told them that He must go away for a time in order for the Comforter to come to them. And beloved, this same Jesus that we celebrate as a baby born in Bethlehem, this very same Jesus has now taken His place in heaven to continue His work for His people on earth. What is that work? John 14 tells us that He's busy preparing rooms in His Father's house for each and every believer. And through His Holy Spirit, He gives us, here on earth, He gives us aid in times of temptation. He purifies our consciences. He sanctifies His people in preparation for the next life. He preserves His people as we travel this life, this veil of tears, as the older version of the Catechism calls this life. He is our prophet, priest, and king. And as king, he rules and protects and governs his church as well as has all of the forces of heaven, all of the angel hosts under his command. He also exercises authority over all the enemies and powers that are hostile to the kingdom of God. As priest, he is continually presenting his complete sacrifice to the Father as the only sufficient basis for his pardoning grace that we pray for each and every day. And as well, he continues as our advocate, interceding on our behalf. And as prophet, through his Holy Spirit, he not only continues to teach, but he continues to apply the knowledge and truth of God's Word to the hearts and lives of his people. You see, beloved, by his ascension, Jesus Christ opened to us all the treasures of heaven. It's for us. And this then fits with the work the disciples were called to do. In the power of the Holy Spirit, the disciples were to be, as verse 8 says, His witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. As well, Jesus said, Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. The question of the angels, why do you stand here looking into the sky, was a reminder to get to work. Doing what this same Jesus had given them to do. They were to witness to His power and His authority over demons, over sickness, over death, over the grave. They were to witness to His death, His resurrection, His ascension. And their witness was to include the fact that Christ did not abandon the earth as some claim He did. Instead, He took it with Him in His resurrected body. He reunited heaven and earth which had been a union that had been severed in the Garden of Eden because of sin. And they were to witness as well to our comfort even today as the Catechism rightly says that by His ascension we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that He as the Head will also take us, His members, up to Himself. But the task of the angels was more than just a reminder for the disciples to get back to work. Their task included revealing something to the disciples to reveal to them the promise of His return. And this was also to be a significant part of their witness. That He's coming again. And as well, it was a challenge to them. 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. He's coming again. He gave you work to do. And when He comes again, will He find that you've done it? You're not going to get it done by standing here looking at the clouds all day. Get to work. Just as the stewards in the parable, Christ will call each one to give an accounting of what He did with what He was given. And what a difference there will be, beloved, between His first and His second advents. He came the first time in humility and shame. When He comes again, it will be in exaltation and glory. His first coming was somewhat silent, although there was the fanfare of the chorus of the angels to the shepherds, and later on there were the wise men. But the second time, every eye will see Him and every knee will bow before Him. Unbelievers in terror, but believers in worship and adoration. The first time He came in disgrace, but next time He will come in glory as the righteous judge of all. But also, and make no mistake about it, He will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven. The very same way. Jesus Himself warned against being led astray by false Christs. In Matthew 24, beginning at verse 23, it says, At that time, if anyone says to you, Look, here is the Christ, or there He is, do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect, if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, There He is, out in the desert, do not go out. For here He is in the inner rooms. Do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. The angel's announcement was that there would be no mistake about the Lord's return and it would not be secret. There would not be some secret rapture while some are taken, but many others would be left behind. The lightning can be seen throughout the whole sky and so will Christ's second coming be seen throughout the sky. 1 Thessalonians 4, verse 16 says, For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. Nothing silent about that. Only glorious. And beloved congregations, Scripture is clear about what will take place when Christ comes again. As Matthew 25 teaches us, when the Son of Man comes in His glory and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him and He will separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And these, the goats, will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous, the sheep, into eternal life. Beloved, do we really understand and believe that Jesus Christ is coming again? Do we really? And do our lives show that we believe Him? And when He comes, do we really understand that it will be too late for those who did not believe on Him? Believers will be ushered into everlasting glory because their sins have been atoned for and Christ has covered them with His righteousness. But unbelievers will be cast forever into the bottomless pit of eternal fire in hell because of their own sin. See, there is a connection between Christ's first coming and His second coming. When He came the first time, He conquered sin and Satan and hell for His people. But the second time, He will put Satan and sin and all unbelievers away forever in the pit of hell. This is the fact, and it's the truth of God's Word. Of course, we don't know when Christ is coming again. We don't know when He's coming again. But He is coming. So we must urgently consider the question, how are we preparing for His return? Maybe we should first ask, are we preparing for Christ's return? Are we living for that day? Or are we simply living for today and that which this life affords us? You see, the fact that Christ is coming again, that does not mean that this life and our work in this life is meaningless. Not at all. But the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is that which truly gives meaning to this life and our work in this life. The Old Testament church anxiously looked forward to Christ's first coming. Do we anxiously look forward to His second advent or is it forgotten by us? We must confess that this life is good, isn't it? Especially here, it is so good. Do we really want it to end? Jesus said in Matthew 24, verse 42, Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But He also said, even though we do not know what hour, He also said in verse 44, Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Be ready. By God's grace, we are to be ready by seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness. We are called to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding and in all our ways acknowledge Him and He will direct our paths. Yes, beloved, we are to have our own spiritual life in order by the grace of God. Ecclesiastes 12, verses 13 and 14 says, Now all has been heard. Here is the conclusion of the matter. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. We know that a bride takes special care to prepare herself for her wedding. She does everything necessary to prepare for her groom. Our bridegroom is coming. And again, as Pastor Donovan beautifully taught us last week, our comfort is that the bridegroom, Jesus Christ Himself, is preparing His bride, the church, for His coming. And may it be our comfort, may we be comforted by the fact that He will leave no detail undone. But we are also called upon to prepare for Christ's return by urging others to prepare. The Gospel message is to go forth from our lips, each one of us, to our children, to our friends, in the workplace, as well as overseas. You see, to fail to tell unbelievers that the righteous judge is coming and that if they don't repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, they will suffer in the fire of eternal hell. To fail to tell them is like failing to tell someone in this life about a danger they don't see like a rattlesnake in the grass. And that danger will kill them if they don't take action. Beloved, only a few eyes witnessed the newborn king in Bethlehem's manger. But every eye will see the reigning king on heaven's clouds. Will you be surprised and terrified at His coming? Or will you be ready and rejoicing? You see, we are called to live in preparation and expectation. Because Jesus is coming again. See, for so many years, almost 2,000 years after the birth of our Lord, the world has been celebrating Christ's first advent. We never miss a year. It's time to start celebrating in anticipation His second advent. The baby born in a manger is given so much recognition. How much more should we recognize the King who is on His heavenly throne? As we come together in a particular way this week to worship and adore the newborn King, may we not forget, but may we see in Him the reigning and the coming King. Amen. Shall we pray? Father, what are we to say but to beg of You to prepare us, to prepare our hearts for the day our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. Whether it be through death to this life or whether it be at that time that You have ordained from before the foundation of the world that He will come again to judge the living and the dead. Lord God, make us ready. May we not have the attitude that says, I'll worry about that later. But may we consider it now and have the joy, the joy even at this moment of what it means that Jesus Christ is coming again. Help us to live in such a way, O Lord, that anticipates and looks forward to His coming. That we might live this life in the name of Jesus Christ to the fullest, to the glory of God. Indeed, looking forward to that day when we see Him come on the clouds of heaven. Father, hear our prayer for Jesus' sake and in His name alone, Amen. Thank you.