2. REVIEW FROM PREVIOUS WEEKS - The UNIQUE Hope of Our Faith Is Called “Resurrection” - Because of Resurrection, We Have Victory Over Death - Jesus’ resurrection was a REAL event with REAL evidence for it - Resurrection Isn’t JUST About ME, but TOTAL transformation!

4. ACTS 1:1-10 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 presented Himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive…

5. ACTS 1:1-10 He appeared to them over a period of forty 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…

6. ACTS 1:1-10 For John baptized withwater, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Then they gathered around Him and 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…

7. ACTS 1:1-10 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…

8. ACTS 1:1-10 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.”

9. A FEW QUICK OBSERVATIONS… - Luke is the author of Acts; he was both a physician & a historian

10. A FEW QUICK OBSERVATIONS… - Luke is the author of Acts; he was both a physician & a historian - Theophilus’ identity is unknown; Literally means “friend of God”

11. A FEW QUICK OBSERVATIONS… - Luke is the author of Acts; he was both a physician & a historian - Theophilus’ identity is unknown; Literally means “friend of God” - To properly understand what’s going on here, we need a proper understanding of the picture being painted for us (i.e. the cloud & going “up” into “heaven”)

12. :: CIRCLE B ::The Bodily,Natural,PhysicalWorld :: CIRCLE A ::The Spiritual,Supernatural,Non-PhysicalWorld Gnosticism was/is a faith system that,among other things, supports the idea thateverything found in CIRCLE A is GOOD & to be pursued,while everything in CIRCLE Bis BAD & to be shunned

13. :: CIRCLE B ::The Bodily,Natural,PhysicalWorld :: CIRCLE A ::The Spiritual,Supernatural,Non-PhysicalWorld It is a Greek way of understanding reality,seeing the “spiritual” world as NON-PHYSICAL & GOOD& the “natural” world as PHYSICAL & BAD;it sees these two realities as utterly separate,where we must escape the ONEto enjoy the OTHER

14. God’sSpace OurSpace Judeo-Christian theology & philosophy see these as“interlocking” or “overlapping” realities;similar-yet-unique, separate-yet-connected

15. God’s God’sSpace OurSpace Creation Both are seen as equally GOOD “spaces”of BODILY existence (other than God Himself)WITHIN the sphere of God’s CREATION

16. From C.S. Lewis’The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian(Aslan’s “Door In The Air”)

17. So With That In Mind, What Does ItMEAN When We See The“Cloud” & Jesus Goes “Up” in to “Heaven”?

18. THE SYMBOLISM OF “CLOUD” IMAGERY IN SCRIPTURE REPRESENTS GOD’S PRESENCEThe Pillar of Cloud Before Israel(Exodus 13 & 14) The Cloud Covering Mt. Sinai(Exodus 19 & 24) The Cloud Filling The Temple(1 Kings 8)

19. THE SYMBOLISM OF “CLOUD” IMAGERY IN SCRIPTURE REPRESENTS GOD’S PRESENCEGod’s presence is ushering Jesusinto the glory of heaven, for now…

20. THE SYMBOLISM OF “CLOUD” IMAGERY IN SCRIPTURE REPRESENTS GOD’S PRESENCEGod’s presence is ushering Jesusinto the glory of heaven, for now… GOD’S PRESENCE IS AVAILABLEWhat Jesus did on the cross, with theveil in the Temple being torn in two,makes God’s presence available toEVERYONE, WHEREVER they are!

21. THE SYMBOLISM OF “CLOUD” IMAGERY IN SCRIPTURE THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTIONIs NOT that we will one day live in the clouds, plucking harps & engaging in a never-ending sing-along, but that we will have a meaningful, BODILY existence HERE on earth, with God’s unhindered presence surrounding & empowering our lives FOREVER!

22. THE MEANING OF “UP” IN THIS PASSAGE NOT MEANT AS A TRAJECTORYAs if, were we to go “up” high enough,we would eventually span the distance & reach the “location” He ascended to

23. THE MEANING OF “UP” IN THIS PASSAGE NOT MEANT AS A TRAJECTORYAs if, were we to go “up” high enough,we would eventually span the distance & reach the “location” He ascended to REPRESENTS GOD’S SPACEJesus’ “Ascension” is one of Godushering Him from “our” spaceinto “God’s” space, for the time being…

24. THE MEANING OF “UP” IN THIS PASSAGE UPSTAGES THE ROMAN CULTHighlights that Jesus is the “reality” & the (false) Roman “gods” are just a parody…

25. THE MEANING OF “UP” IN THIS PASSAGE THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTIONIs NOT that we will one day leave “our space” to go up/away to “God’s space” forever, but that one day Jesus will return to bring “God’s space” into union with “our space” forever…THAT is the fully realized KINGDOM that awaits us!

26. THE MEANING OF “HEAVEN”IN SCRIPTURE NOT OUR ETERNAL DESTINATIONHeaven isn’t a separate location where we’re intended to live forever, but as a TEMPORARY one…

27. THE MEANING OF “HEAVEN”IN SCRIPTURE NOT OUR ETERNAL DESTINATIONHeaven isn’t a separate location where we’re intended to live forever, but as a TEMPORARY one… LIFE AFTER DEATHMost commonly, “heaven” is seen as a TEMPORARY “paradise” where we enjoy the presence of God AFTER we die, but PRIOR to OUR resurrection

28. THE MEANING OF “HEAVEN”IN SCRIPTURE THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTIONIs NOT “Life-after-death,” but rather “Life-AFTER life-after-death” –where the time of restful “paradise” comes to an end & the time of meaningful, active BODILY existence in the heaven-united-with-earthKINGDOM-of-God begins!

30. So What IsJesus Doing NOW, After His Ascension & Before Our Resurrection?!

31. THE ASCENSION MINISTRY:WHAT JESUS IS DOING NOW! HE IS SEATED TO REIGN(Hebrews 1:3) AND HE IS NOT ALONE!(Ephesians 2:6)

32. THE ASCENSION MINISTRY:WHAT JESUS IS DOING NOW! HE IS SEATED TO REIGN(Hebrews 1:3) AND HE IS NOT ALONE!(Ephesians 2:6) HE IS STANDING TO HELP(Acts 7:55-56)

33. THE ASCENSION MINISTRY:WHAT JESUS IS DOING NOW! HE IS SEATED TO REIGN(Hebrews 1:3) AND HE IS NOT ALONE!(Ephesians 2:6) HE IS STANDING TO HELP(Acts 7:55-56) HE IS APPEARING TO REPRESENT(Hebrews 9:24)

34. THE ASCENSION MINISTRY:WHAT JESUS IS DOING NOW! HE IS LIVING TO INTERCEDE(Hebrews 7:25)

35. THE ASCENSION MINISTRY:WHAT JESUS IS DOING NOW! HE IS LIVING TO INTERCEDE(Hebrews 7:25) HE IS WORKING TO CONFIRM(Mark 16:20)

36. THE ASCENSION MINISTRY:WHAT JESUS IS DOING NOW! HE IS LIVING TO INTERCEDE(Hebrews 7:25) HE IS WORKING TO CONFIRM(Mark 16:20) HE IS WALKING TO INSPECT(Revelation 1:12-13)

37. THE ASCENSION MINISTRY:WHAT JESUS IS DOING NOW! HE IS LIVING TO INTERCEDE(Hebrews 7:25) HE IS WORKING TO CONFIRM(Mark 16:20) HE IS WALKING TO INSPECT(Revelation 1:12-13) HE IS PREPARING TO CELEBRATE(Revelation 19:9)

38. We Serve a Servant King, a Risen Lord, & aLiving Savior Who Brings HIS Reality to US!

39. REVELATION 20:1-7 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them…

40. REVELATION 20:1-7 They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’or mourning or crying or pain, for the old orderof things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

41. REVELATION 20:1-7 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be My children…”