WE HAVE STUDIED THROUGH THE LIFE OF JESUS DURING THE PAST YEAR, BUT LIKE Phil 3:10 I FEEL SO IGNORANT.

1. I wish I knew Him better. After this year I know more ABOUT Him, but to know Him better!?
2. The last of Luke, and the 1st of Acts tie together -Same Author, same series of events -
3. If you would have known Him from His appearance 1940 years ago- KNOW THIS!  It is this same Jesus- not another

But this Same Jesus that is coming again,- and in the same manner -

I.- THE APOSTLES WERE INSTRUCTED Luke 24:44

Luke misses the sequence of events of the last 40 days of the Lord's ministry- but Harmony shows

A.- AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, THERE WERE MANY APPEARANCES, AND HE WAS SEEN BY MANY MEN

1. They are summarized in I Cor 15:4-7 covering events from Easter to Pentecost- almost 40 days
2. The location of the events- The Upper Room- on Mt Zion- John 20:19; Road to Emmaus- Luke 24:13- The Sea of Galilee- John 21:1, by mountains of Galilee Matt 28:16, & Back in Jerusalem- Luke 24:50

B.- JESUS USED THIS TIME TO INSTRUCT THE APOSTLES FROM THE SCRIPTURES CONCERNING HIMSELF- Luke 24:44

1. They had the Prophets, Moses, & Psalms, why did they need Jesus to teach them?  The reason is obvious!
2. Some today think that the Bible is all they need!  And some can sure get some queer ideas -prejudices
3. This is why we need the Church.  Like the Bereans, we can search Scripture together- help each other
4. They even asked Jesus some questions- Acts 1:6 -and He gave them no answer- Not theirs to know

C.- JESUS CHALLENGED THEM TO WITNESS FOR HIM AMONG ALL NATIONS, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM v. 46-8

1. He explained the Gospel- 46, Almost textbook style to suffer, rise- etc.  Note no pronoun here
2. And He told them what to preach -Repentance and Remission of Sin - IN HIS NAME! v.47
3. "And YE are witnesses of these things" -more on the "power" tonight- but we are to witness

II. THE APOSTLES WITNESSED JESUS LEAVE v. 50-51

Witness of teaching- dull!  But if you walk with Jesus He will give you something to witness about - eye popping

A.- JESUS WALKED WITH THEM TOWARD BETHANY -v.50 WE KNOW NOT WHETHER HE CAME & DISAPPEARED OR NOT

1. This was up the trail of the Triumphal entry- East from the great wall, up Mt of Olives- top
2. When He came where you could see Bethany- He lifted His hands and blessed them- Num 6:24-6 ?
3. He brought the age of grace- how much of that Grace do we pass on -with a "God bless you"?

B.- LUKE SIMPLY SAYS HE WAS PARTED FROM THEM AND CARRIED UP INTO HEAVEN! v.51 THIS WAS A SURPRISE

1. This was a strange and unexpected event- At least Elisha knew that Elijah was to go-
2. Acts 1:9 says He was taken up-suddenly, no time for a goodbye, right as He spoke to them
3. A cloud received Him out of their sight- must have been a low lying cloud bank-not far away

C.- LUKE RECORDS THAT THEY WORSHIPPED HIM, AND RETURNED TO JERUSALEM WITH GREAT JOY v. 52

1. There is no way a Bible student can rob Jesus of His Deity- He received WORSHIP -for God alone
2. This is same word- Luke 4:7,8 where Satan tried to get Jesus to worship him-Jesus said God alone
3. The Apostles returned with great joy- no complainers at this time!?  Their Lord was gone!

II. THE APOSTLES HAD A GREAT PROMISE Acts 1:9-11

The reason they had joy- instead of being overcome with loneliness - they had a strange promise!

A.- WHEN JESUS WENT UP, THESE MEN STOOD LOOKING STEADFASTLY TOWARD HEAVEN - ACTS 1:10

1. They were like most of us- hard to believe what they saw and stood staring at sky -mouth open
2. We need to get our eyes off the clouds- or we will sure take a tumble if we try to walk anywhere
3. When you are stargazing you are not witnessing, or working - We like Mountain Peak Experiences- But...

B.- THE ANGEL SPOKE TO THEM, AND GAVE THEM A PROMISE - THIS SAME JESUS WILL SO COME IN LIKE MANNER

1. This promise knocks out the Occult, the Reincarnation theories, and many a false prophet
2. This same Jesus who taught, walked with them, ministered to them, died, arose - they knew Him.
3. His return will also be in the clouds- concealed, suddenly appearing, and Apostles expected it

B.- WE TODAY WOULD LIKE TO JOIN WITH THEM IN ASKING THEIR QUESTION ABOUT THE TIME Acts 1:6

1. They asked about Kingdom- We want to know about Rapture- Jesus told them- "not for YOU to know"
2. In Olivet Discourse- Matt 24:42- Watch, 44 -Be Ready, I Thess 5:4- Don't let it come as thief in the night
3. Luke 21:25-28- We would be blind to refuse to see that His Coming is ready! - Are you ready?

Can we study the times, like the ancient prophets try to see if the time is near for next event?

IF YOU BELIEVE THAT JESUS WALKED ON THIS EARTH, THEN YOU OUGHT TO KNOW THAT HE WILL BE BACK SOON

1. Jesus said- preach Repentance- But ours is a fun generation- /will you take time out to repent?
2. Jesus said- Remission of Sin- But ours is a sin Generation- "Can't quit" means don't want to!
3. Your last invitation of the year- might just be the last one? why not get ready for the Lord?