This Same Jesus
Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 06/01/2025
Foundation Scriptures:
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14 KJV
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 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
1. His Appearance.
a. For forty days, after His resurrection, Jesus appeared at various times to His disciples and apostles—about 500 in all (Acts 1:2-3; 1 Cor. 15:9).
b. He showed Himself alive, with infallible proofs—appearing in His flesh and bone body—proving His glorious resurrection and the truth of God’s promise to raise Him from the dead (Lk. 24:37-43).
c. Luke 24:27 KJV –– And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
d. He showed them Himself in the scriptures and revealed God’s eternal plan of salvation that had been prophesied, yet not fully revealed or understood until now, and gave them instructions for the future.
e. He told them to remain in Jerusalem, until they were baptized with the Holy Ghost and power, which took place ten days later, on the Day of Pentecost.
2. His Ascension.
a. As they watched, Jesus ascended toward Heaven and was received into a cloud.
b. Mark 16:19 KJV –– So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
c. Luke 24:51 KJV –– And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
d. He is now seated in Heavenly Places, at the right-hand of His Father, the Majesty on high (Eph. 1:19-20; Heb. 1:3).
e. 1 Peter 3:22 KJV –– Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
f. He is seated far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named—not only in this world, but also in that which is to come (Eph.1:21-23).
g. All things are under His feet, and He is the Head of His Body, the Church.
3. Two Angels.
a. Two angels appeared—dressed in white.
b. Angels and God have always appeared in white garments (Dan. 7:9; Mt. 17:2; 28:3; Jn. 20:12; Rev. 4:4).
c. On the mount of transfiguration, Jesus’ “countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow” (Matt. 28:3).
d. We see the elders, the redeemed, those who have lived for God, those who have served Him, and those who have suffered and died for Him, clothed in white (Rev. 3:4,5,18; 6:11; 7:9,13; 19:8,14).
e. Revelation 7:9 KJV –– After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
f. These robes of righteousness are white, because they have been dipped in the Blood of the Lamb.
4. This Same Jesus.
a. The angels asked the disciples, “...Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into heaven? This same Jesus, Who was caught away and lifted up from among you into heaven, will return in [just] the same way in which you saw Him go into Heaven” (Acts 1:11 AMPC).
b. When Jesus returns, He will descend in the same way as He ascended, and to the same place He departed.
c. It will be an actual, physical, literal appearance—coming in His glory, in the clouds of Heaven (Acts 1:12; Dan. 7:13-14; Zech. 14:1-5; Mt. 24:29-31; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mk. 13:26; 14:62; 2 Th. 1:7-10; Rev. 1:7; 19:11-21).
d. Men will again see Him with their natural eyes (Zech. 14:4).
5. He Will Return in Great Glory.
a. We have something wonderful to look forward to.
b. Jesus will return in great power and glory (Mt. 24:29-31; 25:31-46; Rev. 19:11-21).
c. Matthew 25:31 KJV –– When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
d. Revelation 19:11-16 KJV –– And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.