The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-20
The Last Interview.D
Selected Sc for The Times Dtspatch.)

,..'9s, Vt tne seasons which the Fathe
.utn put IN ilstowh power. But ye shn
, receive power after that tho Holy Ghos
/, rs come upon you; and ye slloll be witness.
es untot Me. both In Jerusalem $3.50, al,
uIto the utternlost parts OF the earth
And When iHc had spoken; these thing.
{ whne they beheld. lie was taken UP; an
CLOUD received Him out Of their sigh
1Allu wnile they looked stendfastly to
ward Him as He, went up, behold too mo
, stood by them in white apparel, whic,
also said 'Ye men of Galileei-wl,y stan
ye,I gazing UP into Heaven 2. This aannes4Ic
sus' which Is taken up from, YOU Ffnr
heaven, shall SO come In like manner a
ye nave 'seen Him go into Heaven rhel
returned they unto Jerusalem, 80.
ana When they wero come In, they wen
up INTO an fupper room. : and al
continued with one accord in prayer nc
supplicntion. Acts Ola * SS99li; sffs,s:
This is the last glimpse we get Q,
Christ below.ss1 It is the end OF His visible
course 'a on earth. These are ILLS final
words and instructions. They econcer,,
not only His disciples gathered there, but
Els church IN all ages. .i!;,l.
Let us consider. then; fiSiSs;3
L5Tho question OF the disciples. It is
concerning tho Kingdom Of Israel, which
had for 80 many Years been given to the
Gentiles. Their question was not all car
nal. They ask about Kingdom that had
been lost; that was to be restored and by
the Messiah. But the main point OF the
question was as to the 'tin1e" OF all this.
When shall all this be? Shall it be now 2
Tell us your plan.
II. lie refuses to reply. He does not re-
prove them for their carnal expectations;
nor the error in their prophetic views;
nor yet In their longing for that Kingdom.
But He rebukes their eagerness to know
the time" That was the Fathers own
secret, and must be left to Him. We
should desire to study, and know, wlat
has been revealed concerning Chrlst's
kingdom. but the time must be always
left to Him.
III. He couples His reproof with a
promise. So like HIMSELF! He can not
rebuke, but he must add word OF
love. The Holy Ghost is to come and to
come to them. They are to receive power
and thenceforth to be His witnesses from
Jerusalem unto the ends OF the earth.
Much was to be done and much suf-4
fered ere that kingdom was to be restored.
It could mot come. unless His discI-
pies labored for It. We have here
glimpse of the intcrval-and the unceas-
OF waiting.
His reproof ended. and His promise
given. we are told in few words Of a
most marvellous event, "He was taken
np!" Enoch was the first; Elijah next,
and last the Son OF God. Who thus as
cended. Why had not Christ the pre-
emnence In this? We cannot tell and it
Is not for us to ask. He was in reality
the great first the opener OF the gates,
and to His ascension, they owed theirs.
Because he rose, they rose.
A cloud received him out OF their sight.
to form His chariot. For we are told He
'makcth the clouds His chariot and walk
eth upon the wings of the wind.
This wonderful event took place while
hey beheld," while they were gazing at
Him. SO they could not be mistaken, They
saw Him standing with them. on the
>
~ disappean as they looked stead
lastly toward heaven.
They could not leave the spot, nor with
1esses They were in white apparel.
1raw their eyes, TIL the angels spoke.
They, were two. for they came as wit
o shew what they are. 1t was as IL the
ord when passing upward. out OF sight,
Jaw the longing, moIstful eyes, of the poor
helpless disciples and dispatched Quickly
wo of His glorious attendants, with a
message which was both to comfort and I
o direct.
The angels use words of recognition.
Men of Gailce." They speak as IL they
new the disciples, who they were and
Why they were thus wondering "Why
tand ye gazing UP into Heaven?' What
10 you mean by this? What lis the use
II It? IT was not for this, that your
ord assembled All the moro must We
AIRY on His work, now that He is gone.
10 comfort them. they gaye them the
roinlse or His return. He s not gone
orever" nor has lie forsaken the earth
hally lie Is to come again: to come I
no very same Jesus. not different b,t Z
2 every way the same. lie Is to come
tne same way IIe weht,2:hnd to the Il
cry same spot, too. Zach. $XIY:4) 4 VIZ
inc consolation here Is, not that YOU
nan 30 70 Him. but, Tie shall return to
ou' such Is the stress which Scripture
1ys on christ's second coming, 81 Not |,
cath, but Ills return isathe toonsolationgE
Ills people. "surelS''a saltilss Iie, FIR
ONE quickly" ,ss Il NJ h Az
90 INC disciples, comforted In spite OF
themselves, withdraw their5longing eyes.
ma obey the angelic messenger. TheYl,
etnrn to Jerusalem. dwelling son me III
bought Of His return. How that journeytI
'onld recall old ncenes and Ills owniI'
'oords' They 80 back to tho city that had
rnohed their Master,-not knowing what
Ney should do but content to walt Eli
70 shouold direct thum further. Hence