Now when he had spoken these things, while they watched, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Acts 1:9.
The Lord Jesus Christ had often told His disciples that He would not always be with them, but that He would suffer and die and then return to God, the Father. Although He had approached people full of grace and love, on the whole they had not accepted Him. On the contrary, they hated Him and even sent Him to the cross. “We will not have this man to reign over us” was their attitude (Luke 19:14).
So He died on the cross of Calvary and was laid in the tomb. But after three days He rose again. In the forty days that ensued He appeared again and again before His disciples and explained the close relationship with God into which they had entered consequent on His death. Finally the disciples were eye-witnesses of His ascension.
The work of redemption was accomplished. Christ had fulfilled His mission here on earth. Now God gave Him the place of honour at His right hand in glory. There Christ remains until the moment when He will take all who believe on Him to be with Him in heaven. Then they will be with Him for eternity.
But for all who have consciously rejected Him He will one day return to earth in judgment. Nobody will then be able to deny that Jesus Christ is Lord (cf. Philippians 2:11).
Now everyone must answer the question: Do I belong to those who joyfully expect the Lord Jesus Christ, or am I one of His enemies who will be judged and condemned (cf. Psalm 110:1)?