Heaven’s End-Times Agenda: Partner with the Holy Spirit in This Prophetic Hour
Excerpted from Easter—The Rest of the Story.
When Luke wrote Acts chapter 1, he chronicled events in the final days of Jesus’ appearance on earth, and he said that Jesus “...shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (v. 3).
In Acts 1:9, Luke went on to tell us that at the end of those 40 days after Jesus had spoken to His followers one final time, “...he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.”
Then Luke continued, “And while they [the apostles] looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 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 1:10,11). On that day, the angels declared Jesus would return in the same manner He left nearly 2,000 years ago.
Days later when Peter preached his first message on the Day of Pentecost, he declared that Jesus would remain in Heaven until the fulfillment of all Scripture at the end of the age (see Acts 3:21). Only when every prophecy that is yet unfulfilled has finally been fulfilled, and every soul that will be saved has been saved, will Jesus return — and when He does return, He will return in exactly the same way He ascended nearly 2,000 years ago. However, in His Second Coming (which is subsequent to the rapture of the Church), Jesus will not return as a humble Servant. The Bible declares He will return as the King of kings and the Lord of lords! (See Revelation 19:16.)
When the disciples watched Jesus ascend into a cloud of glory that received Him into Heaven, it was the last time Jesus was ever seen on the earth in His physical human form. Of course, since that time, people have experienced supernatural moments when they’ve seen Jesus in the Spirit, whether in visions or in dreams. And we also know that Jesus is touching people’s lives today through His Church, which Scripture even refers to as the Body of Christ.
But Jesus Himself — in His actual physical form — left the earth 2,000 years ago, and He has been absent ever since. And He will remain absent until every scripture related to the last days has been fulfilled and until the last soul to be saved has been saved. Although we may be able to recognize the season of the Rapture and then Jesus’ Second Coming, Matthew 24:36 tells us that only the Father knows the exact day and hour when Jesus will come for the Church and then visibly return in His Second Coming at the end of the age.
When Peter preached to his audience in Jerusalem after Jesus ascended to Heaven, he told them that Jesus sat down at the Father’s right hand, and that once seated in His new permanent position at the Father’s right hand, His first order of business was to pour out the gift of the Holy Spirit upon the Church (see Acts 2:33). And that is exactly what happened on the Day of Pentecost.
Where is Jesus Now and What is He Doing?
Easter—The Rest of the Story
Rick Renner
We know Jesus ascended into Heaven to sit at the Father’s right hand as the King of kings and Lord of lords who is “alive for evermore” (see Revelation 1:18). But exactly what has He been doing for the last 2,000 years?
When Jesus’ feet lifted from Earth and He was received into Heaven, He started the next phase of His ministry — a phase so wonderful that the Bible calls it “...a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises” (Hebrews 8:6).
The Greek word for “excellent” means incomparable, unparalleled, unsurpassed, unmatched, finest, greatest, or most excellent. This means Jesus’ present-day ministry is not even to be compared to His previous earthly ministry. In fact, Hebrews 8:6 emphatically lets us know that Jesus’ ministry in this Dispensation of the Holy Spirit is His finest, greatest, and most excellent ministry.
Why is this phase of Jesus’ ministry so excellent?
What is He doing right now that is so mighty?
Jesus Is Our Great High Priest
The moment Jesus sat down at the Father’s right hand, His ministry was initiated as the Great High Priest to everyone who calls upon His name.
Under the Old Covenant, there were many priests, but each of them eventually died due to their human condition. However, Hebrews 7:24 and 25 declares, “But this man [Jesus], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Hebrews 4:15,16 describes the power of Jesus’ present-day ministry: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Think about it. Jesus has become your Great High Priest — your personal Representative who sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. His ministry today is to represent you to the Father. And because Jesus lived on the earth as a Man, He understands every problem or temptation that will ever come your way.
Jesus has faced every temptation that any human being has ever encountered in life. This means He has experienced every temptation you face. Anything you talk to Jesus about is something that He was personally tempted with when He walked the earth and that He personally understands. But the Bible declares that although He was tempted in all ways just as we are, Jesus was without sin. Therefore, He is qualified today to sit at the Father’s right hand and intercede on our behalf.
The Throne of Grace We Can Approach for Help
Hebrews 4:16 goes on to tell us, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
The word “boldly” comes from the often-used Greek word which refers to freedom of speech. It presents the picture of a person who speaks his mind and who does it straightforwardly and with great confidence.
Frequently in the First Century, this word “boldly” depicted a frankness that was so bold, it could be met with resistance, hostility, and opposition. Many thought it just wasn’t acceptable to speak so candidly. Therefore, when someone spoke his mind and his thoughts this freely, his outspokenness could be met with rebuke.
But in Hebrews 4:16, we are commanded to come “boldly” before God’s throne of grace. This means that not only does Jesus beckon us to come to Him, but He also invites us to be straight-to-the-point when we talk to Him!
You need never fear that you are too frank, too bold, too forthright, too honest, too outspoken, or too blunt when you open your heart to God about your needs and struggles or when you request His help. Of course, you should never be irreverent — but neither do you need to be afraid to speak exactly what is on your heart. The Greek word used in Hebrews 4:16 for “boldly” emphatically tells you and me that Jesus will never be turned off, offended, or insulted when you freely speak your heart and mind to Him.
Jesus wants to hear what you and I have to say to Him!
Jesus Has Mercy Waiting for You
Hebrews 4:16 goes on to tell us to “...come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
The word “obtain” is from a word that means to seize or to lay hold of something in order to make it your very own. It is the picture of reaching out to grab, to capture, or to take possession of something. Depending on the context in which it is used, it can either mean to violently lay hold of something to seize and take it as one’s very own, or it can depict a person who gently and graciously receives something that is freely and easily given.
Jesus is always there, waiting mercifully to help anyone who comes to Him by faith. But your own personal circumstances or inward struggles could affect the ease with which you receive His help.
If your struggle is intense, if your mind is tortured, if your flesh resists you, or if it seems like the world is pressing against you, you may find it difficult to freely receive from the Lord. So in those moments, you have to press through each barrier and reach out to forcibly lay hold of the help God offers you.
Jesus is ready and willing to give you exactly what you need. All you have to do is open your heart and by faith receive it. So shove those negative circumstances and emotions out of the way, and reach out by faith to lay hold of the grace and mercy that Jesus so freely offers.
It’s time for you to receive the mercy Jesus wants to give. But don’t stop with mercy!
So What Has Jesus Been Doing for the Past 2,000 Years?
After Jesus’ work on the Cross was finished and He was raised from the dead, He ascended on High where He sat down at the Father’s right hand and poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit upon the Church.
Today — and that means right now — Jesus is making intercession for you and for anyone who comes to Him by faith. He fights for every believer who comes boldly and honestly and who earnestly seeks His assistance. This ministry has kept Jesus very busy for the past 2,000 years!
Why would Jesus come to earth, humble Himself to the point of dying on the Cross, be raised from the dead, and pour out the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower you — only to reject or resist you when you come to Him with your needs? He wouldn’t! From His highly exalted position, He still has His eyes fixed on you.
Nearly 2,000 years ago, Jesus died for you, but today — at this very moment — He lives to intercede for you and fight for your every need. Push past your own inner struggles to go before Him boldly and ask Him for help. Jesus will swing into action to lead you, guide you, and fight for you! By the strength of His Spirit, He will enable you to do whatever the will of God is for your life!
What Really Happened During Jesus' Last Hours Before the Cross?
Many have heard the story before ― that Christ died, was buried, and rose again ― but what about the days and hours leading up to His crucifixion? What happened in those critical moments, and why did it happen?
Presenting Scripture as well as the writings of Early Church fathers, Rick documents the journey of Christ from the Garden to the Cross and beyond, revealing:
Why hundreds of soldiers ― not just a few ― met Jesus to arrest Him.
The details of "the Judas kiss" and Judas’ fatal flaw from the beginning.
The identity of the naked boy in the Garden of Gethsemane.
The physical and mental abuse Jesus endured before the Crucifixion.
Who Pontius Pilate was and why he tried to save Jesus.
What Jesus meant when He said, “It is finished!”
In this must-have Easter classic, you will find more than 30 full-page original illustrations, questions to answer and discuss at the end of each chapter, and endnote citations documenting the historical facts of Jesus’ last days and crucifixion. This keepsake volume is sure to be a family favorite for years to come!
