Connect360: Angels in our Future

• Lesson 13 in the Connect360 unit “Heaven & Angels: Our Eternal Home and Its Heavenly Hosts” focuses on Matthew 24:29-31.

Where is Jesus today? More than 2,000 years ago, Jesus died, he was buried and, after three days and three nights, God the Father restored him to life. For 40 days, Jesus remained on the earth, appearing to more than 500 witnesses, but at the end of that period, he ascended back into heaven, and that is where Christ rules and reigns today.

The disciples and other believers witnessed Jesus ascend into heaven (Acts 1:10). But notice the angels were more interested in watching the reaction of the witnesses, seemingly unamazed by Jesus’ ascension. Luke notes in his account in Acts 1:10-11, “And as they were gazing intently into the sky while he was going, then behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them, and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched him go into heaven.’”

The angels in Acts 1:10 are described as having white clothing. You may also have in your mind’s eye angels with golden halos. While angels do seem to exude a glorious brightness, there is no biblical evidence that they have bands of light encircling their heads.

Have you ever wondered why art—and church Christmas pageants—often depict angels with halos? A halo is descriptive of the kind of glory these heavenly beings possess, but it is not in the Bible. Designating deity, saints, angels, and other important cultural figures with a halo symbol (also called a “nimbus”) can be traced throughout the ages, including Roman, Greek and Egyptian culture. For example, depictions of Roman emperors often portrayed their power with a circle or band of radiant light.

For hundreds of years, early Christian artists depicted a scene like this in Acts 1:10 with halo-wearing angels, and even gave Jesus a halo. However, during the Renaissance, the halo seems to have lost its popularity with mainstream artists. Compare most early depictions of Christ with Leonardo’s da Vinci’s famous Last Supper painting and you will notice da Vinci omitted halos altogether. Although you might picture angels in white with golden halos, that particular detail is not biblically based.

So, here is the picture. The disciples stood there awestruck as they watched Jesus ascend into the sky, something spectacular that these ordinary first-century men never before imagined. Can’t you just see them looking at him for as long as they could, like people watching the space shuttle trying to keep their eyes on it until it becomes a tiny speck in the sky?

Finally, these two angels make the startling announcement that they had not seen anything yet! Jesus was going to return one day in the same way he left. Not only are we certain of Jesus’ return because this truth is taught throughout Scripture, but also the angels that day foretold it would happen. But that is not all. After Jesus’ triumphant return, angels continue to play important roles in our future.

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