This is a time of war and plague, hurricanes and wildfires, and hundreds of billions of locusts are swarming East Africa. No wonder some Christians believe we are living in the end-times

The ascension of Jesus into heaven, which we celebrate next Thursday, 26 May, 40 days after his Resurrection, begins the 10-day period of Ascensiontide, which lasts until the evening of the day before Pentecost Sunday. This dramatic event is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles: “As they were watching, Jesus was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9).

Two men in white robes (clearly angelic messengers) tell the Apostles: “Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). What would happen next had already been on the minds of Jesus’ followers. “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He had replied: “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority” (Acts 1:6–7).
The connection of the Ascension with the promise of the return of Christ and the culmination of the present age is expressed in the Apostles’ Creed: “He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.” This is referred to as the “Second Coming,” or by the Greek word parousia (meaning arrival, coming, or presence). Other Greek words are also used to describe this event, including epiphaneia (appearing), apokalypsis (uncovering/revealing), and several terms which are variants of “the Day of the Lord”.