Jesus will return in the same visible, bodily manner in which He ascended to heaven, coming back to the Mount of Olives feet first.
Acts 1:11 records the angels' declaration that this same Jesus, who was taken up bodily and visibly, would come again in like manner. Les Feldick emphasizes that Jesus left head first and will return feet first, physically standing on the Mount of Olives, not as an ethereal spirit or mere spiritual presence.
Acts 1:9-11 — This is the foundational passage directly stating that Jesus, taken up before the disciples' eyes, will return in the same manner, which is the core answer to the question.
In Acts 1:9-11, the Scripture records that as the disciples watched, Jesus was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. While they gazed into heaven, two men in white apparel appeared and 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.' This plainly indicates that His return will be as visible and physical as His departure. Furthermore, the context reveals that Jesus had a physical, resurrection body—He walked, talked, ate, and was touched (Luke 24:39-43; Acts 1:4). His ascension was not a symbolic or spiritual event but an actual bodily taking up. Therefore, the biblical text affirms that His second coming will be a literal, visible event, not merely an allegory or spiritual manifestation.
Les Feldick teaches that Jesus' return, as described in Acts 1:11, will be a literal, bodily return to the same Mount of Olives from which He ascended. He emphasizes the physicality of Jesus' resurrection body during the 40 days—He ate, walked, and was touched—proving that His ascension was real and visible. Consequently, His return will be equally physical and visible. Les frequently illustrates this by saying, 'He went head first, and He's going to come back feet first,' referencing Zechariah 14:4 where His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. He also clarifies that this return will usher in the kingdom, and believers will come with Him. He rejects any spiritualized or allegorical interpretation, insisting on the literal fulfillment of the angelic promise.
Les Feldick explains that 'in like manner' means the return will be as visible, bodily, and physical as the ascension. Just as the disciples saw Jesus taken up in a resurrection body, so will they see Him return in that same body. He went up head first, and He will come back feet first, standing on the Mount of Olives.
Les emphasizes that Christ's ascension was a real, physical event, not a spiritual puff or cloud. The disciples saw Him bodily ascend, and He had been with them in a flesh-and-bone body for 40 days. This underscores that His return will be equally real and physical.
Les points to Zechariah 14:4, which states that on the day of the Lord's return, His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. This is the same location from which He ascended, confirming a literal return to the earth.
Les teaches that when Christ returns, believers will come with Him. He uses this to show that the second coming is a corporate event involving the church, not a solitary appearance.
Context of Kingdom Expectation
Les sets the stage for Acts 1:9, noting that the disciples were expecting the kingdom, and Jesus' ascension did not negate that promise.
Bodily Ascension and Return
Les reads Acts 1:9-11 and explains that Jesus was taken up physically, and the angels promised His return in like manner—He went head first, so He'll come back feet first.
Christ's Resurrection Body: What Yours Will Look Like
And so all of our material has that make up. And so what I have to look at is now we get to the eternal, and we're going to have something, I don't know how it's going to be, but you see He vanished. He went right in, and I'll read on. Verse 33. Genesis 3. And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them.
Return to the Mount of Olives
Les confirms that Jesus will return feet first to the Mount of Olives, quoting Zechariah 14:4, showing the prophetic certainty of this literal return.
Visible Return with Believers
Les reiterates the same teaching and adds that Jesus' return will bring believers with Him, ushering in the kingdom.
Context of Resurrection Body
Les sets the scene of Acts 1, showing that Jesus had spent 40 days in a resurrection body, establishing the physical reality of His ascension.
What Will Our Resurrected Body Be Like? 1 Corinthians 15 Explained
Well when resurrection happens, what are we going to be like? Are we just going to be invisible spirit beings? Are we going to be like angels? Well you see he wasn't alone, and I'm not faulting him at all, but even Paul was having this constantly bombarded, well how if we're going to be resurrected, how are we going to exist? What's it going to be like? And so that's what he says.
Resurrection Body's Physicality
Les uses Christ's post-resurrection appearances to show that His body was physical—He walked, talked, and vanished—implying that His return will be equally physical.
Acts 1:9: And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
This verse directly describes the visible, bodily ascension of Jesus, which serves as the model for His return.
Acts 1:11: 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.
This is the key promise that Jesus will return in the same visible, bodily manner.
Zechariah 14:4: And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
This verse confirms the specific location of Jesus' return, aligning with the angelic promise in Acts 1:11.
Luke 24:39: Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
This shows the physical nature of Jesus' resurrection body, implying His return will be in a similar physical form.
1 Thessalonians 4:14: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
This supports the teaching that believers will accompany Jesus at His return.
Yes. Les Feldick teaches that Jesus will return in the same physical, resurrection body He had when He ascended. He walked, talked, and was touched in that body, and He will come back the same way.
It means that His return will be as visible, bodily, and physical as His ascension. Les explains that He went up head first, so He will come back feet first.
Yes, Les points to Zechariah 14:4 which states His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, confirming a literal return to that exact location.
It gives assurance that the promised return is real and physical, not just symbolic or spiritual, and motivates believers to live in anticipation.
Watch the Teaching: Christ's Second Coming: What Acts 1 & Zechariah 14 Reveal