Jesus' ascension from the Mount of Olives is the pattern for His literal, bodily return to that same mountain at the Second Coming.
In Acts 1, the angels told the eleven disciples that 'this same Jesus' would come again in the same manner as they saw Him go. Les Feldick connects that promise to Zechariah 14:4, where the Lord's feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. Jesus left head first and will return feet first — a literal, physical return to the earth.
Acts 1:10-11 — The angels promise that this same Jesus will return in like manner as He ascended.
Zechariah 14:4 — Names the Mount of Olives as the place where the returning Lord's feet will stand.
The record in Acts 1 shows Jesus being taken up. Verse 9 says, "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." As the disciples watched, two men in white apparel said in Acts 1:11, "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." The Old Testament connects that same return to the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 14:4 says, "And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east..." Earlier, Zechariah 14:3 describes the Lord going forth to fight against the nations that have gathered against Jerusalem.
Les Feldick stresses that Jesus' ascension was a literal, visible departure from the Mount of Olives. He points out that the angel's message to the eleven disciples — Judas was gone and no replacement had yet been chosen — was that 'this same Jesus' would return in the same manner. Les explains the picture vividly: "How did He leave? Head first. He went up from the Mount of Olives head first. How is He going to return? Feet first." (Clip 3) Les ties this directly to Zechariah 14:4, which says the Lord's feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. He is emphatic that this is not a mountain in heaven; it is the literal Mount of Olives in Jerusalem that is waiting for Him. At His return, the Lord will go forth and fight against the nations gathered against Jerusalem — the Second Coming He identifies with the same Lord who left in Acts 1.
Les describes Jesus ascending from the Mount of Olives. He left standing on His two feet and went up. Zechariah 14:4 says His feet will stand on that same mount in that day. Les emphasizes that this is not another Mount of Olives in heaven; it is the literal Mount of Olives before Jerusalem.
The angels told the disciples that 'this same Jesus' would come again in like manner as they saw Him go. Les applies this literally: Jesus left from the Mount of Olives on His two feet, and He will come back down and stand on two feet at the same place. The return is as physical and literal as the ascension.
Zechariah 14:2-3 describes all nations gathered against Jerusalem to battle, and then the Lord going forth to fight against those nations. Les identifies this as the Second Coming — the return of Christ. He also notes that Christ is returning with glory and power, and Israel's remnant will see Him coming in the clouds of glory (Matthew 24).
The Rapture vs. The Second Coming — What's the Difference?
rich that. Not at all. But I'm a realist, and I know that these things are manipulated. We know that the wealthy people of this world will finance both sides of a war. They don't care about the human misery. All they care about is how much can they get for their machine guns, how much can they get for a jet, how much can they get for their tanks.
The Same Lord Returns to the Same Mount
Les applies Zechariah 14:4 to the Lord who ascended in Acts 1, saying His feet will stand on the very same Mount of Olives He left.
Angels' Promise: "In Like Manner"
Les quotes the angels' words in Acts — 'same Jesus' and 'in like manner' — to show the return is as literal as the ascension.
Head First, Feet First
Les pictures the ascension as leaving head first and the return as landing feet first on the Mount of Olives, emphasizing physical, literal fulfillment.
The Same Lord Returns to the Same Mount (Repeated)
This clip repeats the Zechariah 14:4 connection to Acts 1, reinforcing that the same Lord who ascended returns to the same Mount of Olives.
Second Coming with Glory and Power
Les sets the return in the context of Israel seeing Christ coming in clouds of glory, with God keeping a remnant safe until that moment.
Acts 1 Context: The Eleven on the Mount
Les reminds us that after 40 days the eleven (Judas gone, no replacement yet) were with Jesus, setting the scene for the ascension promise.
Literal Mount of Olives, Not a Heavenly One
Les insists the Mount of Olives in Zechariah 14 is the literal Mount in Jerusalem, where Jesus left and will return to stand on two feet.
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.
Records the visible, physical ascension that serves as the pattern for the 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.
The angelic promise that the very same Jesus will return in like manner.
Zechariah 14:3: Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
Describes the Lord's action at the Second Coming against the nations gathered against Jerusalem.
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.
Identifies the exact place where the returning Lord will stand — the same Mount of Olives connected to the ascension.
Zechariah 14:9: And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
Shows the outcome of the return: the Lord reigns as King over all the earth.
Yes. In Acts 1 the disciples stood with Jesus on the Mount of Olives. Les points out that He left head first from that mount, and Zechariah 14:4 says He will return feet first to the same mount.
No. Les is emphatic that Zechariah 14:4 refers to the literal Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, not another Mount of Olives in heaven. He says the Mount of Olives is there yet today and waiting for Him.
The angels told the eleven that the same Jesus who ascended would come in like manner. Zechariah 14 identifies the place and events of that return — the Lord's feet on the Mount of Olives and His going forth to fight against the nations gathered against Jerusalem.
Watch the Teaching: The Rapture vs. The Second Coming — What's the Difference?