During forty days Jesus showed Himself several times to the apostles and
spoke of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. He was also seen
by others, once by five hundred brethren. He showed Himself to the
eleven apostles on a mountain in Galilee, and said: All authority hath
been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even
unto the end of the world.
Forty days after His resurrection, on the day afterwards called
Ascension Day, He appeared to them for the last time. He led them out to
the Mount of Olives, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them; and
while He blessed them, He parted from them, and was carried up into
heaven; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
And while they were looking into heaven, two men stood by them in white
apparel and said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven?
This Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven, shall so come in
like manner as ye beheld Him going into heaven. (Matt. 28:16-20; Luke
24:50-51; Acts 1:1-2.)