Ac 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 word ” So” is the Strongs concordance Greek word numbered 3779.
It is used many times in scripture and it is applied to the concept of the Second coming of Jesus seen in Acts 1:11, where it is translated using the phrase “in like manner”.
This is thought then to absolutely confirm that Jesus must return in a cloud as the Angels mentioned.
The same Greek word used in Acts 1:11 is also used by Jesus Himself in Matthew 17:12.
When Jesus used the word, however, He did not always mean the exact “same manner”.
Using the same Greek word (Strong’s # 3779) in Matthew 17:12 (pasted below) Jesus said that He would personally be treated like John the Baptist.
Jesus Himself however was not treated exactly as John the Baptist was.
The word translated as “so” (#3779) in Acts 1:11, is the English translation of a Greek word. It is translated there using the phrase “in like manner”.
In Matthew 17:12 the same word is used by Jesus and it is translated as “likewise”.
Mt 17:12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. “Likewise” shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
In Matthew 17:12 we know that Jesus was not treated “exactly” as John the Baptist was.
Jesus was not beheaded and John was.
By considering this example, which shows that the Greek word #3779 does not always mean the “exact same way”, I have come to the conclusion that along with the scriptural evidence from John 14:16-18, the Angels from Acts 1:11 did not necessarily mean that Jesus Second coming would occur in the “exact same way” that the disciples saw Him leave.
A spiritual Second Coming is easily provable (see below) and the physical or bodily return of Jesus is only supported through a reader’s individual interpretation of visions and parables.
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
John 14:18 ¶ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Since the Greek word #3779 is used in different ways I choose to understand that broadly speaking Jesus went into Heaven and will return to us.
To infer that Jesus will return in “exactly” the same way is not consistent with the use of the Greek word, although I know some commentaries say that it must be understood to refer to “the exact same way”.
These commentaries insist on this interpretation because it is the only way that their overall understanding of the physical Second Coming will make sense to them.
I maintain that their overall concept of the physical Second Coming is unscriptural.