Frankly, when I saw this, I didn't believe my own eyes! I know pictures can be manipulated, but if it is, whoever did it is very good!!! Lets assume that it is real; then, what is causing it? My only guess would be ice crystals high in the atmosphere, but remember, its only a GUESS. Sometimes, you have to really look twice to be sure what you are seeing is reality. And reality may surprise you...
Acts 1:1-11 (WEB)
1) The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,
2) until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
3) To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God’s Kingdom.
4) Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me.
5) For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6) Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
7) He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority.
8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
9) When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10) While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing,
11) who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
2) until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
3) To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God’s Kingdom.
4) Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me.
5) For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6) Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
7) He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority.
8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
9) When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10) While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing,
11) who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
They were simple Galilean fishermen, not simpletons. They questioned things, they reasoned and because of this, sometimes they had doubts and uncertainties. Sound familiar? Those of us who have been blessed with a good education (whatever form it eventually took) have been taught to think, to investigate, to challenge what we see and accept as fact. Its a good thing to do these things because to do otherwise would waste our training. The disciples had been trained, but still had much to learn. Their question (verse 6) was a good one, but one they didn't need to know. They needed to accept what Jesus told them to do and simply do it. When Jesus ascended into heaven, they just kept looking. I wonder, why? That was the question the two men in white clothing (angels?) asked them as well. Sometimes, its hard just to accept the facts as you see them; sometimes you just need to believe and everything is fine. I don't know if the picture is real or not, but if it is... what a magnificent sight. Humm, maybe that's what the apostles were thinking as they watched Jesus ascend into heaven... I guess we will just never know!!!