Jesus came to his apostles ‘in like manner’ as when he had left -

The ascension of Jesus in like manner of his return

The term ‘in like manner’ indicates that the ascension of Christ was an allegory or metaphor of his return

After witnessing the ascension of Jesus into the heavens, the disciples were told, “this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as all of you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11

What the Men in White DID NOT say:

The men did not say “This same Jesus would come back in the exact same body/form that he ascended with!” No they could not have said that, especially since flesh and blood does not inherit the kingdom of heaven.

The men did not say “Every eye in the global world would see Jesus returning!” No they could not have said that, especially since every eye in the global world DID NOT see him leave.

Jesus went out of their sight

Many Christians miss the point that the men in white were making. What the men in white were pointing to was the fact that Jesus had gone out of sight, but would return in that way.
Consider what the scripture said of the ascension. “While they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him OUT OF THEIR SIGHT.” Acts 1:9

The term ‘out of sight’ is a metaphor for the realm of the spirit, which is invisible to the natural eyesight.

Jesus had told his disciples “Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more; but all of you see me…” John 14:19
Notice, Jesus on the night before his crucifixion told his disciples that the world would SEE HIM NO MORE, yet the disciples would see him.

What did he mean? He meant that when he ascended into heaven, he would be in a realm which is invisible to the world – ‘out of sight’. But still the disciples would still be able to ‘see’ him. How?

Thaddeus Judas wondered the same thing, so he asked Jesus, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself unto us, and not unto the world?” John 14:22

How would the disciples ‘see’ Jesus, and yet the world not see him?

Jesus replied, “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!” John 14:23

This indicates that the ascension cloud was a metaphor of the Glory Cloud that is often associated in the Old Testament with the presence of God.

‘In like manner,’ God wanted to Dwell in His people

Notice, the COMING of Christ was to occur, in the spirit realm, INVISIBLY, into the individual who loves Jesus! That coming would bring the glory and presence of the Father into the disciples. That fulfilled the desire of God to dwell in them!

“This same Jesus… shall so come in like manner…”

In like manner means “metaphorically like.”

The words which the Bible translates as ‘in like manner’ are the Greek words ‘hon tropon.’

‘In like manner’ does not mean ‘in exactly the same way.’

For example in Matthew 23:37, Jesus said that the Lord had often wanted to gather Israel ‘even as’ a hen gathers her chickens under her wings.
The words ‘even as’ are from the Greek ‘hon tropon.’ The same words used to describe the relationship between Jesus’ ascension and his return.
In Matthew 23:37, ‘hon tropon’ does not mean ‘exactly the same way’ but “metaphorically like.” In other words, Jesus did not mean that the Lord was literally a hen, with literal wings, and that the people of Israel were literally chickens!
The hen gathering her chickens under her wings, was a metaphor or an allegory of the Lord’s desire to protect and comfort Israel.

Similarly, the ascension of Christ from His Apostles was a metaphor or an allegory of his return.

“While they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” Acts 1:9

How was this metaphor fulfilled?
He went ‘out of their sight’, he would return ‘out of their sight.’ He would return in the invisible spirit realm! Just as it was the disciples who witnessed his departure, so it was they who witnessed his return in the cloud of his Father’s glory to dwell within them!
This was their hope fulfilled, as was promised in Col 1:27, “Christ in you, the hope of glory!” Col 1:27

Christ returned in the Glory of His Father (the cloud), in the invisible spirit realm (out of sight of the world) to his awaiting disciples!