Reference: Ascension
American
The visible ascent of Christ to heaven. When our Savior had repeatedly conversed with his apostles during forty days, after his resurrection, and afforded them infallible proofs of its reality, he led them out to the Mount of Olives, and was raised up to heaven in their sight, there to continue till he shall come again at the last day to judge the quick and the dead, Ac 1:9,11. The ascension was demonstrated by the descent of the Holy Ghost,
Joh 16:7-14; Ac 2. It was Christ's real human nature that ascended; and he thus triumphed gloriously over death and hell, as head of his body the church. While he blessed his disciples he was parted from them and multitudes of the angelic hosts accompanied and welcomed him, Ps 24:9; 68:17. The consequences resulting from his ascension are: the fulfilment of types and prophecies concerning it; his appearance as a priest in the presence of God for us; his more open and full assumption of his kingly office; his receiving gifts for men; his opening the way to heaven for his people. Heb 10:19-20; and assuring his saints of their ascension to heaven after the resurrection of the dead, Joh 14:1-2.
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Let not your heart be troubled. Have faith in God, and have faith in me. In my Fathers house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. For I go away to prepare a place for you;
But I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I depart. For if I do not depart, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he is come, he will bring conviction to the world, of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. read more. Of sin, because they believe not in me; of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged. I have yet many things to say to you, but ye cannot bear them now. But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself, but whatever he shall hear, that he will speak; and he will tell you the things to come. He will glorify me, for he will receive of what is mine, and will tell it to you.
And having thus spoken, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
who said, Men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This Jesus, who hath been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same manner in which ye beheld him going into heaven.
Having therefore, brethren, boldness for entrance into the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, a new and living way, which he consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, his flesh,
Easton
See Christ.
Hastings
The fact of our Lord's Ascension is treated very scantily in the Synoptic Gospels. From Mt. it is entirely omitted. In the appendix to Mk. the words in which it is stated are rather the formula of a creed than the narrative of an event (Mr 16:19). Lk. is somewhat more circumstantial, and, though the chronology is uncertain, mentions the journey to the neighbourhood of Bethany and the disappearance of Christ in the act of blessing, together with the return of the disciples to Jerusalem (Lu 24:50-52). The narrative, meagre as it is, is not inconsistent with, and may even presuppose, the events recorded at greater length in Acts (Ac 1:6-12). Here we learn that the scene was more precisely the Mount, of Olives (Ac 1:12); that the final conversation, to which allusion is possibly made in Mr 16:19, concerned the promise of the Holy Spirit (Mr 16:6-8); and that the Ascension, so far as it was an event and therefore a subject of testimony, took the form of the uplifting of the bodily form of Jesus from the earth till it disappeared in a cloud (Mr 16:9-10). Whether this experience involved more than the separation of Christ from immediate contact with the earth, and included His gradual recession into the upper air, there is nothing directly to show. The general form of the narrative recalls the Transfiguration (Lu 9:28-36 ||). The words of the 'two men in white apparei' (Lu 9:10) suggest that the final impression was that of disappearance above the heads of the onlookers (Lu 9:11). It will be noticed that, while the Markan appendix and Luke, unless the latter narrative is interpolated, blend fact and figure (Mr 16:19 'received up [fact] into heaven [partly fact, partly figure], and sat down at the right hand of God [figure]'; Lu 24:51 'he parted from them [fact], and was carried up into heaven [partly fact, partly figure; but see Revised Version margin,' as must necessarily be the case where the doctrine of the Ascension is concerned; Acts, on the other hand, which purports to describe an event, rigidly keeps within the limits of testimony.
There are certain anticipations of the Ascension in the Gospels which must be regarded as part of their witness to it. Thus Lk. introduces the account of our Lord's last journey to Jerusalem with the words 'when the days were being fulfilled that he should be received up' (Lu 9:51 Revised Version margin). It is probable that the Ascension is here delicately blended with the Crucifixion, as apparently by Christ Himself in Joh 12:32. Again, the word exodos in Luke's account of the Transfiguration, rendered in the text of RV 'decease,' but marg. 'departure,' seems to have the same double reference (Lu 9:31). Our Lord's predictions of the Second Coming 'on the clouds' (Mt 24:30; 26:64; cf. 1Th 4:16; Re 1:7) almost necessarily imply the Ascension. The Fourth Gospel, while in its accustomed manner omitting the story of the Ascension, probably regarded as known, introduces definite references to it on the part of Christ both before and after the Resurrection (Joh 6:62; 7:33; 14:19,28; 16:28; 20:17 etc.). And if we compare statements in the Epistles (Eph 4:8; Heb 1:3; 4:14) with the Ascension narrative, it is scarcely possible to doubt that the writers accepted the historic fact as the basis of their teaching. To this must be added all those passages which speak of Jesus as exalted to the right hand or throne of God (Ro 8:34; Eph 1:20; Heb 10:12 etc.), and as returning to earth in the glory of the Father (Mt 25:31; Mr 8:38; Php 3:20 etc.). In connexion with the Session, St. Peter, after mentioning the Resurrection, uses the expression 'having gone his way into heaven' (1Pe 3:22, cf. Joh 14:3). Nor can we omit such considerations as arise out of the fact of the Resurrection itself, which are satisfied only by an event that puts a definite period to the earthly manifestation of the incarnate Christ.
From what has been said it will appear that the Ascension stands on a somewhat different level from the Resurrection as an attested fact. Like the Virgin-birth, it did not form a part of the primitive preaching, nor does it belong to the evidences of Christianity. The fragment of what is thought to be a primitive hymn quoted in 1Ti 3:16 somewhat curiously places 'preached among the nations' before 'received up in glory.' But it is nevertheless a fact which came within the experience of the Apostles, and can therefore claim a measure of historical testimony. The Resurrection is itself the strongest witness to the reality of the Ascension, as of the Virgin-birth, nor would either in the nature of the case have been capable of winning its way to acceptance apart from the central faith that Jesus actually rose from the dead. But neither the fact itself nor its importance to the Christian believer depends upon the production of evidence for its occurrence. It will not be seriously disputed by those who accept the Apostolic gospel. On the other hand, the fact that the Ascension was accepted in the primitive Church as the event which put a term to the earthly manifestation of Christ brings out the Resurrection in striking relief as in the full sense of the word a fact of history. It is the Ascension, represented as it is in Scripture not only historically but mystically, and not the Resurrection, which might be viewed as an apotheosis or idealization of Jesus. That 'Jesus is now living at the right hand of God' (Harnack) is not a sufficient account of the Christian belief in the Resurrection in view of the Ascension narrative, which, even if Keim and others are right in regarding it as a materialization of the doctrine of the eternal Session as set forth in the Epistles, becomes necessary only when the Resurrection is accepted in the most literal sense.
The Ascension is the point of contact between the man Jesus Christ of the Gospeis and the mystical Christ of the Epistles, preserving the historical character of the former and the universality of the latter in true continuity. It enabled the disciples to identify the gift of Pentecost with the promise of the Holy Spirit, which had been specially connected with the withdrawal of Jesus from bodily sight and His return to the Father (Joh 16:7; cf. Joh 7:39). An eternal character is thus given to the sacrifice of the death of Christ, which becomes efficacious through the exaltation of His crucified and risen manhood (Heb 10:11-14,19-22).
J. G. Simpson.
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And then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and will see the Son of man coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
And when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then will he sit on the throne of his glory,
Jesus saith to him, I am. Moreover I say to you, Henceforth ye will see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.
For whoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will also the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
But he saith to them, Be not affrighted; ye seek Jesus the Nazarene who was crucified; he hath risen; he is not here; behold the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, that he is going before you into Galilee; there ye will see him, as he said to you. read more. And they went out, and fled from the tomb; for trembling and amazement had seized them, and they said nothing to any one; for they were terrified. {The remaining twelve verses, according to Tischendorf and others, made originally no part of Marks Gospel. As the passage was added very early, however, since it is referred to by Irenaeus in the latter part of the second century, it is here given, as an appendix.} [And having risen early, on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary the Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven demons. She went and reported it to those who had been with him, who were mourning and weeping.
So then, the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down on the right hand of God;
So then, the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down on the right hand of God;
So then, the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down on the right hand of God;
And the apostles returned and told him what they had done; and taking them with him, he withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. But the multitudes, when they knew it, followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.
And it came to pass about eight days after this discourse, that he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up into the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was changed, and his raiment became white and glistening. read more. And lo! two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah; who appeared in glory, and spoke of his departure which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem.
who appeared in glory, and spoke of his departure which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem. But Peter and those who were with him were weighed down with sleep. But when they awoke, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. read more. And it came to pass as they were parting from him, that Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tents, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah; not knowing what he said. But as he was saying this, there came a cloud and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, "This is my chosen Son; hear him." And when the voice had come, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it secret, and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
And it came to pass, when the time was near for his being received up, that he himself steadily set his face to go to Jerusalem.
And he led them out as far as to Bethany; and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, that he parted from them.
And it came to pass, while he blessed them, that he parted from them. And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
What then if ye behold the Son of man ascending where he was before?
Jesus therefore said, Yet a little while I am with you, and then I go to him that sent me.
But this he said of the Spirit, which those that believed in him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
and I, if I be lifted up from the earth, shall draw all men to me.
and when I have gone away and prepared a place for you, I will come again, and will take you to myself; that where I am, ye also may be.
Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye will behold me, because I live, and ye will live.
Ye heard me say to you, I am going away, and am coming again to you. If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced that I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.
But I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I depart. For if I do not depart, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
I came forth from the Father, and have come into the world; again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
Jesus saith to her, Touch me not; for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren, and say to them, I ascend to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.
They therefore, having come together, asked him, saying, Lord, art thou at this time about to restore the kingdom to Israel? But he said to them, It belongeth not to you to know times or seasons, which the Father appointed by his own authority. read more. But ye will receive power when the Holy Spirit hath come upon you; and ye will be my witnesses, both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth. And having thus spoken, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they were looking earnestly into heaven as he went up, lo! two men stood by them in white apparel, who said, Men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This Jesus, who hath been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same manner in which ye beheld him going into heaven. Then they returned to Jerusalem, from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, within a sabbathdays journey.
Then they returned to Jerusalem, from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, within a sabbathdays journey.
Who is he that condemneth? Christ is he that died, yea rather, who rose again, who is also at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead; and seated him at his own right hand in the heavenly regions,
Wherefore he saith: "When he ascended on high, he led captive a train of captives, and gave gifts to men."
For the country of which we are citizens is heaven, whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a loud summons, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first;
And confessedly great is the mystery of godliness, in him who was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.
who being a brightness from his glory and an image of his being, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself accomplished a cleansing of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Since, then, we have a great highpriest, who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
And every priest indeed standeth performing daily service, and offering again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but he, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, sat down for ever on the right hand of God,
but he, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, sat down for ever on the right hand of God, thenceforth waiting until his enemies be made his footstool. read more. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever those who are sanctified.
Having therefore, brethren, boldness for entrance into the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, a new and living way, which he consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, his flesh, read more. and having a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience; and having had our bodies washed with pure water,
who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.
Behold, he cometh with the clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Morish
This term is constantly applied to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to heaven from whence He came. Joh 3:13. Leading His eleven apostles out as far as Bethany, on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, in the act of blessing them He ascended up to heaven, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. Mr 16:19; Lu 24:50-51; Ac 1:9. The ascension of the Lord Jesus is a momentous fact for His saints: the One who bore their sins on the cross has been received up in glory, and sits on the right hand of God.
As forerunner He has entered into heaven for the saints, and has been made a high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Heb 6:20. His ascension assured, according to His promise, the descent of the Holy Spirit, which was accomplished at Pentecost. Joh 16:7; Ac 1:4,8; 2. As ascended He became Head of His body the church, Eph 1:22, and gave gifts to men, among which gifts are evangelists who preach to the world, and pastors and teachers to care for and instruct the saints. Ps 68:18; Eph 4:8-13.
His ascension is a demonstration through the presence of the Holy Spirit that sin is in the world and righteousness in heaven, for the very One they rejected has been received by the Father into heaven. Joh 16:10. The ascension is also a tremendous fact for Satan: the prince of this world has been judged who led the world to put the Lord to death; and in His ascension He led captivity captive, having broken the power of death in which men were held, Eph 4:8, for He had in the cross spoiled principalities and powers and made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Col 2:15.
Above all, the ascension is a glorious fact for the blessed Lord Himself. Jehovah said unto Him, "Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." Ps 110:1. He has taken His place as man where man never was before, and He is also glorified with the glory which He had before the world was, besides the glory which He graciously shares with His saints. Joh 17:5,22.
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So then, the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down on the right hand of God;
And he led them out as far as to Bethany; and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, that he parted from them.
And no one hath ascended into heaven, but he who came down from heaven, even the Son of man.
But I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I depart. For if I do not depart, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye see me no more;
and now, Father! do thou glorify me with thyself, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
And the glory which thou hast given me, I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one;
And while in assembly with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for what had been promised by the Father, which [said he] ye heard from me;
But ye will receive power when the Holy Spirit hath come upon you; and ye will be my witnesses, both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth. And having thus spoken, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
and put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church,
Wherefore he saith: "When he ascended on high, he led captive a train of captives, and gave gifts to men."
Wherefore he saith: "When he ascended on high, he led captive a train of captives, and gave gifts to men." Now what is implied in his ascending, but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? read more. He who descended is the same as he who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministration, for the building up of the body of Christ; till we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a fullgrown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
and having disarmed principalities and powers, he made a public show of them, and led them captive in triumph in him.
where as forerunner for us Jesus entered, having become a highpriest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.