Ascension of Christ

Heaven

Jesus ascended into a physical place called Heaven. Luke 24:50-51

Luke 24:50–51 NASB95

And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

Acts 1:10–11 NASB95

And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

Heaven is a physical place where Christ resides today. It is the hope of the Christian to join Christ in heaven. Though the Bible does not give a lot of detail regarding heaven it does mention it in many places.

Heaven is a place in the space-time universe. The problem is that we do not have eyes to see it. Just as there are spiritual things all around us that we cannot see, so heaven is one of those things.

For example here are some things the Bible speaks of regarding spiritual things we cannot see.

2 Kings 6:17 NASB95

Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Acts 7:55–56 NASB95

But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

John 14:2–3 NASB95

“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

Heaven is a literal real place that Christ resides.

Christ’s Glory

When Christ ascended into heaven, He received glory, honor, and authority that never has been his since He was fully God and fully man. Acts 2:33

Acts 2:33 NASB95

“Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.

Philippians 2:9 NASB95

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,

Hebrews 1:4 NASB95

having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

Revelation 5:12 NASB95

saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

Jesus is no longer a suffering servant. He is now an eternal reigning King that has all authority over heaven and earth.

Christ Seated At the Right Hand Of God

When Christ finished his work on earth, He sat down at the right hand of God. Much like us when we finish something of a great task, we sit down and enjoy.

Jesus is at the right hand of God. Ps. 110:1

Psalm 110:1 NASB95

The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

Hebrews 1:3 NASB95

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Jesus work was completed on the cross. He took the punishment for humanities sin by enduring the wrath of God for the sin of mankind.

The right hand of God is a place of authority. Eph. 1:20-21

Ephesians 1:20–21 NASB95

which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

1 Peter 3:22 NASB95

who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

1 Corinthians 15:25 NASB95

For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

At the right hand of God, Jesus has the authority to send the Holy Spirit to man. Acts 2:33

Acts 2:33 NASB95

“Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.

Just as a king does not just sit and rule, but is actively engaged in the activities of the kingdom, So Jesus is actively involved in His Kingdom in heaven and earth. Acts 7:56

Acts 7:56 NASB95

and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Revelation 2:1 NASB95

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

Jesus is actively involved in our lives.

3 Reasons Christ’s Ascension Is Significant To Us.

We are united in Christ in every aspect of his work of redemption, Christ’s going up to heaven foreshadows our ascension into heaven. 1 Thes. 4:17

1 Thessalonians 4:17 NASB95

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

2. Jesus ascension gives us assurance of everlasting life with Him. We get to spend eternity with Christ in heaven. A place that is free from sin and its affects on creation. This means there will be no death in heaven. John 14:2-3

John 14:2–3 NASB95

“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

3. Our union with Christ gives us the ability to share in Christ’s authority. Eph. 2:6

Ephesians 2:6 NASB95

and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 6:12 NASB95

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

2 Corinthians 10:4 NASB95

for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

Revelation 2:26–27 NASB95

‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father;