WE EXALT THEE JESUS
Graphic from Bill Lane
Apocalyptic
Hope
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May
21, 2009
THE
ASCENSION
WE EXALT THEE
JESUS
Graphic
from Bill Lane
THREE
ASCENSIONS:
Intimate Ascension; Evening Ascension, and Ascension Thursday
Throughout Church History we have celebrated "The"
Ascension of Jesus Christ as a one time event :10 days before
Pentecost. Yet the Scriptures actually record 3 ascensions of
Jesus Christ. One took place on Easter Morning, as recorded in Matthew 28.
We
will call that one the" Intimate Ascension".
The
Second Ascension took place on Easter evening and is recorded in Luke 24:50, 51 and in Mark 16:19 and in Acts 1:2.
We
will call that the "Evening Ascension."
And
finally the third Ascension took place 10 days before Pentecost
and is recorded in Acts 1:9. This is the most recognized
Ascension and is often referred to as "Ascension Thursday".
Let's
examine each more closely in detail.
1.
The Intimate Ascension (Loving Embrace)
The knowledge of this Ascension is derived from direct revelation
and by deduction.
Christ directly revealed the fact that He was to ascend to His
Father shortly after His resurrection. He revealed this to Mary
Magdalene Easter morning in the Garden Tomb area, as found in the Gospel of John 20:17
"Touch
Me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My
brethren, and say unto them,
I
ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God and your
God."
This was a pronouncement by Christ of what was to take place
immediately, not 40 days later.
The great I AM exists in real-time.
It is spiritually profound that Christ would ascend to the Father
as a completion of His redemptive work here on earth. This is the
conclusion of His prayer to the Father found in John 17, spoken on the night of the
Last Supper. It is only right, proper and fitting that Christ
receive the glory due Him and to receive it at this time. Since
Jesus told us directly, why would anyone doubt?
But just in case one does doubt, Our Lord lets us conclude this
august fact through deduction.
Christ told Mary Magdalene not to touch Him (she already had
grasped His feet, we are told in Matthew 28:9). Jesus was saving that
special welcoming embrace for His Father alone. The intimacy They
would share in Glory is not revealed to us, but someday we will
know. For now, it is only hinted at.
We read in Psalm 2:7
"I
will declare the decree: the LORD (Jehovah) hath said unto Me
(Jesus Christ):
"Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee".
Easter Sunday, Firstfruits, is truly THE Lord's day.
Although Jesus is and always has been the Son of God, begotten of
God, this above verse refers to the fulfillment of Sonship
obtained by Christ's willing obedience to the redemptive process
(crucifixion, burial and resurrection). This completion and
consummation of the Father's will, on our behalf, wrought the
embrace of finality by the Father. It is that final embrace we
all look forward to when we too shall die or be raptured.
"As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness:
I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness."
Psalm 17:15
Keeping in mind the fact that Jesus told Mary Magdalene not to
touch Him for He had not yet ascended to the Father---we then
realize that after that encounter, Christ ascended to the Father
and received the Father's embrace and 'Amen' to the finished work
of Christ. Then we go on to notice that that same evening Christ
commands the disciples to touch Him and see that it is truly Him.
"Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me
and see".
Luke
24:39
The obvious deduction is that Christ has already been with the
Father in Glory and has transported back to earth and it is now
permissible to touch Him, and is in fact encouraged.
From these two affirmations--- direct revelation and by
deduction--- we can then conclude with certainty that yes Jesus
Christ BOTH rose and ascended on Easter morning. This ascension
being an "Intimate
Ascension".
* * *
* *
This may well be the time when Jesus sprinkled His blood upon the
Mercy Seat in heaven.
After Christ had descended, He resurrected on Sunday Morning to
the Garden Tomb area and spoke with the women at the grave site.
He told them He was going to ascend to His Father....which He did
that morning. After receiving the embrace of the Father, Jesus
most likely sprinkled His blood (miraculously) upon the Mercy
Seat in Heaven.
"But Christ being come an high priest of good things to
come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with
hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood
of goats and calves, BUT BY HIS OWN BLOOD He entered in ONCE into
the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."
Hebrews
9: 11, 12
2.
The Evening Ascension (Joy)
The
Evening Ascension is recorded in Luke's Gospel Chapter 24
(also Acts 1:2)
and is
discerned from both time and location.
The setting here is Easter evening (not 40 days later) and the
place here is Bethany (not the Mt. of Olives, even though Bethany
is down the slope of the Mt. of Olives). Bethany is a hamlet in
its own right and would never be interchangeable with the Mt. of
Olives as an identical location.
Just as there were two witnesses to ascension #1 (direct
revelation and deduction) there are now two witnesses to the
Evening Resurrection (time and place).
All of
Luke
24 deals with one single day:
Easter Sunday.
It begins at dawn with the realization that Christ has
resurrected from the grave. It goes on to tell the story of
Emmaus and how Christ has already transported back to earth (from
the Father) and continues to do what He has always done: proclaim
the Gospel.
The Chapter then goes on to show Christ revealing Himself to His
disciples gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem that same Easter evening. He tells them to touch Him
and prove to themselves that it is actually He. Jesus then leads
them from the upper room in Jerusalem out over the Mt. of Olives
and down the slope to the small village of Bethany. They most
likely arrived at the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha.
Great Joy was shared by all those present there. To realize that
Jesus truly was their Messiah, that He had not died in vain, that
His resurrection vindicated everything He ever said or did
overwhelmed them with uncontainable joy.
Then as evening shadows lengthened and their course of discussion
finished, Jesus blesses them and raises His hands and is carried
upwards to heaven. This is the second recorded Ascension, the
Evening Ascension.
It is our belief that at the time of the Evening Ascension, all
those who arose from their graves on that same Easter Day also
went up to Heaven with Jesus that evening, after appearing unto
many of the brethren.
(Matthew
27:52, 53 ... the Barley Sheaf )
"Father,
I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where
I am; that they may behold My glory,
which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovest Me before the
foundation of the world." John 17:24
Don't
you suppose that Joseph---Jesus' earthly-father----would have
been in that company ?
Easter
evening would be the fulfillment of Ephesians 4:8 :
"Wherefore
He (the Holy Spirit) saith,"When He (Jesus) ascended up on
high, He
led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men". (ten days
later on Pentecost).
After Jesus and His company of resurrected saints ascended on
Easter evening, his followers then returned to Jerusalem with
great Joy, knowing they would shortly see Jesus again. For He had
promised that He would see them next in Galilee, probably when
the Feast of unleavened bread was over, and most families were
returning to their homes and villages from Jerusalem.
These followers had much joy that Easter Evening. Not only did
they know that Jesus was alive, resurrected and in an eternal
Glorified Body, but they knew they would see Him again. They knew
that He had the power to teleport to and from earth since He had
done so already twice that same day. He had all power in heaven
and earth. Such sweet and utter joy at the time of the Evening Ascension.
Luke refers back to THAT Evening Ascension in his next treatise
(ACTS) in Acts
1:2. In that verse Luke tells
his friend Theophilus that he, Luke, had previously recorded the
earthly life of Jesus
Christ up and until the time He was ascended from Bethany, Easter
evening (in his former treatise).
Luke then goes on in Acts to record the most famous ascension of
all:
3.
Ascension Thursday (Hope) Acts 1:9
This Ascension is the widely recognized Ascension of Jesus
Christ, and is referred to as "THE" Ascension.
Unfortunately, it is perceived to be His only Ascension, which of
course it is not. Christ ascended at least 3 times as recorded in
Scripture and transported many times between heaven and earth
during His 40 days here, after His resurrection.
This modern generation accepts so readily Star Trek's version of
teleporting ("beam me up, Scotty"). Science Fiction
tries so desperately hard to imitate the magnificent actualities
found only in the Holy Bible and performed only by Jesus Christ
of Nazareth.
But then Satan has always been an imitator and counterfeiter.
This third recorded Ascension is vastly different from the other
two ascensions mentioned beforehand.
This ascension has a somber finality to it. Jesus is going Home.
He will not be teleporting back and forth as He has been doing
for 40 days. The disciples enter their final plea before He
leaves. Will He now establish His kingdom on earth ? Jesus
intimates that no, not at this time, and that the time will be
hidden until the Book of Daniel is reopened for further
revelations. All these times are in the Father's Hand.
Another pang of sorrow.
Not only is Jesus leaving them physically (in a final way), but
also Israel will have to await its deliverance from the yoke of
Rome, and the Messianic earthly kingdom is yet to come.
A
SPIRITUAL KINGDOM
They now must live out their days in HOPE and in the Promise of
the Father. The Promise is the Holy Spirit.
He will inaugurate Christ's ACTUAL KINGDOM here on earth at Our
Lord's Millennium. when in our glorified bodies we will be
priests and kings (intercessors for our fellow man and for
nations).
We read in Matthew 16:19
"and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of
heaven:and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shalt be loosed
in heaven". This is the Church's authority--not invested in
one man, not in Peter alone (or a pope) , but in all of us as
priests of our Lord's spiritual kingdom when He comes after
Armageddon"
Our Messianic Hope (the key of David) is yet to come...
Christ's earthly reign is yet to come.
But the Spiritual Kingdom is here already, and we are even now
ministering as prayer warriors and ministers of the Gospel of
reconciliation.
This Spiritual Kingdom was given in earnest (in down payment)
when Christ appeared in the upper room Easter evening and
breathed upon His disciples and said,
"Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose soever sins ye remit, they
are remitted unto them; and Whose soever sins ye retain, they are
retained"John 20:23
This is NOT referring to confessing one's sins to a priest. We
confess our sins to God alone, or to the specific injured party.
This is a form of accountability. When offended by others, we
either ask God for their change of heart, or for their
accountability...whichever works first. Zechariah (2 Chronicles
24:22), David (Psalm 69:22) and Paul
(1 Corinthians 5:5) prayed for accountability, fitting the
circumstances.
Our Lord and Stephen prayed for forgiveness for their persecutors
at the time of their death. In Christ's case, it worked to the
advantage of us all. In Stephen's case it worked to Saul's
advantage. The Holy Spirit gives the discernment to know what to
pray for.
For
verses on the priesthood of the Believer
please see:
Exodus 19:6..... Isaiah 61:6 .... 1 Peter 2:5 .... 1 Peter 2:9;
...... Matthew 23:8;
Revelation 1:6; ...... Rev. 5:10 and Rev. 20:6.
We read of the kingdom authority of the Church again in Matthew
18:18
"Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Generally,
we bind demonic forces in Jesus name, and we loose the power of
the Holy Spirit for regeneration, etc." Our kingdom is
SPIRITUAL. It is not a political entity in any way, shape or
form. We are intercessors....
people who PRAY for outcomes while living righteously.
"And men began to call upon the NAME of the LORD
(Jehovah-Jesus)" Genesis 4:26.
Enos is the first recorded priest in Scripture.
Christ "hath raised us up together, and made us sit together
in in heavenly places in Christ Jesus"
Ephesians
2:6.
This spiritual power refers to the spiritual kingdom. We do not
have political power
(aligning with political causes), for Our Lord told us that His
kingdom is not of this world. (John 18:36)
His Messianic Kingdom has not yet come. And even
when it does come (after Armageddon), politics will play no
part in it.
Please
see "When the RIGHT becomes wrong" www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/wolves.html
THURSDAY
For now, we are on the top of the Mt. of Olives...it is
Thursday...the Lord is ending His earthly manifested presence at
this time (in His glorified body). From now on, His presence
would be spiritual, by the power of the Holy Ghost. The promise
and the expectation and the hope is yet future.
The followers were to wait 10 days. We as the Church have
tribulation 10 days. "In the world ye shall have
tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the
world." John
16:33
We too
are buffeted on every side ( 1 Corinthians 4:11 ). And we too have the promise
of the Comforter, and the Hope of Our Lord's return.
For
now, the church is focused on the rapture, and as conditions get
worse here on earth, it is good to look forward to the rapture (both Midnight and
Cockcrowing).
Yet it is also good to await with eager hope and anticipation the
earthly kingdom of Jesus Christ. (millennial reign of Jesus
Christ) For
while it is good for us to leave this world, to depart and thus to
ever be with the Lord, it is also good that Righteousness
(Tzidkenu) reign here on earth.
One
thing this last decade has accomplished for sure, is to make us
all yearn and ache for righteousness.
Everything is so totally corrupted and controlled ( New World
Order) from the high on down to the low, from east to west and
from north to south and from top to bottom. How we all long to be
free of the SYSTEM.
We strain to see goodness and righteousness, and our eyes will
grow dim until the Day Star rises.
That too was the feeling upon the Mt. of Olives that Thursday
long ago: the feeling of somber reality tinged with Hope.
"And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He
was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight."Acts 1:9
Christ has now ascended into the highest heaven, Ephesians tells
us, and gave gifts to men."
Ephesians 4:8-12. See also Psalm 68:18
THERE
IS NO QUEEN of HEAVEN
This
Ascension Thursday is perhaps the Coronation Day of our King
of the Universe:
"The
LORD (Jehovah) said unto my Lord (Jesus Christ)
'Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies thy
footstool"
Psalm
110:1
"But
to which of the angels said He at any time "Sit on My right
hand, until I make Thine enemies thy footstool?" Hebrews 1:13
Jesus..."Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand
of God;
angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto
Him."
1
Peter 3:22
"And
without controversy great is the mystery of Godliness: God was
manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels,
preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into
glory."1 Timothy 3:16
JESUS
IS PRAYING FOR US NOW
"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost
that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever
liveth to make intercession for them."
Hebrews 7:25
Our
Forerunner has entered heaven ahead of us (Hebrews 6:20) to intercede for
us
and to prepare a place for us John 14:2...
"Let not your hearts be troubled: ye believe in God, believe
also in Me.
In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I
would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be
also."
John
14:1-3
Thanks be to God.
***************************
"Praise
ye the LORD....the LORD is high above all nations,
and His Glory above the heavens." Psalm 113:4
"I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted
up,
and his train filled the temple". Isaiah 6:1
[due to redemption].....
"Wherefore God (the Father) also hath HIGHLY exalted Him
(Jesus), and given Him a Name which is above every name:
That at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, of things in
heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11
"
I Exalt Thee" by Jeff Fenholt
www.elijah.org/fenholt/lions.htm
Our
God is an AWESOME God
www.cbministries.org/RichMemories/AwesomeGod.htm
Other
Scriptural References to the Ascension:
Christ, the Prophet, foretold of His Ascensions in John 6:62
(seen--witnessed-- from Bethany and from the Mt. of Olives) and
John 20:17. (foretelling the Intimate Ascension. (unseen).
Stephen witnessed Christ in His exalted position in Heaven in
Acts 7:55, 56
and Paul Himself encountered the Ascended Christ on his way to
Damascus in Acts 9:3-5.
LINKS:
Java image:
www.winghaven.com/ascension/ascension.htm
Beautiful
photo and words from Friedrich Wenz
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/may2004/friedrichw521.htm
Excellent
articles by JH Keathley:
http://bsf.bible.org/docs/pastor/seasonal/easter/ascend.htm
http://bsf.bible.org/docs/pastor/seasonal/eastoc.htm
ANNIE'S
Ascension Day
http://www.annieshomepage.com/ascensionday.html
Excellent
article by Kenneth Alan Daughters
www.emmaus.edu/ej_ascen.html
Glorified
Body: http://catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Faith/0304-97/ESCHATOL.html
Why
Did He Have To Go ?
www.thekingsdaughter.com/easter4.htm
Do You
Have a Mansion in the Sky ?......by Frances
www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/5876/sky.html
25
Features of our Resurrected Bodies:
http://devotional.net/25resurrbodies.html
What
is a Glorified Body ?
www.kingdomofjesuschrist.org/Q&R/F_J/GLORIFIEDBODY.HTML
www.sspeterpaul.org/ascensio.htm
Pictures
of the Ascension http://www.textweek.com/art/ascension.htm
Inaccurate
Liturgy : Changing the observance of Ascension Thursday
http://www.stcdio.org/worship/transfer.htm
Is
this worshipping God in "spirit and in truth" John 4:24 (accuracy) ??
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