Question 46: What does it mean to “ascend into heaven”?

 

Question 46: What does it mean to “ascend into heaven”?

Answer: Christ ascended from the earth into heaven before his disciples, and remains there for us until he returns to judge the living and the dead.

There is a Bible verse that depicts Jesus' ascension. Luke 24:50-53, "And Jesus led them out as far as Bethany; and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And as he blessed them, he departed from them [and was carried up into heaven (ton uranon τὸν οὐρανόν)]. And they [worshiped him] and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they continued in the temple praising God."

Mark 16:19 says, “After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven (ton uranon τὸν οὐρανόν) and sat at the right hand of God.”

Jesus was taken up into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God. Ephesians 2:5-6, “Even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” It is said that the saints have also been seated in the heavenly places in Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 15:48, it says, “So are those who are of the earth, as are those who are of the earth; and so are those who are of the heavens (epulanios ἐπουρανίοις).”

The words ton uranon and epulaniois (ἐπουρανίοις: heavenly places) are in the plural form with the noun, meaning the kingdom of God that dwells within the hearts of the saints. Jesus' ascension was not seen with the physical eyes of the disciples, but with their spiritual eyes. And Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, entered into the hearts of the disciples, dwelled there, spoke to them, and displayed great power.

John 6:62-63, “What then will you do if you see the Son of Man ascending where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

The resurrection and ascension of Jesus becomes a spiritual story. Jesus' resurrection means that he sheds his physical body and takes on a spiritual body, thus his spirit comes to life, ascends to heaven, and returns to earth. In other words, he is present in the temple within the soul, enabling the saints to establish heaven. If Jesus were only in spirit, he would return to the place of God. However, since he still stands in the place of God's Son for the saints, he is clothed in a spiritual body and is present with them. He is present in the souls of the saints and is with them.

Romans 8:33-34 “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised (egerdeis ek nekron)—who is at the right hand of God and who also intercedes for us.”

 

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