Biblical Concept: The Ascension of Jesus Christ

 

Main vocabulary: avnabai,nw; avna, = a prefixed preposition meaning “up,” bai,nw = “to go” = literally: “up-to go.”

 

Note: End parentheses or bracketing are mine.

 

NAS John 6:62 "What then if you should behold the Son of Man ascending where He was before? (Meaning: Ascension = a home-coming.) (Note John 8:23.)

 

NAS John 20:17 Jesus *said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, 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.'" (Meaning: Ascension = an act of Triune humility.)

 

NAS Acts 1:9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them; 11 and 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." (Meaning: “Lifted up” = evpai,rw + an indicative aorist passive inflection = the Lord Jesus Christ receiving a lift into heaven.  Think honor. “Has been taken up” also employs a passive voice.)

 

NAS Acts 2:33 "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. 34 "For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD," SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, 35 UNTIL I MAKE THINE ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR THY FEET."' (Meaning: Ascension = exaltation.) (Note Acts 5:31 and Hebrews 7:26.)

 

NAS Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, (Meaning: Jesus ascended to an exalted name above all names.)

 

NAS 1 Timothy 3:16 And by common confession great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Beheld by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory. (Meaning: Ascension = glory.)

 

NAS Ephesians 1:19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 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. (Meaning: Ascension = the final act of victory in the Angelic Conflict.)

 

NAS Ephesians 2:6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, (Meaning: Jesus ascended to enthronement.)

 

NAS Ephesians 4:8 Therefore it says, "WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN." (Meaning: Ascension = victory spoils.)

 

NAS Ephesians 4:9 (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? [Meaning: Ascension followed battle victory.] [Also, 1 Peter 3:22.]

 

NAS Ephesians 4:10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) [Meaning: Ascension = the final act of victory in the Angelic Conflict.] [Also, Hebrews 7:26.]

 

NAS Colossians 3:1 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (Meaning: Jesus ascended to enthronement.)

 

NAS John 3:13 "And no one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, even the Son of Man. (Meaning: Ascension follows the humility of Divine descending.)

 

NAS Proverbs 30:4 Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son's name? Surely you know! (Meaning: Ascension = omnipotence.)

 

NAS Psalm 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captive Thy captives; Thou hast received gifts among men, Even among the rebellious also, that the LORD God may dwell there. (Meaning: Ascension follows victory.)

 

NAS John 1:51 And He *said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you shall see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." (Meaning: Ascension = power.  See 1:50-51.  Compare Luke 22:69.)

 

NAS Luke 9:51 And it came about, when the days were approaching for His ascension, that He resolutely set His face to go to Jerusalem; (Ascension = avna,lhmyij; avna, = up, lamban,w = to take = literally: up-to take.) (Meaning: Ascension victory motivated Jesus.) 

 

NAS Hebrews 1:3 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; (Meaning: Jesus ascended to the Majesty on high.) (Also, Hebrews 8:1.)

 

NAS Hebrews 4:14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (Meaning: Jesus ascended becoming a heavenly High Priest.) 

 

NAS Hebrews 10:12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 13 waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. (Meaning: Jesus ascended to wait for further glory in the Angelic Conflict.) (Compare “wait” in 1 Thessalonians 1:10.)

 

NAS Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Meaning: Jesus ascended to joy.)

 

NAS Romans 8:34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. (Meaning: Jesus ascended to become an Intercessor.) (See Hebrews 9:24.)

 

NAS Revelation 12:5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. (Meaning: Jesus ascended to enthronement.)

 

Revelation 4 - Meaning: Jesus ascended to be worshipped.

 

The Ascension of Jesus Christ, summary of meanings: The Ascension of Jesus Christ = a home-coming, an act of Triune humility, honor, exaltation, exalted name, glory, victory spoils, following battle victory, the final act of victory in the Angelic Conflict, following the humility of Divine descending, omnipotence, power, victory motivation, heavenly High Priest, to wait for further glory, joy, Intercessor, Majesty on high, enthronement, and worship.

 

 

Miscellaneous:

 

NAS Romans 10:6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks thus, "DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, 'WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?' (that is, to bring Christ down), [Meaning: Works for salvation is a human attempt to ascend to heaven without Christ.]

 

NAS Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.  (Meaning: Enoch ascended to heaven with no physical death.)

 

NAS Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things." (Meaning: Apostles ascended to heaven as needed.  Compare 2 Corinthians 12:1-10.)

 

NAS Revelation 11:12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies beheld them. (Meaning: God’s two Great Tribulation human witnesses will be resurrected and ascend to heaven = fearful power.  See 11:11b.)

 

NAS Revelation 19:3 And a second time they said, "Hallelujah! HER SMOKE RISES UP FOREVER AND EVER." (Meaning: God’s just judgment of sin will be memorialized with an eternal ascension of smoke.)

 

See also Biblical Concept: Christ’s Resurrection Return to Heaven.

 

A-Z