CHRIST'S INCREASING KINGDOM The ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ into heaven, and His subsequent exaltation and enthronement, are a pivotal point of the apostle's doctrine. It is not an incidental teaching, even though it appears as though the modern church sees it as such. The kingdom has been given to Jesus Christ, and He is governing it with the intent of bringing the sons home to glory. Our salvation not only depends upon Christ's death, but on His resurrection, ascension, enthronement, and intercession as well. If Jesus had died, but not been raised from the dead, His death would have had no redemptive power. If He has raised from the dead, yet not ascended into heaven, neither His death nor His resurrection would have obtained eternal significance. If He had returned to heaven, yet not been exalted, enthroned, and entered into His mediatorial and intercessory ministry, none of the effects of His death and resurrection could have been realized by us. -- Tomorrow:
"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. OF THE INCREASE OF HIS GOVERNMENT AND PEACE THERE SHALL BE NO END, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this!" (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Devotion 12 of 36
With these things in mind, here are some of the statements concerning Christ's return to heaven. This is the event that Daniel saw in a vision of one like unto the Son of men coming with the clouds and being brought to the Ancient of days.
1. "And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as HE WENT UP, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is TAKEN UP FROM YOU INTO HEAVEN, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11).
2. "Whom HE HEAVEN MUST RECEIVE until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:21).
3. "And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and SET HIM AT HIS OWN RIGHT HAND in the heavenly places" (Eph 1:20).
4. "Wherefore he saith, When HE ASCENDED UP on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that HE ASCENDED, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ASCENDED up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things" (Eph 4:9-10).
5. "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 Tim 3:16).
6. "Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when he had by himself purged our sins, SAT DOWN ON THE RIGHT HAND of the Majesty on high" (Heb 1:3).
7. "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is PASSED INTO THE HEAVENS, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession" (Heb 4:14).
8. "For Christ is not ENTERED INTO THE HOLY PLACES made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but INTO HEAVEN ITSELF, now to APPEAR IN THE PRESENCE of God for us" (Heb 9:24).
9. "And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was CAUGHT UP TO GOD, AND TO HIS THRONE" (Rev 12:5).
All of these are a depiction of the Lord coming on the clouds, as it were, into heaven. Daniel saw it nearly 600 years before it occurred. This was unquestionable evidence that Daniel was especially precious to the God of heaven. Three times Daniel is referred to as "greatly beloved" of God. I will tell you that no other kind of person would have been vouchsafed such precious insights! Those who live close to the Lord get more, as is confirmed in the prophet Daniel, to say nothing of the Apostles' like Paul and John.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for a Savior that has entered into Your presence to appear for us.