May 12

PART III.—Acts 1:9.

DOUBTLESS the ascension of Christ was connected with the Ministry of Angels. They had been employed to announce his conception, to hail his birth, to console him in the wilderness, and to rejoice and publish his resurrection. It is not possible, then, that they could be unconcerned about his ascension into his glory. The disciples beheld the cloud; but, in connection with that cloud, who can tell how many of the celestial hosts were employed to minister to the Lord of life and glory! The chariots of God are twenty thousands, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast ascended on high; thou hast led captivity captive; thou hast received gifts for men, yea for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them." (Psalms 68:17, 18.) The above splendid quotation was evidently designed as a prophetical description of the Messiah's ascension. Hence the poet has beautifully said—

"Cherubic legions guard him home, And shout him welcome to the skies."

The place to which Christ ascended was the heaven of heavens. The angels who addressed the astonished disciples, said that he was ascended into heaven. Christ said, "I ascend to my Father, and to your Father, to my God and to your God." God's throne is in the highest heavens, and to that hath the Father exalted him, above all principality and power, even to his own right hand, and hath said, "Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool." (Heb. i. 16.) When the martyr Stephen was expiring, he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." (Acts viii. 59.) And when John had a vision of the Lamb slain, "a door was opened in heaven," and he beheld him seated on a throne, "and there was a rainbow round about him, in sight like unto an emerald." (Revelation 4:1—4.)