Chapter 11—The Ascension of Christ
All heaven was waiting the hour of triumph when Jesus should
ascend to his Father. Angels came to receive the King of glory, and to
escort him triumphantly to heaven. After Jesus had blessed his disci-
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ples, he was parted from them, and taken up. And as he led the way
upward, the multitude of captives who were raised at his resurrection
followed. A multitude of the heavenly host was in attendance; while
in heaven an innumerable number of angels awaited his coming. As
they ascended up to the holy city, the angels who escorted Jesus cried
out, Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting
doors, and the King of glory shall come in. With rapture the angels
in the city, who awaited his coming, cried out, Who is this King of
glory? The escorting angels with triumph answered, The Lord strong
and mighty! The Lord mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O ye
gates! even lift them up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory
shall come in. Again the heavenly host cried out, Who is this King of
glory? The escorting angels in melodious strains answered, The Lord
of hosts! He is the King of glory! And the heavenly train passed into
the city. Then all the heavenly host surrounded the Son of God, their
majestic commander, and with the deepest adoration bowed, casting
their glittering crowns at his feet. And then they touched their golden
harps, and in sweet, melodious strains, filled all heaven with their rich
music and songs to the Lamb who was slain, yet lives again in majesty
and glory.
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Next I was shown the disciples as they sorrowfully gazed towards
heaven to catch the last glimpse of their ascending Lord. Two angels
clothed in white apparel stood by them, and said unto them, 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. The disciples, with the mother of Jesus,
witnessed the ascension of the Son of God, and they spent that night
in talking over his wonderful acts, and the strange and glorious things
which had transpired within a short time.
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