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Chapter 31—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 disciples, 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 were
in attendance, while in heaven an innumerable company of angels
awaited His coming.
As they ascended 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.” The angels
in the city cried out with rapture, “Who is this King of glory?” The
escorting angels answered in triumph, “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 waiting angels asked, “Who is this King of glory?” and
the escorting angels answered in melodious strains, “The Lord of
hosts, He is the King of glory.”
Psalm 24:7-10
. And the heavenly
train passed into the city of God.
Then all the heavenly host surrounded their majestic Commander,
and with the deepest adoration bowed before Him and cast their
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glittering crowns at His feet. And then they touched their golden
harps, and in sweet, melodious strains filled all heaven with rich
music and songs to the Lamb who was slain, yet lives again in
majesty and glory.
The Promise of Return
As the disciples gazed sorrowfully toward heaven to catch the
last glimpse of their ascending Lord, two angels clothed in white
apparel stood by them and said to them, “Ye men of Galilee, why
stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken
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