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| Thick dust clouds block our night-time view of the Milky Way, creating what is sometimes called the Dark Rift. Credit: A. Fujii , NASA photo |
Acts 1
All Scriptures are courtesy of www.biblegateway.com
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all
that JESUS began both to do and teach, Until
the day in which HE+ was taken up, after that HE+ through the HOLY SPIRIT had given
commandments unto the apostles whom HE+ had chosen:
To whom also HE+ shewed himself alive after His+ passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of GOD....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 stedfastly 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.
The 3rd essential component of the deliverance of mankind from the power of satan was accomplished after the RISEN CHRIST had walked and talked and eaten broiled fish and a piece of honeycomb with His+ followers for 40 days here upon earth.
His+ Ascension was essential according to His+ words in John 7:39 and John 16:7:
from John 7: 37-39 :
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, JESUS stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto ME+, and drink.
38 He that believeth on ME+, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of Living Water.
39 (But this spake HE+ of the SPIRIT, which they that believe on HIM+ should receive: for the HOLY SPIRIT was not yet given; because that JESUS was not yet glorified.)
The first component was, of course, Our LORD'S Crucifixion. The second component was His+ Mighty Resurrection. The third component was His+ Glorious Ascension. With these three works, The LORD JESUS CHRIST effected the deliverance of mankind from the power of satan to kill, steal, and destroy the souls of men. All three works were necessary.
His+ Ascension was essential according to His+ words in John 7:39 and John 16:7:
from John 7: 37-39 :
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, JESUS stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto ME+, and drink.
38 He that believeth on ME+, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of Living Water.
39 (But this spake HE+ of the SPIRIT, which they that believe on HIM+ should receive: for the HOLY SPIRIT was not yet given; because that JESUS was not yet glorified.)
... and in John 16: 7
Nevertheless I+ tell you the truth;
It is expedient for
you that I+ go away:
for if I+ go not away,
the COMFORTER
(PARACLETE, i.e., the HOLY SPIRIT)
will not come unto you;
but if I+ depart,
I+ will send HIM
unto you.
That GLORIOUS Ascension of CHRIST was the prerequisite for sending forth the HOLY SPIRIT to His+ followers ....sent by CHRIST from the FATHER... so that those who followed The LORD JESUS CHRIST could be endued with POWER from on High.
For,
without ME+,
ye can do nothing.
The
Collect for AscensionTide
SO we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with HIM+ continually dwell, WHO+ liveth and reigneth with THEE and The HOLY SPIRIT, one GOD, world without end. Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer, 1928, Anglican Church
