The Ascension of Jesus Christ

Ephesians 4:7-10

***Before Jesus Ascended, He also Descended

3 Heavens – Genesis 1:1 (heavens)

1. the atmosphere

2. outer space

3. the third heaven – 2 Corinthians 12:2 – where God’s throne is located

3 Compartments of Hell

1. Tartarus – where a group of fallen angels went

2. Paradise – where OT believers went when they died

3. Sheol – this is hell and a place of torment & separation from God

Old Testament – all believers went to a holding place called Paradise – a place of peace

Jesus descended to hell when He died and declared victory over death, the grave, hell, and the devil

Now believers go directly to heaven when they die – 2 Cor 5:8

(1) BECAUSE JESUS HAS ASCENDED, HE IS COMING BACK AGAIN – Acts 1:9-11

-the return of the Lord is very very close

-no one knows the day of His return, but signs have been given to us to reveal that His return is very very soon

                      2 Facts About Signs

         1. The word Sign refers to who is behind the sign who is Jesus.  The importance is not the sign but Jesus.  The word Sign points to the person behind the sign

         2. The signs of the last days are  a combination of signs all at once

     A list of end time Signs:

1. The elimination of the human race – 2 Peter 3:10-13

-this is the use of nuclear weapons

2. Hatred of Israel – Matthew 24:9

-we must stand with Israel – Genesis 12:1-3

3. Disease – Matthew 24:7 & Psalm 91:1-10

a new superbug virus is spreading in the world – Candida Auris

4. Uncertainty across the globe – Luke 21

5. Jewish people returning home to Israel – Isaiah 43:6 & 11:12

-for the first time in the history of Israel, there are more Jewish people in Israel than anywhere else in the world

(2) THE ASCENSION AND EXALTATION OF JESUS CHRIST – Philippians 2:5-11

-The exaltation of Jesus Christ completed the redemption process – Eph 4:10

fill – means to complete the process

a. The exaltation of Jesus gave Jesus the NAME above all names

—Jesus is not a name among names, but THE NAME

—Jesus is the only One God has highly exalted

b. The exaltation of Jesus means everyone will bow to Him and confess Him as Lord

confess – means an open verbal declaration

-every knee will bow

(3) THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – John 14:16

another – means another of the same kind

-the Holy Spirit is God

-Helper – is one called alongside to help, encourage, strengthen and comfort

a. The Holy Spirit will never leave us – Psalm 139:7-14

-no matter what, the Holy Spirit is always with us

-He is also in us

b. The Holy Spirit is Truth – that which is real, genuine and factual

-we hear the word fake a lot in today’s culture

-Christianity is totally and completely factual