Ascension Day, the Ascension of Jesus Christ

From Easter, Power is redoubled again in preparation for Ascension Day, which commemorates Christ's Ascension to our Father in Heaven. Pondering what ascension means pays the greatest dividends of the whole year in illumination. Only illumination from the Source dissolves the mists of matter, the illusions that lie between earth and the different realms of heaven, which veil the mysteries of the universe, lest too much Power destroys you.—Edna Lister, Twelfth Night Chart.
  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
  “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. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet."—Acts 1:6-12

  Edna Lister generally combined the Scripture texts for Ascension Day with those for the Pentecost, Acts 1 and Acts 2.






Edna Lister on the Ascension of Jesus Christ

The narrative of the forty days from Jesus' Resurrection to Ascension Day is filled with stories that hold infallible proofs about the Baptism by Water and the Holy Spirit. "And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you."—Acts 1:7-8. "It is not for you to know." The human conception of the kingdom is earthly and worldly, not accurately depicting the spiritual kingdom of heaven. After Jesus' Ascension, two men, who were really angels, told the disciples, who had witnessed the Ascension, that he would come again in a like manner, in the same way.

"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."—Acts 1:11. How can this be? When you cleanse your heart, you make room to receive the Holy Spirit. Yet to do so, you must be in one place and of "one accord." You must gather in all your scattered parts.—Edna Lister, Truth as Power, February 9, 1933.


Edna Lister’s Sermons on the Ascension of Jesus Christ

From Gethsemane to Ascension: Edna Lister sermon outline, May 8, 1960.

From Gethsemane to Ascension: Edna Lister sermon transcript, May 8, 1960.

Mind Integrated with Power: Edna Lister sermon outline, May 17, 1970.

Mind Integrated with Power: Edna Lister sermon transcript, May 17, 1970.

The High Altar: Edna Lister sermon transcript, May 23, 1971.

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Jesus' Ascension in the New Testament

Matthew's Account of Jesus' Ascension: The eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.—Matthew 28:16-20.


Mark's Account of Jesus' Ascension: And [Jesus] said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.—Mark 16:15-20.


Luke's Account of Jesus' Ascension: Then opened [Jesus] their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.—Luke 24:45-53.


John's Gospel does not include Jesus' Ascension.


The Account of Jesus' Ascension in the Book of Acts: When they therefore were come together, they asked of [Jesus], saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 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.—Acts 1:6-11.

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Edna Miriam Lister
1884 – 1971
The original Pioneering Mystic,
Christian Platonist philosopher, American Idealist, Founder, Society of the Universal Living Christ, minister, teacher, author, wife, and mother.


Edna Lister


Reference

The Holy Bible. King James Version (KJV).


Related Topic

Ascension