Page 14 - April 2025 - Truth & Tidings

efore His death, the Savior said to rious death, He had already “disarmed
His own in the Upper Room, “It is the rulers and authorities and put them
Bto your advantage that I am going to open shame” (Col 2:15 ESV). And so
away” (Joh 16:7 NET). It made no sense He ascended in His glorious humanity,
to them at the time and even caused them unscathed, through the heavens.
sorrow to think that He would leave them. This was the first time a human being
Why could He not remain with them passed through this realm. But it will
1
here on earth, even after His death and not be the last. “For the Lord himself
resurrection? How could His departure shall descend from heaven … the dead
be advantageous to them? In this closing in Christ shall rise first: Then we which
chapter, we will explore why that was are alive and remain shall be caught up
indeed the case – what the Lord’s ascen- together with them in the clouds, to meet
sion means for His people. the Lord in the air” (1Th 4:16-17). We will
2
He Took Humanity Through be raptured into “the air,” enemy territory.
The Lord will bring us through the same
the Heavens realm through which He has passed, and
The writer to the Hebrews says that we also will be unharmed!
“Jesus, the Son of God” “has passed
through the heavens” (4:14 ESV, JND). He Took Humanity Into
In this particular text, “the heavens” Heaven
(Greek ouranos) were the veil which He Christ not only took humanity through
passed through. Note that His humanity the heavens but into heaven. Peter tells us
is being emphasized (“Jesus”). Jesus, the that He has “gone into heaven” (1Pe 3:22).
Son of God, has taken humanity through There is a real Man living in heaven still
the heavens. Elsewhere, the similar word today, our Lord Jesus Christ. In this way,
“heavenlies” (Greek epouranios) is used too, He is our forerunner. His presence
to refer to Satan’s realm (Eph 6:12 JND). there in a glorified body ensures our pres-
Indeed, he is the “prince of the power of
the air” (2:2). Christ took humanity into 1
It does not appear that this was the case for
enemy territory as He ascended, passing Enoch and Elijah.
through Satan’s headquarters without 2 This and all remaining Bible quotations are
being hindered or harmed. By His victo- from the KJV unless otherwise noted.

110 TRUTH kTidings April 2025