Scripture Reading: Isa. 53:12a; Eph. 4:8-12; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15; Rev. 21:2, 9-10
Ⅰ
If we would know the all-inclusive Christ in His four stages according to God's New Testament economy, we need to see the invisible scene behind the visible scene, the spiritual things behind the physical things—Dan. 10:12-17; Eph. 1:17-23:
A
Behind the visible scene a spiritual struggle is taking place—Dan. 10:12-17.
B
Those who have spiritual eyes can see the invisible scene behind the visible— Rev. 4:1-2; Eph. 1:17-23:
１
Although we are on earth, we can see the scenery in the heavens.
２
While the earthly people are enjoying the worldly entertainments in their visible scenery, we are enjoying the heavenly things in our invisible scenery—2 Cor. 4:18.
C
In each of the four stages of Christ, angels were involved (Luke 2:8-14; Col. 2:15; Matt. 28:2-7; Acts 1:10-11); this indicates that concerning Christ's incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, there is both the visible scene and the invisible scene.
Ⅱ
In Christ's ascension there was a demonstration of Christ's victory by the sharing of the spoil, the captives, taken in Christ's victory—Isa. 53:12a:
A
The word spoil in Isaiah 53:12a opens a wide window to us, enabling us to see the invisible scene of a war—Col. 2:15; 1 Pet. 3:18; Acts 2:24; Rev. 1:18:
１
Spoil indicates that there was a war, for spoil signifies prey, and prey denotes captives taken in war—Eph. 4:8.
２
Spoil indicates that a war was fought and someone won that war, and the winner got the spoil, the prey, the captives.
B
Christ won the war and then divided the spoil with the Great and the Strong— Isa. 53:12a:
１
The Great and the Strong refer to God; in the whole universe only God is great and only God is strong.
２
As the Great, God received the honor from Christ's ascension, and as the Strong, He gained the victory.
３
God the Father was the Great and the Strong, and God the Son was the Fighter:
ａ
Christ fought the battle on the cross and in His resurrection, and by winning the battle He captured all Satan's captives as the spoil—Col. 2:15; Acts 2:24; Rev. 1:18.
ｂ
In His ascension, Christ, the Fighter, and God, the Great and the Strong, shared the spoil with each other.
C
Ephesians 4:8-12 reveals that when Christ ascended to the heavens, He led a procession of captives, who were originally the captives of Satan, bringing them to the heavens and presenting them to the Father:
１
The Father accepted this gift from the Son, and then He gave all these captives back to the Son as a gift—Psa. 68:18.
２
After receiving the captives as a gift from the Father, the Son transformed all these captives in His resurrection life, making every one of them a gift—Eph. 4:8b:
ａ
We were sinners captured by Satan, but through His death and resurrection, the Lord Jesus overcame Satan and captured all those who were held captive by Satan.
ｂ
Now instead of being captives of Satan, we are gifts to the church for the building up of the Body—vv. 11-12.
Ⅲ
Christ's ascension consummates in the accomplishment of the work of God for His new creation—2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15; Rev. 21:2:
A
In this universe two worlds are building themselves up—the physical world and the spiritual world:
１
Those who are in the physical world—the evil world built up by Satan mingled with fallen people—do not know that there is another world—the spiritual world.
２
In the New Testament the spiritual world is called the new creation— 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15.
B
God is producing His new creation among His old creation and out of His old creation—Gen. 1:1; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15:
１
God's goal is to produce the new creation out of the old creation; the new creation is the old creation transformed by the divine life, and thus it has God within it as its life, nature, constitution, appearance, and expression— 2 Cor. 3:18; Rev. 4:2-3; 21:2, 9-10.
２
The new creation is created altogether in Christ, by Christ, through Christ, and with Christ—2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 3:17.
３
The continuing work of constituting the new creation is being carried out in the heavens in Christ's heavenly ministry—Heb. 8:1-2.
C
The work of God for His new creation is to complete the constitution of the New Jerusalem as the mingling of the processed and consummated Triune God with His transformed tripartite saints to be God's expression and the saints' blessing for eternity—Rev. 21:2, 9-10; 22:3-5, 14, 17.
Christ's Person and Work in Ascension
Ⅰ
Christ's person in ascension:
A
The Son of Man—Matt. 26:63-64; Acts 7:55-56; Rev. 1:13.
B
The One who is at the right hand of God—Rom. 8:34.
C
The One crowned with glory and honor—Heb. 2:9.
D
The One enthroned for God's administration—Heb. 12:2; Rev. 3:21; 22:1, 3; 5:6.
E
Ruler of the kings of the earth—Rev. 1:5; 19:16.
F
Leader and Savior—Acts 5:31.
G
Lord of all—Acts 2:36; 10:36.
H
Christ for His heavenly ministry—Acts 2:36.
I
Head over all things to the church—Eph. 1:20-22.
J
The God-exalted One receiving the name which is above every name—Phil. 2:9-11.
K
The Righteous—1 John 2:1.
L
Paraclete—1 John 2:1; John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7.
M
High Priest—Heb. 4:14; 2:17-18; 4:15; 7:25-26; Rev. 8:3.
N
Propitiation-cover—Rom. 3:25.
O
Minister of the true (heavenly) tabernacle—Heb. 8:2.
P
Mediator of the new covenant—Heb. 8:6; 9:15.
Q
Surety of a better covenant—Heb. 7:22.
Ⅱ
Christ's work in ascension:
A
Receiving from God the believers as gifts after bringing them to the heavens, and giving them to the church—Eph. 4:8; Psa. 68:18.
B
Sending forth the Holy Spirit, promised by the Father, upon the believers economically for His propagation to produce the church—Luke 24:49; Acts 2:1-4.
C
As the Lord, exercising His sovereignty over all for the accomplishment of the divine economy—Acts 2:36.
D
As Christ, God's Anointed, carrying out God's commission to Him concerning the New Testament economy—Acts 2:36.
E
As Head over all things to the church, making all things work together for the producing and building up of the church—Eph. 1:22-23, 10.
F
As Head of the Body, perfecting His members by giving them growth in life for the building up of His Body—Eph. 4:12, 15-16.
G
Building the church—Matt. 16:18.
H
Sanctifying, cleansing, nourishing, and cherishing the church—Eph. 5:26, 29.
I
As Mediator of the new covenant, executing that covenant, which is the new testament, enacted and bequeathed to us by His death—Heb. 9:15.
J
As the Surety of a better covenant, guaranteeing and ensuring the effectiveness of the new testament—Heb. 7:22.
K
As our Paraclete, taking care of our affairs on the ground of His propitiation for our sins—1 John 2:1-2.
L
As our High Priest according to the order of Melchisedec, interceding for us— Heb. 5:10; 7:24-26.
M
As a Minister of the true tabernacle, serving God's people with the bequests of the new testament—Heb. 8:2.
N
As the Ruler of the kings of the earth, ruling the whole world that the gospel may be spread and the church may be produced—Rev. 1:5; Acts 17:26-27; John 17:2.
O
As the High Priest, judging and purifying the churches and holding the messengers of the churches—Rev. 1:13-16, 20; 2:1, 12, 18.