The Meaning of Christ’s Ascension to the Right Hand of God

The Meaning of Christ’s Ascension

Question: Is Christ reigning now at the right hand of God or must Christians wait till the manifestation of the kingdom of God at the end of history to realize the blessing of His reign?

CHRIST IS KING

The Book of Matthew presents Christ as the King. The magi asked, “Where is he that is born king of the Jews?” We see the King’s lineage (1); the King’s birth (2); the King’s forerunner (3); the King’s coronation (3); the King’s testing (4); the King’s legislative decrees (5-7); the King’s powers (8-9); the King’s Mission (10); The Reactions of the People to the King (11-20); Parables of the King (13); The Climax in Jerusalem and the Triumph of the King (21-28). Matthew ends on an extreme positive note with Christ in authority over the nations.

Jesus precociously alluded to His Kingly judgment (Matthew 25:33) and when asked directly if he was King of the Jews, He not only did not deny it, He affirmed it (27:11). During his trial, his enemies mocked him saying, “Hail, King of the Jews” (27:29). His death warrant read, “This is Jesus the King of the Jews” (27:37).

At the cross, the King single handedly faced man’s trinity of evil: Satan, sin, and death. He emerged from the battlefield through the smoke and the haze, the Victor over man’s enemies. Death could not hold Him; Satan could not slay Him; sin had no hold on Him; the grave could not keep Him; Israel could not hide Him; and Rome could not restrain Him. He is King of the Jews; King of death; King over Satan; King over sin; and King of the nations. The only question is, “Is he your King?”

CHRIST IS HIGHLY EXALTED

Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Peter’s first sermon ends on a positive, powerful note. Christ is enthroned as Lord and Christ. The ascension brought closure to the disciples’ earthly experience with Christ and gave them the ability to reasonably explain Christ’s disappearance from this earth. His exaltation to the right hand of God implies the possession of divine honor–honor belonging to deity [John 17:1-3 Hebrews 1:3; Philippians 2:5-12]. Jesus was declared to be both Lord and Christ [Acts 2: 34-37]. No longer is He Messiah designatus. He is the inaugurated Messiah with dejure authority and power. Not only was the Lord installed as the promised Messianic King, He was installed in marvelous, majestic glory. He was promised the Davidic throne earth; He received the throne of God in heaven.

In a resurrected body, His departure from this earth must not have been by dissolution, but by glorification—a return to a state of glory which he had with the Father before the world was created [John 17:1-3]. It appears the coming of the Holy Spirit was dependent on His glorification [John 7:37-39]. . While on earth, our Lord was divine, but divested of glory.

In his ascension, His glory was wonderfully restored with royal splendor. He is now stationed at the right hand of God in great glory and rules heaven and earth from His highly exalted position as the Lord Christ. Who would have dreamed? The fulfillment was gloriously greater than the promise!!!

CHRIST IS REIGNING NOW

1 Corinthians 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

Paul ends his letter to the Corinthians on a very positive note. In the midst of all the messy problems of the believers in the red light district of Corinth, Paul taught them about the reigning Christ and his ultimate triumph in history over the enemies of mankind.

His Present Exalted Life (PEL) marked the beginning of his inauguration and reign where He intends to defeat His enemies and deliver the kingdom to His Father [1 Corinthians 15:24ff]. He has been exalted as “Lord” and to Him every knee shall bow [Philippians 2:12; 1 Timothy 6:15].

The term “reign” is a present, active infinitive. The context implies that Christ is reigning now from his position in heaven.

The preposition “till” introduces a relationship. The subjunctive aorist “put” holds out the probability of Christ putting all his enemies under his feet; that is, the purpose of His reign if for the purpose of subduing His enemies.

Presently, the nations are in rebellion. State regimes resist the rule of God and despise His law. Christ reigns, but when will the end come? The end of this age has a terminus at the parousia which will complete the destruction of the anti-god forces. The decree of His administration is the defeat of all enemies and the nullification of all enemies that oppose the rule of God. When all the elect are safely in the Kingdom, He will complete the destruction of God’s enemies, and transfer the Kingdom to the Father. Life is messy, but God’s Kingdom program will prevail.

CHRIST IS REIGNING NOW AS KING

His PEL means He reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Towards the nations, Christ is portrayed as King of Kings [1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 1:5; 19:17] and the Judge of all mankind [2 Timothy 4:1]. He is the Great Lawgiver, the Great Judge, and the Great Executor. The disciples expected an earthly, Davidic king who would rule in the land of Palestine over Israel. What they received was a heavenly, glorified King of kings who sits on God’s throne to rule over all the nations. He is the King of the Nations [Jeremiah 10:5]. The word “sitting” at the right hand of God does not imply resting, but reigning. He is not just Messiah-elect, but the installed Lord Christ. Sitting at the right hand of God is metaphorical language for divine omnipotence and divine sovereignty.

Acts 17:6-7 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

Paul’s missionary team was accused of “turning the world upside down.”

Actually, they turned the world “right side up.”

The Roman Theater was dominated by Caesar worship. The drama intensified when Paul preached the Kingdom of God and asserted there was Another King, King Jesus. Believing men became Christocentric rather than anthropocentric. A new Lawman was in town. Proclaiming Christ as King challenged the authority of Caesar and the validity of His laws. Affections and devotion was suddenly being transferred to King Jesus through gospel proclamation. A new King meant new laws—a new world order in a Christ-centered universe.

1 Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 6:13-16 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.

When Paul considered how Christ had saved him and put him into the ministry, He burst into praise to God. God has a throne and Christ sits at the right hand of the Father. Both are declared to be King and Christ is declared to be the King of kings, and Lord of Lords. It is difficult to separate God and Christ in this passage. Gill explains:

Now unto the King eternal,…. This doxology, or ascription of glory to God, on account of the grace bestowed upon the apostle, may be considered, either as referring to all the three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Spirit, who are the one and only God; and to whom all the attributes of wisdom, power, eternity, immortality, or incorruptibleness, and invisibility, belong; and who are jointly concerned in the grace bestowed upon any of the sons of men. Or else to God the Father, in agreement with a parallel place in Romans 16:27 who is the only true God, in opposition to nominal and fictitious deities, though not to the exclusion of the Son and Spirit; and to whom the several epithets here used may be unquestionably given: he has shown his wisdom in the works of creation, providence, and grace; he is the everlasting King, or the King of ages, or of worlds; he is Maker of the worlds, and the Governor of them throughout all ages and generations; he only has immortality, and is the incorruptible God, and who is invisible, whose shape has never been seen, nor his voice heard: or else this may be thought to belong to Jesus Christ, since it is to him the apostle gives thanks for putting him into the ministry; and from him he obtained mercy, and received abundant grace; and he it was who came into the world to save sinners, and who showed forth all longsuffering in him, see 1 Timothy 1:12, upon which the apostle breaks out into this attribution of glory and honor, and which agrees with Jude 1:25.(Gill, Exposition of the Bible).

CHRIST IS REIGNING NOW AS HEAD OF THE CHURCH

The term “King of the Church” is not used in the NT, but the concept that He reigns is present. John uses the term “King of the saints (nations)” which is a reference to Christ claiming jurisdiction over the nations [Revelation 5:3].

In Colossians, Paul informs believers that that the Father has “rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of His Beloved Son” (Colossians 1:14). The picture is that of prisoners being rescued from Prison Island by the King and transferred by boat to the Land of Freedom—the Kingdom of His Beloved Son. Paul wants the Colossians to know that their Deliverer is none other than the King of Creation and the King of the New Creation—the church.

His PEL means he has been installed as Head of the church, the Head of God’s new creation. Since Christ rose from the grave, He is sat down at the right hand of God. This implies, sovereignty and power. All authority has been given unto Him [Matthew 28:18-20]. All things are under his feet [Ephesians 1:22]. He is the great Director, Leader, Guide, Head, and Supervisor of the new creation [Colossians 1:18].

So powerful is Christ the Scripture informs us that Jesus is the Head over all rule and authority (Colossians 2:10). The term means “leader,” or “Commander,” or “Command and Control Center,” or “foremost” or “supremacy.” The danger at Colossae was that the believers might not esteem Christ as He rightly deserves (2:8) and therefore not give Him His proper place in the church (2:19).

CHRIST IS THE VICTOR KING

His PEL means He is a Victor. Jesus resurrection was a glorious victory over the enemies of sin, Satan, and death. His ascension was the coronation, the glorious parade, and the presentation of spoils to heavenly hosts. However, unlike earthly kings who stripped their captives and paraded them naked and impoverished through the streets of Rome, our Lord bathed, clothed, and decorated his captives with honor [Ephesians 4:7ff].

CHRIST IS KING OF THE NATIONS

Jeremiah 10:7 Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.

Jeremiah 10:10 But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

Revelation 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of Nations (ethnon[1]).

Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

The hymn is called the “Song of the Lamb” a.k.a. the “Song of Moses.”

John uses the term “King of the saints (nations)” which is a reference to Christ claiming jurisdiction over the nations (Revelation 15:3).It is a title referring YHWH in the OT. All authority is given unto Christ, and He gave His marching orders to the disciples to Christianize the world (Matthew 28:18-20).

In chapter 15 of Revelation we see our Lord taking possession of the nations by His judgments in history. Christ is not a local deity. He is not just King of the Jews nor is He merely King over the church. He is not One among many. He is Lord and King of the Nations.

Revelation presents a positive view of Christ’s reign. As His redemptive Kingdom program advances Saints sing, “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?” (Revelation 15:4). To John, resistance seems like folly. The evidence for the risen, victorious Christ is overwhelming and only an insane mind can deny its infallible proofs. War is declared, but victory goes to the “Lamb” for “He is Lord of lords, and King of kings.”

CHRIST IS THE KING PRIEST

His PEL means he has entered into a new ministry as Great High Priest. Towards the church, Christ is viewed as Head of the church, High Priest, Shepherd, Sustainer, Gift Giver, and Cleanser of His people [ Colossians 1:15-18; Hebrews 5; Ephesians 1; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Corinthians 12]. He is not only the Sacrifice for their sins, but acting High Priest whose very life intercedes for the believer [Romans 5:10; Hebrews 7:25]. After the order of Melchizedek, Jesus is the King Priest. No King was able to be both king and priest in Israel, but because the power of His endless life, He is both.

His PEL means Jesus is in a position to help all God’s children. He comes to the aide of His people and wages war on their behalf by using His sword, the Word of God [Revelation 19:13]. Through Him we can draw near to God (Hebrews 7:19). He is on the Throne of Grace. Because He is sovereign, He has authority and power and riches to comfort His people. Because His throne is one of grace, He can overlook the faults of petitioners and the weakness of their prayers [Hebrews 4:16].

CHRIST IS THE WARRIOR KING

Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

In Revelation 19, John has a vision of Christ entering history to defeat the anti-god forces. The vision before us is personified by the Rider on a white horse showing us how Christ wages war from His position in heaven. The Rider on the White horse is Christ. The imagery represents his activity in His PEL, not what He will accomplish at the parousia. The vision shows us that it is through the gospel and the proclamation of the Word of God that He penetrates society to win souls and to root out evil. Christ will indeed come again, but this is not a picture of the Second Advent. It is an image of Christ coming in history to defeat adversaries. We have seen in previous chapters the defeat of the beast and the destruction of the great harlot. Now we see the means of that defeat and the sure and ultimate destiny of the unholy trio of evil.

Christians are more aware of Christ’s accomplishments on earth and many look with hope for the Parousia, but few seem to understand Christ’s administration of the Kingdom during this age. Perhaps, this is why Paul prayed the following prayer:

Ephesians 1:18-23 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.

As we look at the world and all its conflicts, our government and all its fallacies, we tend to become negative about the future. But, every statement about the risen Christ is positive. He is a King. He reigns now. All hope need not be deferred to the Parousia. He is waging war against the anti-god forces now. He is winning! In and through gospel proclamation, souls are entering the Kingdom of God’s beloved Son. Our task is to believe and obey—and, to claim our authority as ambassadors of the King of kings.

[1] Revelation 15: 3 has a textual variation (saints or nations). The use of “nations” rather than “saints” is preferred because of the context. See 15:6.

(Source: Stockton, “Five Pillars of the Gospel”, unpublished seminary lecture notes for New Testament Theology)

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