“After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight… ‘This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go.’” — Acts 1:9, 11 (BSB)
“Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.” — Hebrews 4:14 (BSB)
“He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.” — Ephesians 4:10 (BSB)
“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the One who died, and more than that, was raised to life, and is now at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.” — Romans 8:34 (BSB)
This event is described in Acts 1:9–11, where the disciples witness Jesus being taken up and promised that He will one day return in the same way. In this, the ascension affirms Christ’s continuing humanity, His divine glory, and His future return. John Stott wrote, “The cloud was not a weather condition but a symbol of divine glory. Christ was not simply going up—He was going in: into the heavenly dimension of the Father’s presence.”
Anglican theology holds the ascension as a vital doctrine. Article IV of the Thirty-Nine Articles declares: “Christ did truly rise again from death, and took again His body… and ascended into heaven, and there sitteth, until He return to judge all men at the last day.” The Book of Common Prayer celebrates Ascension Day with prayers acknowledging Christ’s exaltation and current reign. The Eucharistic liturgy proclaims, “He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.”
Bishop Michael Ramsey, 100th Archbishop of Canterbury, noted, “The ascension does not remove Christ from us, but brings His presence to us in a new and powerful way.” E.B. Pusey, a leader of the Oxford Movement, wrote: “By ascending, our Lord lifts our humanity to the throne of God. He bears our nature not only on the Cross, but now in glory.” The ascension reminds us that Christ’s saving work continues—not in suffering, but in reigning and praying for us.
To believe in the ascension is to find confidence that our Savior is not absent but enthroned. He intercedes for us (Romans 8:34), governs all things (Ephesians 1:20–22), and sends His Spirit to empower the Church. His ascension assures us that heaven is not far, and that our true life is “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). It is the pledge that we too shall rise and be with Him in glory.
Irenaeus saw the ascension as Christ’s act of opening heaven to redeemed humanity.
Tertullian (c. 155–220 AD) declared: “He returned to heaven as He had come from heaven, but now in the flesh He had taken. His flesh, raised and glorified, now dwells with the Father.” — On the Resurrection of the Flesh, 51
Tertullian emphasized the bodily nature of the ascension as part of Christ’s glorification.
St. Athanasius (c. 296–373 AD) taught: “He ascended with the body He had taken, that He might present it to the Father, and reconcile in Himself things on earth and in heaven.” — On the Incarnation, 25
Athanasius linked the ascension to Christ’s mediating work and reconciliation.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD) wrote: “He ascended, not to distance Himself from us, but to lift our hearts to where He is. He intercedes for us in the presence of the Father.” — Sermon 263
Augustine saw the ascension as a source of comfort and spiritual elevation for believers.
St. Gregory the Great (c. 540–604 AD) said: “Our Redeemer’s visible presence has passed into the sacraments. What was visible in our Redeemer has passed into the Church.” — Homilies on the Gospels, 29
Gregory emphasized that while Christ is ascended, He remains with us through Word and Sacrament.
An Anglican Catechism (Expanded) offers over 350+ Scripture-based answers to the core truths of the Christian faith. Each entry includes biblical texts, theological insight, and reflections from historic and contemporary Anglican voices. Rooted in the classical tradition, it is designed for teaching, discipleship, and spiritual formation.
An Ancient Worship Movement invites readers into the rich, historic worship of the early Church rediscovered through the Anglican tradition. This book calls believers into a deeper, Spirit-filled encounter with Christ through timeless practices.
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