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87 - The Desire of Ages - Ellen Gould · Philosophy and Faith

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  To my father and your father. The time had come for Christ to ascend
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  to his father's throne as a divine conqueror. He was about to return with
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  the trophies of victory to the heavenly courts. Before his death, he had
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  declared to his father, I have finished the work which thou gavest me to
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  do John seventeen four. After his resurrection, he tyried on earth for a
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  season that his disciples might become familiar with him in his risen and glorified body.
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  Now he was ready for the leave taking. He had authenticated the fact
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  that he was a living savior. His disciples need no longer associate him with
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  the tomb. They could think of him as glorified before the heavenly universe.
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  As the place of his ascension, Jesus chose a spot so often hallowed by
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  his presence while he dwelt among men, not Mount Zion, the place of
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  David's city, not Mount Mariah, the temple site was to be thus honored.
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  There Christ had been mocked and rejected. There, the waves of mercy,
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  still returning in a stronger tide of love, had been beaten back by
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  hearts as hard as rock. Thence Jesus, weary and heart burdened, had
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  gone forth to find rest in the Mount of Olives. The Holy Chicaina,
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  in departing from the First Temple, had stood upon the eastern mountain, as
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  if loathed to forsake the Chosen City. So Christ stood upon Olivet with yearning
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  heart, overlooking Jerusalem. The groves and glens of the mountain had been consecrated
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  by his prayers and tears. Its deeps had echoed the triumphant shouts of the
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  multitude that proclaimed him king. On its sloping descent, he had found a
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  home with Lazarus at Bethany, in the garden of Gassimone. At its foot
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  he had prayed and agonized alone. From this mountain he was to ascend to
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  Heaven. Upon its summit his feet will rest. When he shall come again,
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  not as a man of sorrows, but as a glorious and triumphant king.
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  He will stand upon Olivet, while Hebrew hallelujahs mingled with gentile hosannahs,
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  and the voices of the Redeemed, as a mighty host shall swell the acclamation,
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  crown him Lord of all. Now with the eleven Disciples Jesus made his
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  way toward the mountain. As they passed through the gate of Jerusalem, many
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  wondering eyes looked upon the little company, led by one whom, a few
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  weeks before the rulers had condemned and crucified. The disciples knew not that this
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  was to be their last interview with their master. Jesus spent the time in
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  conversation with them, repeating his former instruction. As they approached Cassimone, he
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  paused that they might call to mind the lessons he had given them on the
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  night of his great agony. Again he looked upon the vine by which he
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  had then represented the union of his church with himself and his father. Again
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  he repeated the truce he had then unfolded. All around him were reminders of
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  his unrequited love. Even the disciples, who were so dear to his heart,
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  had, in the hour of this humiliation, reproached and forsaken him.
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  Christ had sojourned in the world for thirty three years, he had du jured
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  its scorn, insult, and mockery. He had been rejected and crucified.
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  Now, when about to ascend to his throne of glory. As he reviews
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  the ingratitude of the people he came to save. Will he not withdraw from
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  them his sympathy and love. Will not his affections be centered upon that realm
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  where he is appreciated, and where sinless angels wait to do his bidding.
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  No, his promise to those loved ones whom he leaves on earth is I
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  am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Matthew twenty
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  eight twenty. Upon reaching the Mount of Olives, Jesus led the way across
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  the summit to the vicinity of Bethany. Here he paused, and the disciples
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  gathered about him. Beams of light seemed to radiate from his countenance. As
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  he looked lovingly upon them. He upbraided them, not for their faults and
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  failures. Words of the deepest tenderness were the last that fell upon their ears
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  from the lips of their Lord. With hands outstretched and blessing, and as
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  if in assurance of his protective care, he slowly ascended from among them,
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  drawn heavenward by a power stronger than any earthly attraction. As he passed upward,
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  the awe stricken disciples looked with straining eyes for the last glimpse of their
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  ascending Lord. A cloud of glory hid him from their sight, and the
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  words came back to them as the cloudy chariot of angels received him, Lo
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  I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. At
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  the same time, there floated down to them the sweetest and most joyous music
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  from the angel choir. While the disciples were still gazing upward, voices addressed
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  them, which sounded like richest music. They turned and saw two angels in
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  the form of men, who spoke to them, saying, Ye, men
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  of Galilee, why stangy gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which
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  is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as
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  ye have seen him go into heaven. These angels were of the company that
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  had been waiting in a shining cloud to escort Jesus to his heavenly home,
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  the most exalted of the angel Throng. They were the two who had come
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  to the tomb at Christ's resurrection, and they had been with him throughout his
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  life on earth. With eager desire, all heaven had waited for the end
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  of his tearing in a world marred by the curse of sin. The time
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  had now come for the heavenly universe to receive their king. Did not the
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  two angels long to join the throng that welcomed Jesus, But in sympathy and
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  love for those whom he had left, they waited to give them comfort.
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  Are they not all ministering spirits set forth to minister for them who shall be
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  heirs of salvation? Hebrews one fourteen. Christ had ascended to heaven in the
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  form of humanity. The disciples had beheld the cloud. Receive him. The
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  same Jesus who had walked and talked and prayed with them, who had broken
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  bread with them, who had been with them in their boats on the lake,
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  and who had that very day toiled with them up the ascent of Olivet.
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  The same Jesus had now gone to share his father's throne. And the
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  angels had assured them that the the very one whom they had seen go up
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  into heaven, would come again, even as he had ascended. He will
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  come with clouds, and every eye shall see him. The Lord himself shall
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  descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with
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  the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise, the Son
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  of Man shall come in his glory, and all the Holy angels with him.
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  Then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. Revelation one seven
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  Verstssonians four sixteen, Matthew twenty five thirty one. Thus will be fulfilled the
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  Lord's own promise to his disciples. If I go and prepare a place for
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  you, I will come again and receive you unto myself. That where I
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  am there ye may be Also John fourteen three. Well might the disciples rejoice
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  in the hope of their Lord's return. When the disciples went back to Jerusalem,
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  the people looked upon them with amazement. After the trial and crucifixion of
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  Christ, it had been thought that they would appear downcast and ashamed. Their
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  enemies expected to see upon their faces an expression of sorrow and defeat. Instead
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  of this, there was only gladness and triumph. Their faces were aglow with
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  a happiness not born of earth. They did not mourn over disappointed hopes,
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  but were full of praise and thanksgiving to God. With rejoicing. They told
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  the wonderful story of Christ's resurrection and his ascension to heaven, and their testimony
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  was received by many. The disciples no longer had any distrust of the future.
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  They knew that Jesus was in heaven and that his sympathies were with them.
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  Still, they knew that they had a friend at the throne of God,
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  and they were eager to present their request to the Father in the name
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  of Jesus. In solemn awe, they bowed in prayer, repeating the assurance,
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  whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it
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  you hitherto if ye ask nothing in my name, ask and ye shall receive,
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  that your joy may be full John sixteen twenty three and twenty four.
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  They extended the hand of faith high and hire with the mighty argument, it
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  is Christ that died, yea rather that has risen again, who is even
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  at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us Romans eight
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  thirty four and Pinecoss brought them fullness of joy in the presence of the comforter.
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  Even as Christ had promised, all heaven was waiting to welcome the Savior
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  to the celestial courts. As he ascended, he led the way, and
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  the multitude of captives set free at his resurrection followed the heavenly host with shouts
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  and acclamations of praise and celestial song, attended the joyous train as they drew
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  near to the City of God. The challenge is given by the escorting angels.
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  Lift up your heads, o ye gates and be ye lift up ye
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  everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in joyfully. The waiting
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  sentinels respond, who is this King of glory? This they say not because
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  they know not who he is, but because they would hear the answer of
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  exalted praise the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, lift
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  up your heads, o ye gates, even lift them up, ye everlasting
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  doors, and the King of Glory shall come in again has heard the challenge?
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  Who is this King of glory? For the angels, never weary of
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  hearing his name exalted, the escorting angels make reply, the Lord of hosts,
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  he is the King of Glory Psalms twenty four seven to ten. Then
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  the portals of the City of God are opened wide, and the angelic throng
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  sweep through the gates amid a burst of rapturous music. There is the throne,
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  and around it the rainbow of promise. There are Cherubom and Seraphim,
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  the commanders of the angel Host, the sons of God, the representaties of
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  the unfallen worlds are assembled, the heavenly Council before which Lucifer had accused God
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  and his son, the representaties of those sinless realms over which Satan had thought
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  to establish his dominion. All are there to welcome the Redeemer. They are
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  eager to celebrate his triumph and to glorify their king. But he waves them
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  back. Not yet he cannot now receive the coronet of glory in the royal
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  robe. He enters into the presence of his Father. He points to his
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  wounded head, the peer side, the marred feet. He lifts his hands,
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  bearing the print of nails. He points to the tokens of his triumph.
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  He presents to God the wave sheaf, those raised with him as representatives
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  of that great multitude who shall come forth from the grave at his second coming.
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  He approaches the Father, with whom there is joy over one sinner that
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  repents, who rejoices over one with singing. Before the foundations of the earth
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  were laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem
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  man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped their hands in
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  a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race. This
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  pledge it fulfilled. When upon the cross he cried out, it is finished.
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  He addressed the Father. The compact had been fully carried out. Now
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  he declares, Father, it is finished. I have done thy will,
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  O, my God, I have completed the work of redemption. If thy
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  justice is satisfied, I will that they also whom thou hast given me be
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  with me where I am John nineteen thirty seventeen twenty four. The voice of
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  God is heard, proclaiming that justice is satisfied, Satan is vanquished. Christ's
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  tolling struggling ones on earth are accepted in the beloved Ephesians one six, Before
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  the heavenly angels and the representatives of unfallen worlds. They are declared justified.
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  Where he is there is church shall be Mercy and truth are met together.
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  Righteousness and peace have kissed each other Psalms eighty five ten. The Father's arms
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  encircle his son, and the word is given. Let all the angels of
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  God worship him. Hebrews one six, with joy, unutterable rulers and principalities
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  and powers acknowledge the supremacy of the Prince of Life. The angel hosts prostrate
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  themselves before him, while the glad shout fills all the courts of Heaven.
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  Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and
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  strength, and honor and glory and blessing. Revelation five twelve. Songs of
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  triumph mingle with the music from Angel Harps, till Heaven seems to overflow with
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  joy and praise. Love has conquered the lost is found. Heaven rings with
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  voices and lofty strains, proclaiming blessing and honor and glory and power. Be
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  unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever,
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  Revelation five thirteen. From that scene of heavenly joy, there comes back
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  to us on Earth the echo of Christ's own wonderful words. I send unto
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  my father and your Father, and to my God and your God, John
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  twenty seventeen. The family of Heaven and the family of Earth are one.
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  For us, our Lord ascended, and for us he lives. Wherefore he
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  is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God, by
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  Him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews seven twenty
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  five, end of Chapter eighty seven. End of the Desire of Ages by
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  Ellen G. White