Gifts of Heaven · Volume 2 · Chapter 293

The ascension of Christ

24th May 1843

[1] Listen to an unknown gospel about the Ascension of the Lord, which took place in Bethany on a mountain, which however had no name before and therefore only after the Ascension of the Lord got the name: the "height of the Lord", also "height of the Ascension", according to some also "the way to the height of God".

[2] But what was the title of this gospel, which was admittedly only a short one? – So it was then in general terms, told by all the eyewitnesses:

[3] "After the appearance of the Lord at the lake, when His brothers(*1) were fishing, the Lord stayed among them for several days, revealing to them deep secrets of inner life.

[4] But what he spoke to them in this time could not be recorded, because of the multitude and for the sake of the ignorance of the world.

[5] But not all His brothers and disciples were present, but only His favorites. These were: Peter, Jacob [James], Philip, Jacob the little, Andrew, Matthew and John.

[6] But two days before the Sabbath, the Lord spoke to Peter: "Simon, since you have sworn three times in your heart to Me that you love Me that you may feed My sheep, go and tell the other brethren that the Lord Lord is waiting for them.

[7] And Simon Peter went and did as the Lord commanded him.

[8] But when the other brethren heard these things, as soon as they had left Jerusalem, they went out to Bethany, and many people with them, who also believed on the word of the Lord.

[9] But when they came to the place where the Lord dwelt with the six, many believed that it was the Lord who had been crucified. But there were also many among the people who did not believe and took the Lord for a disguised disciple, who are like the Lord in face and person.

[10] But the Lord opened His mouth and spoke to His apostles:

[11] Keep to yourselves for another ten days, then I will send and give you the Holy Spirit. Not a foreign spirit will I send and give you, but My Spirit of love and of all wisdom will I send and give you, so that you may become mighty through Him, as I was mighty among you through the Father, who sent Me in His fullness to you from the height of all holiness of God.

[12] But as the Father is in Me and I in Him and We have been one from eternity, so also you and My Spirit in you will be one until the end of the world.

[13] I will now visibly leave you, and you will no longer see Me with the eyes of your flesh. But in My Spirit I will remain with you until the end of the world. And this My Spirit will guide you into all wisdom and will give you everything what you ask in My name.

[14] But henceforth I cannot dwell among you, but for the sake of your eternal salvation, I must ascend to the heights of My eternal dominion, that I may prepare for you a lasting dwelling place in the kingdom of heaven.

[15] Now you cannot yet see Me go where you will see Me go; but when your hour will come, there you will also be able to go where I now will go.

[16] But when you have received the Spirit out of Me, go out to all the lands of the earth and teach all nations what I have taught you and what you have seen, and then baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

[17] And those who will accept your teaching and will be baptized by you, as I was baptized by John in the river Jordan, even as soon the Holy Spirit comes out of Me, they will bear witness of Me in their hearts before your eyes.”

[18] After these words, the Lord breathed on all His apostles and said to them:

[19] "This is My Spirit! As I once breathed a living soul into Adam's nostrils, so now I breathe in you My living Spirit in advance, so that you shall not even for a moment stand there as orphans!

[20] So accept this Spirit of Mine so that you may know who is a sinner! This My Spirit will remedy the repentant's sins in My name; but My Spirit in you will withhold sin from the stubborn. You also do the same in My name!

[21] So loosen and bind on earth – and it will also be loosened or bound in heaven!

[22] But do not judge anyone and do not condemn any soul if you do not want to fall into the throats of the world's revenge too soon!"

[23] After these words, the Lord climbed the little mountain and a light cloud surrounded Him. And He became invisible from the eyes of everyone present. And many unbelievers were converted by it.

[24] But soon two bright men came from above, gave testimony of the Lord, promised His sometime return and then disappeared. And the brothers and the people returned to Jerusalem, rejoicing. "

Footnotes (*1) i.e. His spiritual brothers, the disciples