So then after the Lord hath spoken unto them, he was received into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. MARK 16.19
And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried into heaven. LUKE 24.51
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of sight. ACTS 1.9
SPIRITUAL ASCENSION:
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. JOHN 3:14
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. JOHN 12.32
OTHER ASCENSIONS TO HEAVEN:
ENOCH:
And Enoch walked with God., and he was not; for God took him, GENESIS 5.24
ELIJAH:
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire. and parted them both asunder, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 2 KINGS 2.11
ENOCH:
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God hath translated him, for before his translation, he had his testimony, that he pleased God. HEBREW 11.5
MARK’S VERSION:
A STATEMENT OF BELIEF:
God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. JOHN 4.24
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bossom of the Father, he hath declared him. JOHN 1.18
A LATER ADDITION:
Mark 16.19 is not included in the two oldest complete manuscripts of the Gospel of Mark: The Codex Vaticanus and The Code Sinaiticus. THE ECUMENICAL TRANSLATION.
It was added to the original account, in probably early 2nd century, to take place of the ending which had been lost or regarded defective. THE ENC. BRITANNICA: VOL 17: Page 730
Ancient authorities omit this verse and some conclude with the following:
‘But they reported briefly to Peter and those with him all that they had been told. And after this Jesus himself sent out by means of them, the sacred and imperishable proclaimation of eternal salvation. THE HOLY BIBLE, REVISED STANDARD VERSION: CATHOLIC EDITION: LONDON CATHOLIC TRUTH SOCIETY.
MARK DID NOT SEE ASCENSION:
But they reported briefly to Peter and those with him all that they had been told. SEE ABOVE.
MARK DID NOT WRITE MARK 16.19
This passage is regarded as inspired and cannonical scripture even if not written by Mark, THE HOLY BIBLE REVISED STANDARD VERSION: CATHOLIC EDITION: LONDON CATHOLIC TRUTH SOCIETY.
MARK NOT A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST:
Mark was not one of the twelve. REV JOHN EDDIE: PROF OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE: UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: NATIONAL ILLUSTRATED FAMILY BIBLE: HOWARD PRESS: PG 919
LUKE 24.51; A CONJECTURE:
WHILE HE BLESSED THEM, HE WAS PARTED FROM THEM, AND CARRIED INTO HEAVEN.
Luke could not have seen Christ carried into heaven as his other testimony declares:
While they beheld, he was taken up and a cloud received him out of sight. ACTS 1.9
LUKE WAS NOT AN EYE WITNESS:
For as much as have taken in hand to set forth in order of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eye witnesses, and minsters of the word: It seemed to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainity of those things wherein thou hast been instructed. LUKE 1.1/4
Luke did not speak of himself as an eye witness of the events in the life of Christ that are recorded in his Gospel account. AID TO BIBLE UNDERSTANDING: WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY.
LUKE NOT A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST:
Luke, the author of the third Gospel was probably a proselyte of Anticoh. ILLUSTRATED NATIONAL FAMILY BIBLE.
He apparently became a believer sometimes after the Pentecost of 33 CE. AID TO BIBLE UNDERSTANDING: WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY.
DISAGREEMENT ON VENUE OF ASCENSION:
LUKE: And he led them as far as Bethany, and he lifted his hand and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them and carried into heaven. 24.50/51
ACTS: And while they looked steadfastly towards heaven as he went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing into heaven? This same Jesus which was taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go in heaven. Then returned they from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem, a sabbath days journey. 1.10/12
MARK: But go ye your way and tell the disciples and Peter that the goeth before you into Galilee, there shall ye see him. Afterwards he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat. Soon after the Lord hath spoken unto them, he was received into heaven and sat on the right hand of God. 16, 14 & 19
JOHN: After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. 21.1
MATTHEW: Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee into the mountains where Jesus had appeared to them. And they saw him and worshipped him. 28.16/1
PHYSICAL ASCENSION TO HEAVEN IMPOSSIBLE:
And no man bath ascended to heaven but he that cometh down from heaven, even the son of man which is in heaven. JOHN 3.13
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself, handle me and see, for a spirit hath no flesh and bones as you see me have. LUKE 24.39