Revelation 19:11-16 Ascension
Pastor Ron Koehler
Grace—Tucson, AZ
June 1, 2025
An Open Heaven Reveals the Ascended Lord When heaven opens up, big things happen, right? When heaven opened and angels poured out over Bethlehem’s fields, shepherds saw and heard them proclaim that the long-anticipated Savior of the world had been born. When heaven opened above the Jordan River as John poured water over Jesus’ head, a dove dove down…and the divine voice spoke…and there was no mistaking that this was the Son of God in human flesh. When heaven opened on a mountain, the closest friends of Jesus saw Moses and Elijah step down from there, and they heard the thundering voice of the Father again declaring that this was his Son. Oh, when heaven opens you see and hear impressive things! This morning the door of heaven is opened again and it may be hard to believe what you see! It may even be a little scary. It could even be the opposite of what you expected to see and hear about in an Ascension celebration! But here’s the Ascension spin: through the open door of heaven, you are looking at the Ascended Lord who is reigning right now and is preparing to return. When you heard the account of Jesus’ ascension earlier, you maybe thought about a smiling Jesus rising up into the clouds as his disciples stood there staring. Maybe you pictured him waving good bye to his disciples. However you think about that, it’s a gentle Jesus—I’m almost certain. So, there he goes, up into the sky, disappearing from sight—to be seen again, but not until the end of this created world. And right now, he’s doing…what? Is he doing what we might do—just hanging out, finding ways to pass the time, waiting for the Last Day to come? And have you thought about what he will look like when he comes? Smiling again? Nodding to the people on the right side of those gathered before him and shaking his head at the people on the left? Is he stoic—simply handing out heaven passes to some and directing others to the path with signs that say “Hell this way?” I don’t know what you’ve seen inside your head, but my guess is that you didn’t picture him like what we see in the vision Jesus gave to John! This is no meek and mild Messiah you see, but a mighty and majestic One! Jesus is riding a white horse! His eyes are like blazing flames…on his head are many crowns…He is…clothed in a garment that had been dipped in blood…Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword. He holds an iron staff…on his garment and on his thigh this name is written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This is the imposing and awesome Ascended Lord who is Returning and Judging and Saving!