Yahweh continues to spotlight this matter of Yahshua’s and our own ascension to the Father in our earthly form. We noted in Resurrection and Judgment, page 5, that after Yahshua had resurrected from the dead, then revealed Himself to others that same day, and late that evening led the apostles to Bethany, He there “parted from them and was carried up into heaven” (Luke 24:51). What can this latter statement mean: “carried up into heaven”? Who carried Him, and why was He carried?
It is repeatedly noted in Resurrection and Judgment that Yahshua had to ascend into heaven in His earthly form. By doing so, of necessity He prepared the way for us to follow in the same manner. The first Remnant must first resurrect from the dead back into their earthly bodies, making it possible for them to ascend into the clouds with the second Remnant “who are alive and remain,” meeting Yahshua in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Clearly, as Enoch and Elijah attested, both Remnant parts ascend alive in their earthly flesh—that which is “born of water”—so that their flesh can be transformed/regenerated, and they can be born from above, born of the Spirit. This is what Yahshua evidenced as the promised first fruits from the dead; and this is our hope, our promise, and our course as well.
But, the questions arise: Who carried Yahshua in His earthly form up into heaven, and what does this speak? And likewise, who will carry us in our earthly form into the clouds to meet Him in the air?
Clearly, this phrase that Yahshua was “carried up into heaven,” confirms once again that He was in His earthly body. Why would He need to be carried if He was already in a heavenly body? Obviously that would not be necessary. The heavenly is not limited to or bound by the earthly. Evidencing His earthly state at that ascension, we find that after His transformation in heaven into His born-from-above body and His return to be among them for the forty days, a completely different Greek word is used to describe His ascension when He returned to heaven. In Acts 1:9 we read: “And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” The phrase “He was lifted up” is one Greek word, “epairo,” and means “to lift up, or to rise up.” Literally, Yahshua rose up into the air on His own and a cloud received Him. He was not carried this time. On the other hand, the Greek word in Luke 24:51 for “was carried up” is “anaphero.” It is formed from two words, providing the more specific meaning, “to carry into the midst, or to carry up.” ”Phero” means “to carry.”
Thus we see that after Yahshua resurrected from the grave, having reentered His earthly body, of necessity He was carried up into heaven by someone else. But, when He had returned from heaven in His heavenly body, His ascension back into heaven several days later was unassisted. So we now ask, who carried Yahshua into heaven when in His earthly state?
As you will see, there is a host of evidence in the Scriptures that points to only one answer: Yahshua was carried into heaven by the angels; and not only Yahshua, but they will equally carry the Bride into heaven, and all who follow. Let us examine this, and we will begin with the temptation of Yahshua by Satan.
In the second of three temptations in the wilderness, we read in Luke 4:9-11:
And [Satan] led [Yahshua] to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning you to guard you,’ and, ‘on their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ “
Satan knew that the angels would bear Yahshua up, for it was written in the Scriptures; and he formulated this temptation that was a lie, or maybe just plain error on his part. But, Yahshua knew what the true fulfillment would be—that the angels would bear Him up into heaven after He resurrected from the dead—and He told Satan, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ “
The passage Satan quoted is Psalm 91:12, which we read here, along with verse 11:
For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
Most interesting and quite fitting, the Hebrew word used here that is translated “bear you up” is “nasa.” Of course NASA is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration here in the US that bears us earthly beings up into the heavens as well. As an earthly man, Yahshua equally had to have a NASA, but He was two thousand years before their time; and frankly, even today they lack the technology for the range He had to travel. Man’s efforts are all towers of Babel; they all fall short and must come down. But the angels, observed by Jacob to ascend and descend from heaven (Genesis 28:12), most certainly have no problem in trekking that course, and nasa-ed Him up in their hands.
In addition, where were the angels in Acts 1:9 when Yahshua once again ascended into heaven? They certainly were not in the air. As the disciples were gazing intently into the sky while Yahshua was going up, two men in white clothing, two angels, stood beside them and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” The angels did not carry Him this time, but instead stayed with the disciples to tell them that He would return in the same way. Neither at that moment, nor at His return, did or will He need angels to bear Him up. He was the first to possess a regenerated body, making this journey possible for all men.
Next we find an amazing testimony that is exactly what we have been seeing, only this time related specifically to mankind. But as are the ways of Yahweh, who “has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise” (1 Corinthians 1:27), men today are blind to its immense relevance, and most certainly its critical testimony. In the following verses from 1 Corinthians 11, we find that the woman is obligated to cover her head when she prays or prophesies.
Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head. But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head (verses 4-6).
Therefore the woman is obligated to have authority on her head, because of the angels (Lit. of verse 10).
But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God (verse 16).
Yahweh is government, and when people reject Him, they evidence this by their governmental choices and actions. What we find is that a woman covering her head when she goes before the Father is not only effectual for that woman, but attests to that which is of incomparable value for the Bride. And you will see that even as Christianity’s sabbath is Sunday, the eighth day, obligating their legal rest on the eighth day of mankind and not the Millennial sabbath; so their rejection of women covering their heads obligates them to highly determining consequences as well—they will not be in the first ascension.
And might it also be noted here that Christians practice the error of women being equal to men. Equally in conflict with the Scriptures, they let women teach and even be pastors. Furthermore, they support women voting and being involved in governance, both in the church and in society. Christian women dress like men and cut their hair short like men. They join the chorus of those who abandon the home and the family and aspire to take the place of men in education and employment. They want to take the glory of the man, and thereby paint and adorn themselves so as to draw attention to themselves and not give the glory to their head, the man. As clearly stated in the curse on the woman set forth in Genesis 3:16 after Eve sought to be like God, they desire the place of the man.
As addressed in the Remnant Bride Radio program, “Seeing the Big Picture, Part 1,” by these actions they in fact practice homosexuality—“one and the same sex.” The woman’s pursuit to be equal to the man is governmentally the same as homosexuality. And since Christians support and practice this sin of homosexuality, the consequence to them is the same as that which occurred in Sodom: they have been struck with blindness and weary themselves in trying to find the doorway (Genesis 19:11). This blindness is evidenced in both their choices and their teachings.
There are consequences for our actions; and when Christians, or anyone, violate the government of Yahweh God and His instructions to us, accorded consequences will follow. So it is written, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7). And, these consequences will never be more impacting as in that which will take place in the days before us, evidenced by the testimony of the woman covering her head.
What then is so profound regarding the woman’s headcovering? You will notice in verse 10 from 1 Corinthians 11 that “the woman is obligated to have authority on her head, because of the angels.” Why is a woman obligated to cover her head, and what do angels have to do with this? In Coverings, Chapter 3, we note that when a woman prays, she is no longer going to her head, her husband, but is now going to her head’s Head. When she now goes before the Father, she must have a substitutionary covering on her head. This covering gives her the authority to go to the Father. So most importantly for us in this examination, why are the angels called into this matter?
In Coverings, we note that angels are beings of authority and under authority. They respect and thus respond to authority, thereby obligating the woman to act responsibly under this governmental order. And by the very meaning of the word “angel” in both the Hebrew and the Greek, they are Yahweh’s “messengers,” who are sent forth by Him to execute His purposes. Those purposes are quite varied, but let us look at one that is essential for our ascension to the Father to be born from above.
Keying off of that which we read in 1 Corinthians 11:10, we find that the very governmental process evidenced by the woman in order for her to go before the Father in prayer, is precisely the governmental process of the Bride in order to ascend to the Father. The woman is obligated to cover her head “because of the angels.” What then do the angels have to do with the Bride equally going to the Father? As we have already seen, the angels are in fact the ones who will take each Bride member into the clouds, into the air, and into heaven.
Thus we see that the very government that applies to the woman in going before Yahweh in prayer, is the same government that affords the Bride to literally go to the Father. The Bride is to be covered “because of the angels,” and it is they who bear us up to the Father. (To understand what the covering must be for the Bride, read these select writings. Basically, it is holding all things in common, which was practiced and fulfilled by the first Remnant.) Thus we see evidenced once again that angels make possible our ascension to the Father so as to be born from above.
As further evidence, let us examine several passages regarding angels, and we will begin with one that was referred to in the writing, Resurrection and Judgment. We have noted that the first Remnant are represented by Moses, who died having not received the promise; and the second Remnant are represented by Elijah, who ascended alive. These two men are repeatedly contrasted with each other, including on the mount of transfiguration. Though Moses was indeed dead at the time, specifically an angel, even Michael, was sent to obtain his body (Jude 1:9). Though dead, this attests to the fact that angels are the messengers who are sent by Yahweh to get men’s bodies. And remember, Moses is prophetic of the first Remnant who reenter their bodies so as to ascend alive.
Another highly confirming evidence concerning the angels bearing us up to heaven is the two angels who were sent to take Lot, his two daughters, and his wife, out of Sodom. We read in Genesis 19:15-16 regarding their exodus:
When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.” But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of Yahweh was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city.
As addressed in All’s Well That Ends Well, page 2, Christianity is spiritual Sodom. So, while this moreso looks to the Bride coming out of the Body of Christ, the fact that it was indeed angels who literally took them by the hand and brought them out, evidences exactly what they will do in order for the Bride to ascend to the Father. Even as the angels accomplished what was seemingly not possible for Lot, so they will accomplish for us what is otherwise not possible in our earthly bodies. Remembering Psalm 91:12—“They will bear you up on their hands”—here again we see the hands of angels being used to transport man in a journey otherwise impossible.
In the parable regarding Lazarus and the rich man, we read in Luke 16:22 that Lazarus “was carried away by the angels.” Bearing the same name of the friend of Yahshua who was brought out of death, he is a testimony of the Remnant. Furthermore, we read in Hebrews 1:14 that angels are “all ministering (or, servant) spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation.” And MOST significant, in Matthew 24:31 they are specifically identified as those who indeed gather together the Bride at the coming of Immanuel: “And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” Could there be anything clearer regarding the means of our ascension? By the hands of the angels, who comb the earth for the Bride, we will be carried up to the Father!
And let us not miss another testimony. Though this one is not from the Scriptures, it is indeed from one who studied them and wrote extensively in the early years of the church. Around 198 AD, Tertullian wrote the following to women who, like today, were conforming to the ways of the world:
I will then see whether you will rise with your ceruse and rouge and saffron—and in all that parade of headgear. I will then see whether it will be women thus decked out whom the angels carry up to meet Christ in the air! If these things are now good, and of God, they will then also present themselves to the rising bodies.
Tertullian warned that these trappings were contrary to that which the angels would esteem. It is in fact modest women who fulfill the obligation of covering their heads whom the angels will esteem. One must then ask: If a woman rejects covering her head now and thereby her prayers are hindered, what then is her risk of not ascending at the sound of the trumpet when not just our prayers but our bodies must be brought before the Father by the angels?
Once again, in Psalm 91:11-12 we read:
For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
The angels “will bear you up”! We know that this verse applied to Yahshua, but He also opened the way, making the same possible for us. This is literally what must take place for the Bride at the sound of the first trumpet. As in all of these testimonies, because we remain in our flesh, yet have to be in heaven with our bodies in order to be born from above, it is essential that Yahweh send His angels and bear us up to heaven. Yahshua said that He could have at His disposal 72,000 angels if He so requested (Matthew 26:53). That is in fact the number of the Bride, elevated to the heavenly level. One can be well assured that He will indeed call those angels to gather His Bride from the four winds, and will meet us in the air.
We noted in Luke 24:51 that in order for Yahshua to ascend into heaven to the Father as told to Mary (John 20:17), He was “carried up into heaven” in His earthly born-of-water body. Again, the fact that He had to be carried there is one more clear evidence that He resurrected from the dead back into His earthly body (which is quite obvious since the tomb was empty). And further confirming this, we now see as well that He was carried there by angels—“They will bear You up in their hands.” That would not have been necessary if He had already put on a heavenly body, as we saw in Acts 1:9.
Today, the Bride must make that same journey so that we too can be born from above, born of the Spirit; and there is only one way this can be accomplished. As the Bride who covers her head “because of the angels,” these selfsame angels must likewise nasa us up to the Father who awaits us.