Meaning of ASCENSION

40 days after Easter, Christ ascended to heaven among His disciples, returning to His Father to be glorified at His right hand (Mark 16:19; Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1:9-12) .

This crowning of his redemptive work was foreseen in the OT (Ps. 68:19; 110:1). Jesus himself had announced it repeatedly (Lk. 9:31, 51; 19:12; Jn. 6:62; 7:33; 12:32; 14:12, 28; 16:5, 10, 17, 28 ; 17:5, 13; 20:17) and His predicted return on the clouds of heaven implied His previous ascension (Mt. 24:30; 26:64).

The apostles insist a lot on what happened that day:
Peter (Acts 2:33-36; 3:21; 1 Pet. 3:22).

Paul (Eph. 1:20-22; 2:6; 4:8, 10; Phil. 3:20; 1 Thes. 4:16; 2 Thes. 1:7; 1 Tim. 3:16).

In Hebrews (Heb. 1:3, 13; 2:9; 6:20; 9:11-12, 24, 28).

And John (in his gospel already cited and in Rev. 3:21; 5: 6, 13).
The Ascension is the seal and necessary consequence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. After His humiliation He has now been sovereignly exalted (Phil. 2:5-11)

Since then seated at the right hand of God he has received all power in heaven and on earth (Mt. 28:18, Heb. 12:2). Having entered into the Holy of Holies, that is, before the very presence of God, he fulfills on our behalf his office of intercessor and high priest (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25; 9:24).

He has received from the Father the Holy Spirit that he promised, and has given him to the Church with all her gifts (Acts 2:33). He is our advocate before God, always ready to welcome us before the throne of grace (1 Jn. 2: 1; Heb. 4: 14-16).

There on high he is preparing a place for us (Jn. 14: 2), awaiting Himself the definitive triumph over all his enemies (Heb. 10: 12-13).

The Ascension of Christ is closely related to his return. The Lord will return in the same way as he ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9-12), that is: personally (John 14:3), bodily and visibly (Mt. 24:30; Rev. 1:7), upon and with the clouds (Rev. 1:7; Dan. 7:13), suddenly (1 Thes. 5:2-3), in glory and with His angels (Mt. 16:27; 24:30), upon the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:3-4).