The Eternal Gates Are Lifted Up

"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens."  (Hebrews 7:25-26)


This Ascension text is by Mrs. Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-95)


1.  The eternal gates are lifted up,
     The doors are open wide;
     The King of glory is gone in
     Unto His Father's side.


2.  Thou art gone up before us, Lord,
     To make for us a place,
     That we may be where now Thou art,
     And look upon God's face.


3.  And ever on our earthly path
     A gleam of glory lies;
     A light still breaks behind the cloud
     That veiled Thee from our eyes.


4.  Lift up our hearts, lift up our minds,
     And let Thy grace be given,
     That while we live on earth below,
     Our treasure be in heaven.


5.  That where Thou art, at God's right hand,
     Our hope, our love may be.
     Dwell Thou in us, that we may dwell
     Forevermore in Thee.

See, the Lords Ascends in Triumph

This Ascension text by Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1885) highlights many Old Testament saints: Enoch, Aaron, Joshua, and Elijah.  All these find their perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the greater Prophet, Priest, and King.

See, the Lord ascends in triumph;

    Conqu’ring King in royal state,

Riding on the clouds, His chariot,

    To His heav’nly palace gate.

Hark! The choirs of angel voices

    Joyful alleluias sing,

And the portals high are lifted

    To receive their heav’nly King.

Who is this that comes in glory

    With the trump of jubilee?

Lord of battles, God of armies,

    He has gained the victory.

He who on the cross did suffer,

    He who from the grave arose,

He has vanquished sin and Satan;

    He by death has crushed His foes.

While he lifts His hands in blessing,

    He is parted from His friends;

While their eager eyes behold Him,

    He upon the clouds ascends.

He who walked with God and pleased Him,

    Preaching truth and doom to come,

He, our Enoch, is translated

    To His everlasting home.

Now our heav'nly Aaron enters

    With His blood within the veil;

Joshua now is come to Canaan,

    And the kings before Him quail.

Now He plants the tribes of Israel

   In their promised resting place;

Now our great Elijah offers

    Double portion of His grace.

He has raised our human nature

    On the clouds to God’s right hand;

There we sit in heav’nly places,

    There with Him in glory stand.

Jesus reigns, adored by angels;

    Man with God is on the throne.

By our mighty Lord’s ascension

    We by faith behold our own.