If heaven isn't a physical realm, then where did Jesus Christ ascend to?

Question

Some people believe that the man Jesus was killed, that his body was laid to rest, that he came back to life, then he, in his bodily form, ascended to "heaven."

Yet, a lot of people also believe that heaven is a spiritual realm.

So, what happened?

If he physically ascended from wherever he was, up into the sky, what happened?

Did his body go somewhere? If so, we should be able to find it if it's still in the physical realm.

Did his body disintegrate gradually as he went up and up?

Or is it some sort of metaphor? Possibly like all humans, his body simply turned to dust, but his spirit went to heaven?

Answer 1

None of the above--he descended into heaven as he eventually became the dust to dust thing that happens to flesh. Oh, but you mean his spirit, right? Only god knows the answer to that. Heaven is too far away (you've heard of light years, eh) that ascending upward going even the speed of light (in which case he couldn't be seen ascending because he would be hauling faster than the eye could see) would still take millions of light years to go beyond what we see with our modern telescopes and gosh, we haven't been able to see heaven from them yet. So, if he ascended, he's still ascending because it's only two thousand and six years since this happened and he has millions of years to get there.

Answer 2

Read sometime what the Bible actually says about heaven. It has a north, south, east and west. Trees and other plants grow there. There is at least new city with walls, gates, building, streets, etc. Beings live there including angels, still living humans (like Enoch and Elijah), and God Himself. There are books, scrolls, thrones, crowns, stones, jewels, and other items listed as existing there. And is it promised that someday all those who are "saved" while enter heaven in their bodies. So it must have some kind of a physical reality.

It exist, however, in a different "realm". This is something any thinking person would understand. We see different "realms" everyday. We function in a physical realm were we see, touch, feel, interact, and control physical objects around us. There are rules that govern that realm which can be measured and explained by science. But there is also a mental realm. This realm is not governed by the laws of physics. It is possible in my mind to be in modern day New York one moment, and ancient Egypt a second later. Simply by though. We would not expect the mental realm to be limited by physical rules.

There is also a realm of the "spirit". The rules that govern that realm are not limited by either physical or mental rules. It can do things, not only beyond the physical, but (as Paul says in 1 Corinthians) beyond what we can even ask or think. In that realm, a physical body is able to do things that are not possible in the physical realm. At His resurrection, He got out of the grave clothes that had bound him like a mummy without unwrapping or disturbing the cloth. Impossible. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared inside a locked room. He either "walked through the walls" or he "teleported" into the room. Impossible. He appeared to some disciples at the tomb in Jerusalem, then to disciples on the road to Emmaus - talking with them and eating dinner with them, then was back in Jerusalem that same evening. Physically impossible. But after his resurrection, He was no longer bound by physical laws.

When He ascended to heaven, his body did go with him. He passed from this realm to the spiritual realm. How? I can not explain the physics of it. I can not explain how a thought works, or why a human has intelligence, but that does not make those things non-existence or fake. It just means that I do not (yet) understand the process. Closest analogue I know of to it is that he moved into another dimension - that of the spirit.

Take a minute and read 1 Corinthians chapter 15. (I know, it is long. A whole 58 verses. So it might actually take you 3-4 minutes. But you will survive it.) Paul explains all about the resurrection, the changes that happen to a physical body at resurrection, and the differences between a natural and a physical body.

When you take the time to actually read the book (not just a sentence or two) you will find that all the answers are there for questions like this. You just have to have the courage and intellectual honesty to be willing to look for them.

Answer 3

The Third Heaven (the Highest Heaven) is, basically, the realm of the spirit. But does not seem to exclude physical. Such as Enoch, Elijah, St. Paul when he was caught up to the third heaven (whether in the body or out of the body, he didn't know), and of course the Lord Jesus Christ, Deity Incarnate.

But is it just "way out there somewhere"? What about the first Christian Martyr, Stephen, who gazing up saw heaven opened and saw Jesus standing ....

I suppose he might have been able to look into heaven some 500 trillion miles way; or, perhaps as some suggest, Heaven might actually be in another "dimension"; very real, but also not far away; rather, close.

Answer 4

Heaven absolutely is a physical place but the spirit realm is there as well.God is spirit and Jesus is a resurrected being sitting on his right hand.Angels are spirit but have the ability to take human form and even eat.It more of a dimensional thing,out of time and space.Heaven is filled with angels but also resurrected humans will be there too.

Answer 5

If there was any ascension it would have been an apparition. Heaven is not "up" (up is a relative depending on where you're standing). If anything I believe that the bible is describing an apparition of Jesus "ascending" as his apparent biodily form dissapated into oneness with the Universe.

Answer 6

Jesus rose into the atmosphere where upon reaching a certain altitude, he was no longer able to breathe, at which point he suffocated and fell back to earth. Sadly he landed on an elderly couple walking in the Garden of Gethsemane, killing the old woman. The new widower, upon seeing the bluish and chilled Jesus lying near his wife exclaimed: "Jesus H. Christ, you had to choose now for your second coming?!?"

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Answer 7

Jesus symbolically lifted to fullfill and signify what he said many times; that is he FROM ABOVE. Youll notice the other times Jesus left after brief appearances he just disappeared. Why? Well the ascension also signifies Jesus' leaving this earth until his 2nd coming.

Answer 8

Stop thinking like a mortal. His spirit ascended to Heaven. What happened to his actual body is a mystery and should be taken on faith.

Answer 9

Have you considered the possibility that the physical reality is what is not real?

Maybe he had no actual body to ascend.

Just asking.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 10

Christ was TRANSLATED...or Transfigured...remember the Transfiguration on Mt Olive..when Moses and Elijah appeared.