بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِِ

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The Official Website of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
Muslims who believe in the Messiah,
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian(as)Muslims who believe in the Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani (as), Love for All, Hatred for None.

Ascension

The Bible does not approve the idea that Jesus ascended to heaven. There is a strong possibility that some words were changed when the gospels were written very many years after Jesus. There is also the possibility that after the incident of crucifixion the disciples might have used some phraseology having dual meaning, so that people would not know that Jesus was living, and would not try again to kill him. It is possible that later followers might not have understood this phraseology and were led to misrepresent the fact.

Jesus had prophesied that he would go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and guide them.

“But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. (Matthew 15:24)

According to the gospel of St John, Jesus tells of his objective and determination.

“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold. Them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd”. (John 10:16)

It is a historical fact that these “lost Sheep” had gone to Kashmir which is in the continent of Asia. If Jesus had ascended to heaven, he could not have gone to the lost Israelites and would have failed in his heavenly task. But he did not ascend to heaven. He went to Kashmir and conveyed his prophetic message to the Israelites in that area.

Jesus admittedly was born of a wowan. holy Mary, and the Bible says:

“And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven”. (John 3:13)

This shows that Jesus could not have ascended to heaven, as he was born on earth and did not descend from heaven. This matter of rising to heaven is not reported about Jesus only. Enoch and Elijah are also said to have had a similar experience. Concerning Enoch, the Bible says:

“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God”. (Hebrews 11:5)

We read about Elijah:

“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven”. (II Kings 2:11)

The existence of such statements concerning other holy persons also show that there is no reason why Jesus should be distinguished from other prophets in this respect. But, the fact remains that no one ascends to heaven physically:

“And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven”, … (John 3:13)