P. Derek Overfield PhD Thesis - Research@StAndrews:FullText

't' 64
wr1. 1.ngs.
This passage shows quite clearly that
the major emphasis of the author is on the exaltation
by virtue of the ascension and not by virtue of the
resurrection;
it is only when the Lord Christ has
completed his ascension (into the seventh heaven) that
the righteous will receive their ' garments ' , presumably
their new (spiritual) bodies. 65 The last passage
that concerns us, XI, 20-32, reveals a similar concept
of the ascension:
••• I saw how he was crucified on the
tree, and how he was raised after three
days and remained rstill many] days.
And the angel who conducted me said to
me I Attend, Isaiah'. And I saw when
he sent out his twelve apcstles and
ascended ••• And I saw how he
ascended into the seventh heaven, and
all the righteous and all the angels
praised him. And I saw how he sat
down at the right hand of that great
glory, whose glory, as I told you, I
was not able to behold.
This is the most detailed of the ascension accounts in
this document, with its very graphic description of the
ascent through all six heavens until the final stage,
the seventh heaven, is reached.
At every stage the
reaction of the angels is one of praise.
It is notable
that in this text the ascension is referred to without
comment.
It is possible that the reference to 'days '
is intended to be understood as the 545 days of IX, 16,66
at any rate t h e phraseology 1.S "'1 very S1.ffil. are 67
-348-