The answer
The Master Christ ascended bodily, and that is how He was seen, openly and visibly, by everyone. He entered into Heaven with the sacrifice of Himself, as a Redeemer, with His body still belonging to him. When He was witnessed by John the Seer, He was seen in His body, as is evident from the different expressions which were recorded in the first chapter of the Book of Revelation.
The significance that can be drawn from this is that Christ, to Him be glory, took our human nature, and united it to Himself. He ascended with it into glory, and seated us on the Throne, which is why we say in the Divine Liturgy, “Thou hast brought my first fruit up to heaven.” This is the pinnacle of Christ’s work for us.
What is important for us to know is that this body cannot contain the splendour of divinity on earth. He concealed His divinity in His humanity, and on the Mountain of the Transfiguration, He allowed for the glory to shine forth with measure, relative to the real and full glory which is His in heaven, and in which He was seen by John the Seer.
These images of majesty were witnessed by some of the prophets, such as Ezekiel and Daniel, prior to the Incarnation.
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II
Pope Tawadros II, My Faith: A Series of Dialogues on the Creed (Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, 2014), 117–118.
The pages in the book (117–118)
