Thinking in terms of the many types/shadows that may give me clues as to the timing of us, the body of Christ, going home, the person and life of Jesus Himself is Someone/something I am to keep in focus. We are in union with Him.
Which brings up a question, "Why did Jesus put in 40 days after He ascended the very first time, after having revealed Himself to Mary first? before then ascending 40 days later the second time?" Might this somehow relate to the circumstances of our going home?
Right before Jesus began His 40 (see Acts 1:3), He revealed Himself initially only to Mary after He resurrected (John 20:1-18). Mary best embodies the love of a bride for Jesus. Jesus, when His side was opened up on the cross, gave "birth" to His bride like Adam gave "birth" to Eve in the Garden when his side was opened. I am thinking here that a number of you understand this. Eve was brought to Adam, Mary was brought to Jesus. Just before seeing Jesus, Mary had entered the tomb, the place of death, and came out of the tomb, the type/shadow pointing to a resurrection. It was at that moment Jesus is revealed to her. Mary going through this represents our being regenerated (new birth) and renewed (new life) by the Holy Spirit as Jesus is revealed to us (Titus 3:5).
According to Leviticus 12, the mother of a firstborn baby boy was to appear before God with the baby at the tent of meeting/temple but not until a 40 day period had lapsed. The mother of a firstborn baby girl was to appear with the baby after 80 days.
The Book of the Jubilees 3:8-13 summarizes the above and not only relates it to what Adam and Eve experienced, but also explains their experience as being the precedent for it.
"in the first week was Adam created, and the rib his woman: in the second week. He (God) showed her unto him: and for this reason the commandment was given to keep in their defilement, for a male seven days, and for a female twice seven days. And after Adam had completed forty days in the land where he had been created, we brought him into the Garden of Eden to till and guard it, but his woman they brought in on the eightieth day, and after this she entered into the Garden of Eden. And for this reason the commandment is written on the heavenly tablets in regard to her that gives birth: if she bears a male, she shall remain in her uncleanness seven days according to the first week of days, and thirty and three days shall she remain in the blood of her purifying, and she shall not touch any sanctified thing, nor enter into the sanctuary, until she accomplishes these days which are enjoined in the case of a male child. But in the case of a female child she shall remain in her uncleanness two weeks of days, according to the first two weeks, and sixty six days in the blood of her purification, and they will be in all eighty days. And when she had completed these eighty days we brought her into the Garden of Eden . . ." (Quoted from Cepher, published by Cepher Publishing Group, page 208).
An important point here is that Eve had to put in an additional 40 after Adam was taken into the manefest presence of God in the Garden.
Why would Adam have to also spend 40 days outside of the Garden of Eden? Because he was "birthed" out of the original Adam. Adam after the surgery was not the same Adam before surgery. The Adam before surgery was complete in his "maleness" and "femaleness". After surgery Adam was not complete without Eve. In other words, the original Adam gave birth to a "maleness" Adam and a "femaleness" Eve, or, a male child and a female child.
Why am I bringing all of this up about Adam and Eve? Because i believe it is why Jesus, after His crucifixion, resurrection, and first ascension, and also after having presented His blood before the Throne, the true Holy of Holies in heavenly places (see Hebrews 9:11,12) that He then had to come back down for 40 days. After His 40 days were completed, Jesus ascended into heavenly places a second time.
What I believe Jesus was showing us is that His companion to rule and reign with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3) is made up of an Adam group and an Eve group.
A foundational truth to keep in mind is that those who have joined themselves to the Lord at this time are one spirit with Him (I Corinthians 6:17). When Jesus accomplished the necessary 40 days after His first ascension, that is credited to us. In other words, when the time comes for the Adam portion of the body of Christ to enter heavenly places at the rapture event, they will immediately enter the Father's manifested presence because their 40 days were already accomplished by Jesus. This is the benefit of us relating to Jesus as our Head now, at this time.
However, there is also an Eve portion to the body of Christ who at this time have not embraced Jesus, yet who will after the first rapture event. In that moment of saving faith, they too will have 40 of the necessary 80 days credited to them when they come into spirit union with Jesus. Yet, they will have to put in an additional 40 days before they can join the Adam group in heavenly places. I believe during this 40 will be when the sign of Jonah to Ninevah will be fulfilled by Jesus. After that final 40 is accomplished, the Eve portion of the Body of Christ will join the Adam portion in heavenly places.
This Eve group has been chosen in Christ from the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) yet that salvation is taking place in a time flow.
At this time the Eve group, instead of Loving God, have their sights set on the lusts of the flesh, lusts of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life (compare Genesis 3:6 with I John 2:15-16). At the moment of their salvation they will have the Love of God because the Holy Spirit will indwell them.
It is likely that the Eve group will experience what Elijah told Elisha was necessary for him to receive the Spirit so as to continue the anointed work of God, which was what Elisha, in asking for a double portion, was about; Elisha had to witness Elijah's departure (see II Kings 2:9-14). So too, the Eve group will come to saving faith when they see us initially go home.
In Genesis 3:16 God tells Eve that the man will rule over her as one of the consequences of what she chose in terms of the lusts of the flesh, eyes and the pride of life. Note I Corinthians 11:3, "But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman . . . ". Do not think here of human relationships in terms of the point I am trying to make. Think in terms of Jesus being the Head of the Adam portion of the Body of Christ, and the Adam group then being the Head of the Eve portion of the Body of Christ. Both of these groups will function in heavenly places together as Jesus' companion, carrying out His will in perfect Holiness.
For what it is worth.
God bless you in your watching for the One who is always worthy.