The first verse quoted is discussing idol worship. Idols are "themselves created", "[t]hey are dead, not living", and "they know not when they will be raised." Idols are manmade, they are stones, wood, artificial creations of man. They also can be men, prophets, leaders - these all too have no life but that which is given to them by Allah, according to Yusuf Ali "in themselves they are lifeless." These things will be raised up on the last day, so that their worshippers can see how false they are in their actions today. "They know not when that day will be." Jesus ascended early, according to one interpretation of the Quran:
According to the Qur'an Prophet Jesus was not crucified/killed:
"And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger - they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain." (4:157)
According to the Qur'an Prophet Jesus was raised to Allah:
"(And remember) when Allah said: O Jesus! Lo! ** I am gathering thee and causing thee to ascend unto Me ** , and am cleansing thee of those who disbelieve and am setting those who follow thee above those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then unto Me ye will (all) return, and I shall judge between you as to that wherein ye used to differ." (3:55)
"And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger - ** they slew him not nor crucified him ** , but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; ** they slew him not for certain. But Allah took him up unto Himself ** . Allah was ever Mighty, Wise. There is not one of the People of the Scripture but will believe in him before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them." (4:157-159)
According to another interpretation of the Quran, Yusuf Ali writes, one school holds that "** Jesus did die ** but not when he was supposed to be crucified and that his being raised up unto Allah means that instead of being disgraced as a malefactor as the Jews intended he was on the contrary honored by Allah as his messenger." My copy of Yusuf Ali quotes (5:120) to support this view, yet the verse their doesn't seem to fit. Maybe I'm missing something, can someone else check if they have a copy of Yusuf Ali and see which verse he is discussing, I think its a typo in my copy (or maybe I'm missing something in his argument). Thanks.
Achtung ;)
PS: Just a thought, these are translations of the Qur'an, I think we should be cautious when we draw any conclusions from them. I'm sure we've all heard that before :)