Preaching on Heavenly Vision: Beholding The Glory to Come
As we navigate this earthly realm, often marked by trials and uncertainties, our hearts are sustained by the glorious hope of what awaits us in eternity. The scriptures grant us glimpses, heavenly visions, that stir our souls and anchor our faith in the unfading splendor of God's presence. Let us fix our gaze upon these glimpses of glory to come.
1. The heavenly vision brings hope of a glorious future in the presence of God (Psalms 17:15)
"As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness." The Psalmist expresses a profound hope rooted in the vision of beholding God's face in righteousness. This anticipation of being fully in His presence, awakened to His likeness, brings a deep and lasting satisfaction that transcends earthly experiences.
2. The vision of God's throne reveals His majesty and authority over all (Isaiah 6:1)
"In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple." Isaiah's awe-inspiring vision of God upon His exalted throne unveils His supreme majesty and absolute authority over all creation. This heavenly glimpse reminds us that our God is sovereign, His power unmatched, and His reign eternal.
3. The vision of the King in His beauty points to the eternal destiny of the saints (Isaiah 33:17)
"Your eyes will see the king in his beauty; they will behold a land that stretches afar." Isaiah's prophecy speaks of a future day when the eyes of the righteous will behold the King, the Messiah, in all His splendor. This vision points towards our eternal destiny in a glorious, expansive land, a realm of unimaginable beauty in His presence.
4. The opening of the heavens reveals divine mysteries to the prepared heart (Ezekiel 1:1)
"In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God." For Ezekiel, amidst exile and hardship, the heavens opened, granting him profound visions of God. This reminds us that even in challenging circumstances, a heart prepared to seek God can receive divine revelations and glimpses into His mysteries.
5. Spiritual vision transports us to high places for profound revelations (Ezekiel 8:3)
"He stretched out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the inner gate that faces north, where was the seat of the idol of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy." Ezekiel's spiritual transportation to Jerusalem in a vision highlights how the Spirit can lift us to "high places" for profound understanding and revelation of both God's glory and the realities of the spiritual battle.
6. Jesus wants His followers to behold His eternal glory (John 17:24)
"Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world." In His final prayer, Jesus expresses His deep desire for His followers to be with Him and to behold His eternal glory, the very glory He shared with the Father before creation. This is the ultimate heavenly vision awaiting those who are united with Christ.
7. The full vision is yet to come, but today we have a glimpse of eternity (1 Corinthians 13:12)
"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." Paul acknowledges that our current understanding and vision of heavenly realities are incomplete, like seeing a reflection in a cloudy mirror. However, he assures us of a future day when we will see God face to face, with complete and perfect understanding.
8. The vision of future glory transforms our present identity and hope (1 John 3:2)
"Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." John reminds us that even now, as children of God, we possess a glorious identity. The future vision of seeing Christ in His fullness fuels our hope and shapes our present lives, knowing that we will one day be like Him.
9. The final promise is to see the face of God in the heavenly city (Revelation 22:4)
"They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads." The culmination of all heavenly visions is the promise in Revelation of seeing the very face of God in the new Jerusalem. This intimate and direct communion with our Creator is the ultimate fulfillment of our deepest longings and the essence of eternal glory.
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Conclusion
Therefore, let us hold fast to these heavenly visions, these glimpses of the glory to come. Let them inspire our hope, transform our present lives, and anchor our hearts in the eternal presence of our God. For the day is coming when we shall see Him face to face, and our faith will be made sight. Amen.
