The Glory: In the Presence of God

But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55) 

The Prophet Isaiah wrote: “In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne…Seraphim stood above Him…And one called out to another and said, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:1-3).

What is the glory of God? ““Glory” is something of a summary term the Bible uses to describe God’s character and nature, or to refer to his presence made visible or manifest.”^[1] While there are various definitions of glory, one dictionary defines it as, “the splendor and bliss of heaven.”^[2]

The splendor of heaven emanates from within the new Jerusalem. In Revelation 21:22-23, John says, “I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.” The bliss of heaven is initiated by God who “will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death…mourning, or crying, or pain…” (Revelation 21:4).

For almost 6,000 years, mankind has labored, and suffered as a result of our sin (Genesis 3). However, God chose in eternity past to forgive mankind, and share with us the eternity He enjoys (Ephesians 1:3-6). When the Lord God returns, He will collect those of us who are being saved (Revelation 20), and take us to where His glory never fades, and we will enjoy Him forever (Revelation 21:1-5).

FOOTNOTES

1. What Is the Glory of God in the Bible? A Q&A with Donnie Berry, PhD https://renew.org/glory-of-god/.↑

2. Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Kids Definition 1 of 2, online at https://www.merriam-webster.com/.↑