- The majesty of His presence: "and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength" Revelation 1v16.
The brilliance of the countenance of Christ. This is what is known as the "appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord." Ezekiel 1v28 Clearly when Jesus was here He veiled His glory from the world around Him, but now He appears in His natural heavenly mode. There is little doubt that those who dwell in the presence of God reflect in their outward appearance the glory of God. The man Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinai with the Lord. In Exodus 34v35 " The children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses shone." So bright was his appearance that he had to put a veil over his face Paul refers to this in 2nd Corinthians 3v7 "The children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance." We are given a small window into the appearance of those who dwell in heaven in Matthew 28v2-3 "And behold there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it. His countenance was as lightning and His raiment as white as snow: and for fear of him the keepers did shake and became as dead men."
The disciples, Peter, James and John caught a glimpse of this glorious appearance on the mount of transfiguration. Those who saw this never forgot it and Peter records of this occasion in 2nd Peter 1v16-18 "We were eye witnesses of His majesty, for He received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, "this is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased". And this voice which came from heaven we heard when we were with Him in the holy mount." The gospel records reveal that Jesus body was transfigured, that is, changed from its ordinary earthly human appearance into the actual appearance of the glory of heaven. Matthew record in chapter 17v2 " His face did shine as the sun." Luke records in chapter 9v29 " As He prayed the fashion of His countenance was altered and His raiment was white and glistening.
The apostle Paul saw a similar thing as he was journeying on the Damascus road. Three times in the book of the Acts it is recorded concerning this glorious appearance of Jesus Christ.
- Acts 9v3 "And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined roundabout him a light from heaven."
- Acts 22v6 "About noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light roundabout me."
- Acts 26v13 "At midday oh king I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun, shining roundabout me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth I heard a voice speaking."
It seemed that each time this story was told, his recollection of it became more vivid. He starts with a light from heaven, then it was a great light from heaven, then it was a light above the brightness of the sun. Such was the brightness of the appearance of Jesus Christ to Paul on the Damascus road that he was blinded for several days and he would never forget what he saw, and his whole life was devoted to helping us understand the reality of what he saw.
Facial expression tells a lot. The bible speaks of a countenance which has fallen (Genesis 4v6); a countenance not toward Jacob as before (Genesis 31v2); a nation of fierce countenance (Deuteronomy 28v56)a beautiful countenance (1st Samuel 16v12); a sad countenance (Nehemiah 2v2); a cheerful countenance (Proverbs 15v13); an angry countenance (Proverbs 25v23). The countenance of Jesus Christ is of the glory of God, of the glory of heaven where God dwells. He came amongst us veiled in a human body of flesh. He lives today in the full expression of that glory, a Man in heaven. This is a spectacular vision of Christ. this is Him as He is now; no longer the rejected, lowly peasant preacher, but now in full orb glorious appearance. In this vision we have been brought face to face with His dignity, His equity, His purity, His perspicacity, His victory, His authority, His sovereignty, His intensity and finally His majesty. Each one of those facets of His being should become the food of the people of God. On the contrary it should bring fear into the hearts of the unbeliever. This vision which John saw will be seen by every living being who has ever lived either for good or bad. Make sure it is for good!
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