“What is the Beatific Vision?”

Home / Kingdom Questions / “What is the Beatific Vision?”

The series spells out the ultimate goal of the Christian faith, which is the direct apprehension of God face to face in heaven. (1 John 3:2-3) While Christians cannot attain the beatific vision is this life, they are called to progress towards that final reward by beholding more and more of the glory of God in Christ. (2 Cor 3:18) Both passages posit the means of transformation. “Hope fixed on HIm” and “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord.” The series provides practical advice on how to make progress towards the beatific vision. How do you see more and more of the glory of God? How do sin issues choke out the knowledge of God? How crucial is life-long repentance in seeing the glory of God? The series highlights the constant role of the Helper in reversing the sin choices we make in the “great exchange” (Rom 1:23) in His effort to sanctify us and lead us to trust and totally depend on Christ. What emerges is a holistic picture of salvation in which forgiveness of sins is the foundation to the ultimate purpose of God, which is to conform believers into the image of Christ. That conformation is inseparable from vision of the glory of Christ. “We all, with unveiled face, are beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into that same image, from glory to glory.” (2 Cor. 3:18)

The Full Series

Faith in God Culminates with Seeing God

January 2, 2025 No Comments

This initial episode defines the beatific vision as the direct apprehension of God Himself. While believers cannot have it in this life, believers are called to fix all of their hope in God. Very interestingly, the passage that most explicitly describes the beatific vision, 1 John 3:2-3, strongly suggests that the prerequisite for seeing God face to face, is looking like Him. Anticipating that many would lose hope based on their present condition, Christians are nevertheless exhorted to place all their hope on Christ and His transforming power. The episode notes the difference between our position in Christ (perfection) and our condition. We aren’t only justified by faith in Christ, we are also sanctified by faith in Christ.

Read More »

Beholding Christ’s Glory: the Pathway Ending in the Beatific Vision

January 2, 2025 No Comments

In addition to rehashing the beatific vision as described in 1 John 3:2-3, this episode expounds on the theology of Paul regarding this issue, mostly from 2 Corinthians 3:18. While Paul acknowledges that the full manifestation of the beatific vision won’t occur in this life (1 Corinthians 13:12), he nevertheless strongly suggests that degrees of it are possible in this life. “We all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory..” This description matches the MEANS of becoming like Christ in 1 John 3:2-3. Hope (of the beatific vision) fixed on God corresponds with “beholding the glory of the Lord.” This means is the ongoing mechanism of being transformed, leading the full manifestation of the beatific vision.

Read More »

Beholding the Glory..with the Spirit’s Help

January 2, 2025 No Comments

This episode highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in uncovering the glory of Christ, culminating in “being filled up with all the fulness of God,” (Eph 3:19), a description that smacks of the beatific vision. The disciples beheld Christ’s glory (John1:14) and that very same glory is progressively uncovered by the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. Interestingly, this work begins with “the riches of God’s glory” (v. 16) who, in the person of the Holy Spirit, strengthens the Christian with power in the inner man. The indwelt temple of the Holy Spirit trusts God more and begins to apprehend the love of God, potentially leading to “being filled up with all the fullness of God.”

Read More »

Experiential knowledge and the Beatific Vision

January 2, 2025 No Comments

The episode incorporates the stages of Christian growth present in 1 John 2: 12-14 into the discussion on the beatific vision. Experiential knowledge of God, as opposed to mere cerebral knowledge of God, stands out as the defining characteristic of spiritually mature believers. In essence, they have taken the Word of God and applied it to everyday life. They experience God as real and trustworthy. Well this experiential knowledge is naturally related to degrees of the beatific vision. As we are transformed by applying the Word of God, we gain more insight into Who God is, His character, and the way He works in our lives.

Read More »

Experiential Knowledge and the Fullness of God

January 2, 2025 No Comments

This episode compares 1 John 2:12-14 and Ephesians 3:16-19, both descriptions of progressive growth in Christ, highlighting how the experiential knowledge of God is the culmination of the Christian walk. In the language of John, a father (or mother) is one who “knows Him who has been from the beginning,” strongly implying one who has walked with God in time and has a track record of God’s testimonies. Paul’s description of mature Christian experience corresponds to “being filled up with all the fullness of God.” The Christian has experienced the love of Christ which surpasses mere cerebral knowledge, and his individual capacity to experience God is filled up. Both of these advanced descriptions of sanctification mark the pathway towards the beatific vision, where believers will one day see God “face to face.”

Read More »

Conviction and Illumination: Uncovering the Glory of Christ

January 7, 2025 No Comments

This episode highlights the Holy Spirit’s activity of uncovering the glory of Christ, the unveiling of which leads to personal transformation, according to 2 Corinthians 3:18. That uncovering was initially a dreadful encounter with the God of Truth, as the Holy Spirit convicted the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment. Upon conversion, the Holy Spirit continues his work of uncovering the glory of Christ. “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.” (John 16:14) The work of the Spirit is indispensable for “beholding the glory of the Lord” and “being filled up with all the fulness of Christ,” degrees of the beatific vision available in this life.

Read More »

The series spells out the ultimate goal of the Christian faith, which is the direct apprehension of God face to face in heaven. (1 John 3:2-3) While Christians cannot attain the beatific vision is this life, they are called to progress towards that final reward by beholding more and more of the glory of God in Christ. (2 Cor 3:18) Both passages posit the means of transformation. “Hope fixed on HIm” and “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord.” The series provides practical advice on how to make progress towards the beatific vision. How do you see more and more of the glory of God? How do sin issues choke out the knowledge of God? How crucial is life-long repentance in seeing the glory of God? The series highlights the constant role of the Helper in reversing the sin choices we make in the “great exchange” (Rom 1:23) in His effort to sanctify us and lead us to trust and totally depend on Christ. What emerges is a holistic picture of salvation in which forgiveness of sins is the foundation to the ultimate purpose of God, which is to conform believers into the image of Christ. That conformation is inseparable from vision of the glory of Christ. “We all, with unveiled face, are beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into that same image, from glory to glory.” (2 Cor. 3:18)

The Full Series