The previous episode affirmed that the Muslim view of paradise is largely informed by the pleasures of this world, and this emphasis is understandable, given Allah's unknowable nature. Another bi-product of Islam's unknowable god is the exaltation of Mohammed himself. Just as nature abhors a vacuum, so Muslims gravitate to knowable figures in Islam, since the knowledge of Allah is lacking. This episode looks at Muhammed, the example for Muslims of submission to Allah. A cursory reading of the Quran and Hadiths conveys Mohammed as an astute warrior and politician who used worldly means to attain worldly ends. Murdering, lying, assassination and pillaging mark Muhammed's rise to power in the Arabian peninsula. Christians and Jews either converted or "felt themselves subdued" in the form of a tax. Jihad, or holy war, was the obligation of every Muslim in combatting active resistance to Islam. Islam is fundamentally a religion of this world, and Muslims are given divine sanction in the example of Muhammed to advance the religion using worldly means, even violating ethical norms. Given the unknowable nature of Allah, who is both the author of good and evil, moral ambivalence in Muhammed and those who follow his example should not be surprising. Submitting to Allah's will, not His nature (since it cannot be known) is the goal of Islam. Since Allah himself is not tethered to "the good," and Muhammed himself set the example of setting aside moral boundaries in the name of Allah, the average Muslim can justifiably do the same.
A Sensual Vision vs. The Beatific Vision
The sensual paradise portrayed in Islam is a logical outgrowth of the unknowability of Allah. Absent the knowledge of God, descriptions of the afterlife in the The Quran and Hadith (traditions of Mohammed)i naturally abound with the knowable pleasures of this life: endless sexual outlets for men (always with virgins whose "virginity" is somehow renewed), and bountiful sumptuous food and wine (with no negative aftereffects). This depiction differs markedly with the heaven of Christians, where the beatific vision is the highest reward and pleasure. "We will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is." (1 John 3:2) "This hope fixed on Him" isn't just realized with the knowledge of God--it comes with "collateral blessing," the transformation of believers into the very likeness of God. The pursuit of God and His likeness highlights how different Christianity is with Islam--a religion whose vision of sensual paradise points to its true origin, the world. Christ, whose kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36) seeks to satisfy mankind's "eternal itch," that of knowing God and looking like Him. "We all with unveiled face, are beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, we are being transformed into that very same image, from glory to glory." (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Not “Knowing” Means You’re not Growing
Going deeper into the "constitution" of 1 and 2 Peter, this episode highlights how "true knowledge" or "experiential knowledge" is the goal of the Christian life, NOT the forgiveness of sins. What unlocks the divine power giving everything related to life and godliness? It's the "true knowledge of the One who called us by His own glory and excellence." (2 Pet. 1:3) Very interesting is that Peter concludes that those who excel in applying several moral qualities are "fruitful in the TRUE KNOWLEDGE of our Lord Jesus Christ."(v. 8) The measure then of Christian maturity is growth in the knowledge of God where we partake of God's moral attributes. (v. 4) He who lacks this growth is "blind and short-sighted," for he lacks the "true knowledge" of God. The episode closes with the obvious question: do we really want the true knowledge of God?
“Tap in to God’s Glory Narrative”
"With all this talk about God's glory, why do we see so little of it now?" This episode answers that question and invites believers to tap into God's glory narrative. The angels remark that the whole earth is full of God's glory, but fallen mankind, consumed with self-centered desires exchanges the glory of God for images, and big surprise, sees very little of God's glory. In salvation, the moral image of God in man is being restored, and his capacity to perceive God's glory is enlarged. This episode calls believers to ponder the glory of God just in the created order, beginning with reflecting on our own creation ("fearfully and wonderfully made") and marveling at the entire universe. Holistic salvation means we can dump the near-sighted, self-centered lens of distorted fallen humanity and embrace our renewed capacity to behold God's glory through Christ. And, if that weren't enough, we ourselves partake of that glory and are transformed from glory to glory.
The Holy Spirit: Our Partner from Glory to Glory
This episode reviews and expands on the role of the Holy Spirit in every part of the believer's salvation journey, culminating in the beatific vision. "He CONVICTS the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment." (John 16:8-11) Christians CALL Christ Lord "through the Holy Spirit." (1 Cor. 12:3) The Holy Spirit CONFORMS believers into the image of Christ. (Rom 8:29) And He unCOVERS Christ's glory. (John 16:13-15) The sanctifying Spirit is our indispensable partner on the road towards the beatific vision.
Conviction and Illumination: Uncovering the Glory of Christ
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.
Experiential knowledge and the Beatific Vision
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.
Beholding the Glory..with the Spirit’s Help
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."
Beholding Christ’s Glory: the Pathway Ending in the Beatific Vision
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.
Faith in God Culminates with Seeing God
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.