Useful Bible Studies > Revelation Commentary > chapter 22

God’s people will see his face

Revelation 22:4

Moses was an extremely important servant of God. With him, God spoke ‘face to face’ (Numbers 12:8). That phrase means ‘as a man speaks with his friend’ (Exodus 33:11). In other words, Moses heard God’s words clearly. However, even Moses did not see the face of God.

In Exodus 33:18, Moses asked to see God’s glory (the splendid beauty of God’s perfect character). God’s reply was that he would permit Moses to see the glory of his back. God would cause all his goodness to pass in front of Moses. God would declare his holy name to Moses. However, God would still not permit Moses to see his face (Exodus 33:18-23). No person can see God’s face and live (Exodus 33:20). In other words, if Moses saw God’s face, he would die. God’s face was too wonderful even for Moses to see.

However in the New Jerusalem, John says that God’s people will see his face. Paul seems to say the same thing in 1 Corinthians 13:12. God will be among his people, so they will see him constantly. They will see his glory and nothing will separate them from him (2 Corinthians 3:18). It will not hurt them and they will not die. That is so because God’s Holy Spirit gives life to them. The Holy Spirit is like a river that flows constantly from God to them (John 7:37-39; Revelation 22:1-2). In Ezekiel 47:1-6, the river increased as it flowed.

As God’s people see God’s glory, they reflect it. The effect is constantly to make them more like Christ (2 Corinthians 3:7-18; 1 John 3:2).

God’s name upon their heads is a declaration of their relationship to him (see Revelation 14:1 and contrast Revelation 13:16). It is a great honour for them that God is their master. Their greatest joy is to serve him.

Next part: Questions about the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:5)

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