The Glory of God

Below is but a small measure of revelation that my father had received from the Lord. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.

September 30, 2020  

In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

In our previous messages we shared some of the wonderful truths of the grace of God.

Now we want to share with you several messages concerning the glory of God. This first message will be a definition of the word, glory, followed by an introduction to the glory of God. 

Thirteen different Hebrew words in the Old Testament and 10 Greek words in the New Testament used in the original manuscripts are all translated by the one English word "glory." So the word "glory" has many shades of meaning. Therefore we need to be rather careful when we read scripture verses that contain the word "glory." The word, "glory," signifies the essence or nature of something or someone.

When God created anything, He said that it was good. But after creating everything, He said it was all very good (Genesis 1:31). Everything that God created has a glory associated with it simply because everything was made by God, but there are different types and levels of glory. 

40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:40-44

Proverbs 20:29, "The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head."

1 Corinthians 11:7-9, "For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man."

Today, almost all worldly people, and even some professing Christians, would say those last three verses are nonsense. When did the so-called Feminist Movement begin? It all started with Eve, who was deceived by the serpent and unilaterally decided to disobey God without ever consulting her husband. The so-called Feminist Movement or Women's Lib came to the forefront in the western world in the late 18th century and has gone through three waves, the latest of which has emphasized women's place in politics and, of course, a woman's right to have an abortion. Only the Lord knows how many babies have been aborted (or murdered) in the world, but the number is undoubtedly in the millions. I recently read that there are 127 female Congresspersons in the United States government. Of course, the place and function of women in the church is a topic that no pastor wants to talk about. That is a "no-no" because it generates anything from disagreement to bitter animosity within the world and even within the church. But for now, let us continue with the different types and levels of glory.

Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; Matthew 4:8

Even the kingdoms of this world have a glory about them. When the Jews came out of Egypt they still had a glory about them, even though they had the fallen nature of the first Adam.

19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.

20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.

Psalm 106:19-20

Because man has free will, he can always choose to diminish his level of glory. That happened for the first time in the Garden of Eden. But man can never on his own power increase his level of glory. Further, all the glory is due unto Abba, Father, because He created everything. For Thine is the glory.

Scripture is silent as to when God created angels, but it is reasonably clear that He created angels before time began and before He created Adam. Scripture is also very clear that Lucifer and one-third of the angels chose to diminish their level of glory when they rebelled against God.

I believe that before the fall of Adam, man was originally covered with a much greater measure of the glory of God. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God (sinned) they lost that covering of the glory of God and were therefore naked (had no covering). God then covered them with coats of the skin that all human beings currently have (not the skins from animals). Now there is a glory of man, but it is greatly diminished and only temporary.

24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.

The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 1 Peter 1:24-25

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23

Now, all true believers hope to be clothed upon once more in the future with the glory of God.

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

The Glory of God

First of all, we need to understand that the glory of God is nothing to be played with or made light of. Neither is the glory of God a nice blessing to be received without paying the price. What is the glory of God? We need to define it, if that be possible. But how does a finite mind comprehend our infinite God? Suppose someone asked you to explain the glory of God. How would you answer?

I suspect that any number of believers have written a complete book about the glory of God. That topic is infinite in nature, rivaled, perhaps, only by the grace of God. Perhaps God's glory is like a wondrous tree ... the Tree of Life, of which His grace is the fruit. The glory of God speaks of His nature, His inherent Person, His character, Who He is. His grace is His nature expressed and extended outward to all men. If it were not for His grace, we would never know anything about the glory of God! It was/is the grace of God that saves us. His grace is like the leaves extended to His chosen people. "The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations" (Revelation 22:2). It is by continuing to walk in a state of His grace that we are later allowed to understand and see His glory! To God be the glory!

The following scenario came from a blog on the internet. I do not remember the author's name. If there were a sudden demonstration of God's glory right now where we are, a great earthquake along with thunder and lightning, a huge cloud resting above our head, fire coming down from heaven, along with 10,000 angels, and a radiance so bright that it would blind us and cause us to fall on the ground by reason of the splendor ... if these things were to occur in front of our eyes, we would probably give the subject our undivided attention, would we not?

And if the very Voice of God Almighty were to speak to us out of that cloud, I doubt that we would only half-listen. No, I am sure under those circumstances we would all be spellbound, our mind and spirit intent on everything the Lord had to show us, every word He had to say.

But if we had no such visible or audible manifestation of the glory of God, does that make the subject any less important? Is it less worthy of our interest because the Holy Spirit has chosen to reveal the glory of God through the Scripture and by His Holy Spirit? ... end blog.

Psalm 84:1, "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly."

God will give both grace and glory, not one without the other. But note the condition that we must walk uprightly. We receive His grace initially because of Calvary. "By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is a gift from God: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Of course we must then continue to walk in and by His grace. It is certain we are saved by His grace; the reason is so that we might enjoy His glory forever.

When used with respect to God, "glory" signifies the nature and acts of God, Who He essentially is, what He does, and His manifestation to everyone and everything in the universe which He created, usually with physical phenomena or power. However, that seems somewhat inadequate. The glory of God exists whether or not we ever see it or experience it. For us, there is a present glory of the Lord (already revealed) and a future glory of the Lord, yet to be revealed to those who are looking for Him.

The word 'Shekinah' does not appear in the Bible, but the concept clearly does. The Jewish rabbis coined this extra-biblical expression that literally means the "dwelling" or "settling," signifying that it was a divine visitation of the presence or dwelling of the Lord God on this earth.

The Shekinah was first evident when the Israelites set out from Succoth in their flight from Egypt. In the Old Testament, the glory of God (or the Shekinah) dwelled in the ark of the Tabernacle of Moses, then in the temple built by Solomon. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is the dwelling place of God's glory. Colossians 2:9 says "in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." When He returns to earth, we will see the Lord God in all His glory and the Shekinah will no longer be veiled (1 John 3:2).

10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

11 For Mine own sake, even for Mine own sake, will I do it: for how should My name be polluted? and I will not give My glory unto another. Isaiah 48:10-11

The LORD will not give His glory unto another. But He will let us share in His glory provided that we remain steadfast in Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to conform us to His image. 

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

17 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.

18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount. 2 Peter 1:16-18

7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

8 How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious?

9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 2 Corinthians 3:7-11

Needless to say, the glory of God far surpasses the glory of anything else in the universe. There simply is no comparison. The Greek word "excellent glory" in 2 Peter 1:17 and "the glory that excelleth" in 2 Corinthians 3:10 means "the greatest possible glory."

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory. Isaiah 6:3

The whole earth has always been full of His glory. Unfortunately men are not aware of or have little or no experiential knowledge of the fullness of His glory. In general we have not experienced such a presence of the glory of the Lord in our gatherings. We may have seen miracles in our gatherings and may have experienced many emotional highs, but the manifest presence of the Lord Himself is another level.

Leonard Ravenhill, a noted 20th century evangelist once said, "I'm sick to death of the so-called Christianity of our day. What's supernatural about it? When do people come out of the sanctuary awed and can't speak for an hour because God has been in glory there? Dear God, as soon as they get out, they're talking football, or sports or something or there's going to be a big sale downtown or somewhere. We are not caught up into eternity!
When did you last tip-toe out of the sanctuary? When you couldn't say a word to anybody because you were so overwhelmed with the glory of God?
God wants to bring us into a glory we know nothing about."

The glory of the Lord accompanied the announcement of another supernatural gift sent by God from heaven ... the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. His second coming (parousia) will be similar to His ascension. After the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, Christ ascended in a cloud (Acts 1:9). He will return the same way.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Luke 21:27

When shall the Lord appear in His glory? No man knows the day or time. The closest verse that answers that question is in Psalm 102:16, "When the LORD shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory." The Lord is even now in the process of building up Zion, His dwelling place, but Zion is not a natural mountain in a geographical location called Jerusalem.

3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. Isaiah 40:3-5

 

6 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;

7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

8 The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, saith the LORD of hosts.

9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

Haggai 2:3-9 

29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:29-30

Paul said, concerning the Lord Jesus Christ,

Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; Whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to Whom be honour and power everlasting. 

1 Timothy 6:16

John likewise said, in John 1:18, 

"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him. "

When Jesus came to the earth as a Man, He set aside much of His glory; He could be in only one place at a time; He limited Himself.

4 I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.

5 And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. John 17:4-5

Jesus prayed, in John 17:24, 

"Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world. "

Note that Jesus prayed that we might be with Him where He was, not where He would be. Where was Jesus when He prayed that? on earth but in the realm of the Spirit. The very first miracle Jesus performed (in Cana) "manifested forth His glory" (John 2:11). Also, Jesus is the brightness of God's glory, and the express image of His person (Hebrews 1:3).

Even though all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, we rejoice in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. That hope shall be fulfilled one day, for the Lord Himself has declared it so.

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 

2 Corinthians 3:18

Great is the glory of the Lord. Psalm 138:5

The glory of the Lord shall endure forever. Psalm 104:31

Paul said, "When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:4

Peter wrote that he was "A witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. 1 Peter 5:1

Moses wrote, "As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord." Numbers 14:21

Where are the wise men of today who will enter into the level of intercession required for the glory of the LORD to fill the house of the LORD once more? That will be ushered in by the fulfillment of,

Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, spare Thy people O LORD ... Joel 2:17

That will result in the manifestation of, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).
Then one day,

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14

In our next message we will consider the rise and fall of the glory of God upon and within man from an historical and prophetic perspective.

Until then and continuing everyday, may the Lord be glorified in all that we do, say, and become. Amen.