Mike

Hey whats up, man? I can’t wait to hear the audio from the study in Michigan in a couple weeks. Until then, a question came up in my bible study: what is the “glory of God”? It is mentioned all through scripture. I’m sure you’re familiar with it. We would appreciate your insight.

Thanks,

R____

Hi R____,

Thank you for your question.

‘The glory of the Lord’ is His purifying, burning judgments:

2Ch 5:13:(b) … Then] the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;
2Ch 5:14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

When the “glory of the Lord fills His house” we are being judged, because we are the “temple of God”:

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

This is not an event which occurred back in the days of Solomon and has never been repeated. This is an event which is ongoing in the lives of God’s elect in every generation since Christ.

Joh 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

“The glory of God” is always associated with His temple, “His house.” The book of Revelation is a book we are to read and keep and do:

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time [is] at hand.

It is a book about God’s judgments in the lives of His elect. With this in mind, the story of the dedication of Solomon’s temple, which is but a type of God’s temple in us, will bring life to those with eyes to see this chapter in the book of Revelation:

Rev 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath [judgments] of God.
Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
Rev 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
Rev 15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Rev 15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
Rev 15:6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
Rev 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man [ priest] was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled .

We must offer our bodies a living sacrifice to God, place our lives on His altar which is the cross, and we must be judged before we will be allowed into the temple of God. But while we are that temple, we are only so in Christ God’s true temple:

Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

So we must be judged to know the “glory of God” in His judgments. And while this must occur before we can enter that temple, do not think that this is something which is accomplished and then ends. Judgment is now on the house of God. That being so, we will from henceforth “die daily.” Only through this “dying daily” will we know “the glory of God:”

1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

1Co 11:7 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.

Did you catch that? What is the glory of God? It is “Christ in us.” And how does Christ get there? He gets there through His fiery, purifying judgments:

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God?

2Co 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

Phi 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Phi 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father .

Here is the definition of the ‘glory of God:’

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

And this is how it is being accomplished in us His temple, His house:

1Pe 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

As I have pointed out above, God’s glory comes through His judgments:

Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke [the fiery purifying judgments of God] from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled

While we are the temple, we are not fully entered into Christ until we have shed this flesh. Our entry into the temple is in down payment only until the redemption of the purchased possession.

Eph 1:14 Which [the Holy Spirit] is the earnest [Greek: down payment] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession [the first resurrection], unto the praise of his glory.

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Yet in the meantime, we are told to live our lives as if we are already resurrected:

Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead , and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Are we really resurrected from the dead? In down payment form, yes. What we enjoy now in Christ is but “the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession:”

Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

‘The house of God’ and ‘judgment’ and ‘glory’ are all inseparable.

So “the glory of God” is “Christ in you:”

1Co 11:7 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.

This has only an outward application in physical husbands and wives. In Christ there is neither male nor female. This is a spiritual statement about what constitutes the glory of God. I hope this has been of some help.

Mike