Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
The King in His beauty is Jesus Christ, fair and glorious, adored by angels as Messiah and light of the resting place of the faithful. The land that is very far off is the distant heavenly country, the bright holy land and immortal inheritance of the earth made new where the blessed will live forever. The sight will be fulfilled when He appears in the clouds of heaven in power and great glory at His second coming, when the redeemed welcome Him and are gathered to their eternal home after struggle, trial and the time of trouble are finished. Those who see Him are the righteous who walk uprightly and speak uprightly, turning from oppression, bribery, violence and evil, made without spot through obedience, overcoming the world, and washed in the blood of the Lamb. Looking to Him by faith now purifies the heart, changes beholders into His divine image, and brings everlasting joy in His presence where there is no pain, sorrow or death.
Meaning in Context
The promise is given in prophetic figures that describe spiritual realities, in which those who are righteous dwell safely on high with God, defended as by munitions of rocks, with bread given and water made sure, receiving secure refuge and unfailing provision. The vision belongs to the one who walks righteously and uprightly and does what is right, who speaks uprightly, who turns away from gain by oppression, bribery, violence and blood, who refuses bribes, stops the ears from bloodshed and shuts the eyes from evil. The character set out in the verses before is the character of those who will see the King and behold the distant land, and the vision of Jesus thus given becomes spiritual life to them.
Turning from idolatry to worship Jehovah brings forgiveness of sins, so that the forgiven boast in God alone as judge and lawgiver and king who saves them. The King in His beauty is Jesus Christ the Messiah, fair and glorious, adored by angels, loved by the soul, the joy and light of the land where the faithful will live at rest and dwell in His presence forever. Beholding the holiness and majesty of this divine King leads to forgetting self, recognizing unworthiness before God, and losing sight of self.
The land that is very far off is the distant heavenly country, the bright holy land, the precious home of the blessed, the immortal inheritance, the earth made new and the eternal home where the redeemed are saved in God's kingdom. There families will be reunited and broken ties never severed again, and the faithful after earthly pilgrimage will find joy and lasting rest. Throughout the history of the church Christ Himself is life and strength, efficiency and power, wisdom and holiness to His people, and those who realize this and walk righteously dwell securely with sure provision unto seeing the King in His glory.
Time of Fulfillment
The seeing will happen when Christ appears in the clouds of heaven in power and great glory at His second coming and coronation. Then the King appears in glory, and the redeemed welcome Him as witnesses of both His suffering and His victory, are gathered by Him, and are taken to their eternal home. That day is the near great day of the Lord, and the hope of it brings everlasting blessing. It is sure, though the promised coming has been long delayed.
The sight comes after earthly struggle, toil, trial and suffering are finished. Trials purify the faithful and prepare them to receive the seal of the living God, and only after passing through the time of trouble do they see the King in His beauty and dwell in God's presence among the holy angels. Those who are of good courage and endure a little longer, who without complaint share in Christ's sufferings and stand bravely, unwaveringly and steadfast to the end with increasing faith, neither failing nor discouraged, will see Him face to face with His name in their foreheads when their battles are over. This hope belongs to those who remain faithful and overcome through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.
The dead will awaken to see the King, for after only a little while of waiting God's people will see Him in heaven, the precious home of the blessed, where families will be reunited and broken ties never severed again. Eyes closed in death, like Byron's, will open again to behold the Saviour, and those fallen asleep in Jesus will be raised to glorious immortality, ascend to the city of God, and see the King in His beauty. Christ's resurrection from Joseph's tomb is the sample of that coming resurrection. When the warfare of those who hold fast the faith through obedience to all God's commandments is ended, they rest in hope until the morning of the resurrection, and then at the sounding of the last trump they see the King in His beauty and behold His matchless charms as their precious hope fulfilled. After Christ comes, raises the dead, and takes His people with Him, they will see Him as King in His beauty and enter the holy city, and those welcomed there are commandment keepers who have been tested and love God supremely, where there will be no second rebellion.
The fulfillment is near, after only a little while of waiting and of enduring toil and trial. The meeting calls for faithful work, watching, waiting and prayer, and for readiness to meet Him. Pilgrims and strangers on earth seeking a better, even a heavenly, country are almost home and will see Christ at His soon appearing. Looking and waiting for that sight means keeping faithful watch over the affections of the heart and character, maintaining a spotless life kept from the least defiling sin, taxing every power to understand God's Word and to listen to His warnings and counsel, adorning the soul temple to please the Lord with the incorruptible ornament of a meek and quiet spirit rather than outward adornment, bringing great and holy truths into practical life with hearts sanctified through the truth, and meeting the Lord in peace with new animation, intensified Christian graces, strengthened faith and confidence and trust in God, and quickened zeal and earnest fervor. The promise encourages firmness in faith through the delay: soon they will see Christ their King in the splendor of His second coming, behold the distant heavenly country long sought, reach their heavenly home, and have every tear wiped away.
The same hope was applied to expecting the Lord at His coming on the tenth day of the seventh month, when the midnight cry awakens believers to go out to meet the Bridegroom and look forward to seeing the King. The King and the distant home are also seen by faith while still on earth. Enoch saw the King in glory in the midst of Zion, in the celestial city, the home of God, the realms of light with eternal treasures, and while still on earth he lived by faith with mind and heart and conversation in heaven, with heart fixed on that home and its treasures rather than on gathering gold or silver, building possessions here, or earthly wealth. The greater the surrounding iniquity, the more earnest grew the longing for the home of God. Beholding Jesus by the eye of faith, seeing Him who is invisible, means seeing Christ the Majesty of heaven and King of glory who came to live the commandments and give the example of the character all must form to live in God's presence, and those who behold Him lose sight of self.
Character of Recipients
Those who will see the King walk humbly with God, placing themselves in His hands to do His will, growing in faith toward perfection and living for His glory separated from the world. Their lives are shaped after Christ the divine Pattern, with pure unselfish purposes formed by His meekness, humility and self-denial, so that they will live in His presence forever. Through His grace they fulfill the conditions of salvation and will enter the heavenly city with right to the tree of life, beholding heaven's attractions and the eternal glory reserved for the overcomer. That future hope requires preparation for the day of God by a life that measures with the life of God, walking humbly by faith rather than exalting self or claiming superiority.
They are planted in Christ and joined to Him in living union, partakers of the divine nature having escaped the world's corruption through lust, with Christ dwelling in them and their lives representing Him. Knowing Christ in this life and being identified with Him here is what fits them to see Him in His kingdom and behold His matchless charms. Those who spend the lifetime in the low sordid things of this world will have no desire to meet Jesus in His glory as sons and daughters of God, but those who perfect character after the divine likeness now will meet Him and present their children as taught of the Saviour from manger to cross. Reflecting the loveliness of His character is essential, for distrust, accusation and criticism that destroy trust and happiness make a person unfit for the happy family of heaven.
They will be found without blemish, spot or wrinkle, perfected in holiness and beautiful in character, with a life cleansed from sin and fitted as stones hewn, refined and fitted here for God's great building that comes together without sound of axe or hammer. Nothing short of that perfected holiness prepares for meeting Christ at His coming and entering the city to share everlasting life and praise. That preparation is God's training on earth in the first principles of the gospel, letting Christ shape patience, kindness, meekness, goodness, sympathy and tender compassion while un-Christlike traits are purged away, so that heaven begins in the life on earth. Pure thoughts and right habits are necessary to human and Christian happiness, and cherished debasing vices will exclude from heaven. Holiness in this life means putting away vain trifling talk and all that is frivolous and sensational, refusing to fill the mind with worldly entertainments and pleasures, using every moment of God-given life to His glory, gaining strength to resist the powers of darkness, and engaging earnestly in the work of saving the soul, for to lose the soul were better never to have been born, yet none need be lost.
They obey God's commandments and accept Jehovah's law as the rule of life, and only such will behold Christ in His glory around the great white throne and enter heaven. God's law is His standard of character, founded on wholehearted love to God and love to neighbor as self, and obedience to it is the condition of salvation on which present and future happiness depend. The King's people are overcomers who keep the commandments, believe and practice His Word, receive it into good and honest hearts and work with all their might in harmony with heaven as doers of the word, and their salvation brings entrance into the heavenly city, an immortal inheritance, life forever free from sickness, sorrow, pain and death, and everlasting joy in His presence. Those who after warning and reproof hug sins, take their own way, break from the Spirit and keep venturing to test the devil's wiles cannot have the seal of God, and going down to the grave they will not rise in the first resurrection nor behold the King. Ministers and leaders who do not believe and practice the Word likewise will not see Him in His beauty.
They are overcomers of the world, the flesh and the devil, holding fast faith and truth through warfare unto the crown of everlasting life. The reward of beholding Christ as King in glory and dwelling in His presence in immortal glory is given only to those who overcome Satan and temptation in this life as Christ in His human character overcame fiercer temptation while working at His trade in the carpenter's shop, and indifference in this battle for life forfeits that sight. They do not shun truth to save life but work out salvation with fear and trembling, press against darkness, lay hold of the mighty arm of God, and use the little time left to prepare for eternity so life is not lived in vain. Those who without complaint accept partaking with Christ in His sufferings and stand bravely, unwaveringly and steadfast to the end with increasing faith, not failing nor discouraged, will see Him face to face with His name in their foreheads, faithful through the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony when battles are over. Holding fast to truth through the Christian struggle leads to that crown and sight, with Christ helping at every step, angels surrounding, heavenly agencies working with man, and divine nature given by faith through His merits, as the one who would see Him gives Jesus mental, moral and physical powers, lays them at His feet, serves Him, wins souls in return for His giving His life, finds peace here with Christ formed within as hope of glory, and rises victorious in the morning of the resurrection to praise Him with immortal tongue.
They have surrendered suspicion, distrust, criticism, accusation, temper, pride of opinion, self-will and self-exaltation, learning meekness from Christ and abiding in His disposition as representatives of His character. Those who cherish such traits cannot share the happiness of the heavenly family nor be admitted to the kingdom and the marriage supper of the Lamb. Victory must be gained over besetting sins, selfishness, love of the world and every wrong word and action, with the heart humbled before God, for eternal life is at stake. Keeping distrust, lack of confidence, accusing, faultfinding, bad temper, self-dignity and other grown-up childish selfish habits closes the door against the soul, unfits for the heavenly courts where perfect trust and happiness are unbroken, and leaves one never to behold the King, while those who surrender will and wisdom to Christ, accept His teaching and are changed in character may enter and see Him.
Beholding Him by faith turns them from self-exaltation to justice, economy and self-denial, for those who see the invisible King in His beauty and look toward the distant land lose sight of self. Seeing Christ the Majesty of heaven and King of glory who lived the commandments as the example of the character all must form to live in God's presence leads to mortifying self, practicing economy, revealing justice and righteousness, spending nothing unnecessary on self, binding about wants, and giving to the cause in self-denial as Christ did what others use for display. They do not take excessive wages or confederate in underhand methods to draw large means from the Lord's treasury, claiming no more right to high wages than low-paid workers. Only those who turn to God with full purpose of heart, abhor selfish covetousness and reform will see Him, and without that reform from covetous unjust principles they will never see Him, for experience in this life decides eternal destiny.
Preparation and Warning
The work of getting ready to see the King in His beauty must be finished before He comes and before probation closes, for it is the truth received into the life that removes sin and imperfection and sanctifies for the heavenly hope. Those made holy keep body and spirit pure, are cleansed from sin and fitted for the heavenly courts, and then receive immortality when corruption is changed to incorruption. Purifying the soul by obedience to the truth and washing the character robes white in the blood of the Lamb is the preparation, and a deep experience in the things of God forming a Christlike character is required, since those cherishing sin at His coming cannot enter heaven.
Only those who now seek the Lord earnestly with the whole heart will be fitted to unite with the royal family and see Him when He appears in the clouds at the near great day of the Lord, while those who allow themselves to be deceived will perish. This seeking means humbling the heart before Him, forsaking sins, repenting and converting, having sins blotted out, and being fitted through sanctification of the truth, with thorough consecration of the heart to God in order to behold His righteousness. Each person must make the best effort to do God's will by heeding His Word and living out truth and righteousness in the family in preparation to meet Christ in the judgment, giving up sin, self-will and unconverted inclinations through Christ's sacrifice.
Seeing Him belongs to those who believe and practice God's Word and keep the truth, for His law is the standard of character founded on wholehearted love to God and love to neighbor as self, and obedience to it is the condition of salvation on which present and future happiness depend. Those who receive the Word into good and honest hearts and work with all their might as doers in harmony with heaven will enter the kingdom, while ministers and leaders who do not believe and practice it will not see Him in His beauty. Those who after warning and reproof hug their sins, take their own way, break from the Spirit of God, and keep venturing and testing the wiles of the devil cannot have the seal of God, and when they go down to the grave they will not rise in the first resurrection nor behold the King.
The meeting is near, so readiness calls for faithful work and for watching, waiting and praying in expectation of meeting the Lord at His coming. Keeping the eyes fixed on Christ now and relying on His divine strength to overcome evil prepares for entrance into His city with the victor's crown and eternal life, and following the light and laboring faithfully for others prepares for entering His kingdom. Pilgrims seeking the heavenly country are almost home, and looking and waiting means keeping faithful watch over heart affections and character, maintaining a spotless life kept from the least defiling sin, taxing every power to understand the Word and heed its warnings and counsel, adorning the soul temple with the incorruptible ornament of a meek and quiet spirit rather than outward adornment, bringing holy truths into practical life with hearts sanctified through the truth, and meeting Him in peace with new animation, intensified graces, strengthened faith, confidence, trust and quickened zeal. Watching in prayer with obedience to His Word and following the Redeemer brings a lasting home in the city with no more temptation or danger.
Preparation means washing the character robes white in the blood of the Lamb, through which the King welcomes the redeemed through the gates of heaven to remain forever in the joy of seeing Jesus in His beauty and entering immortal life. It is given through Jesus as a complete Saviour, calling for gathering with Him in vigilance against Satan, being continually clothed with His righteousness because there is no righteousness of one's own, and resting salvation only on Christ died for me whose blood cleanses from all sin. The heart touched by His subduing love is freed from self, selfishness, covetousness, anger and wrong temper, made tender, kind and patient with His love and compassion, and seeks the Lord earnestly, perseveringly and believingly unto perfection of Christian character, with His joy remaining to make joy full.
Parents who keep the truth will enter the gates and rejoice with their children in seeing the King, when they have taught them to love God and not follow worldly fashions, raising them in the Lord's nurture and admonition. Heaven is worth everything, so those who would be there cannot live to please this world but must live for God their Maker, educating the children He has given in His commandments at home and abroad, as Israel was taught rising up and sitting down, with blessing to serve and glorify Him. Parents are to lead children to God by instruction so they may enter the city and see Him, doing Christ's work by helping them overcome wrong traits and prepare for eternal life, and those who meet Him will present themselves with their children as having taught them of the Saviour from manger to cross. Those spending life in the low sordid things of this world will not want to meet Jesus then, for readiness requires partaking of the divine nature and perfecting character after the divine likeness now.
Worthy daily life grows beyond childishness, meets provocation with patience, kindness and forbearance, follows Christ through self-denial and daily cross-bearing, and overcomes evil more by keeping silent when best than by angry words. God's training on earth for the future life means learning the first principles of the gospel and letting Christ shape the character in patience, kindness, meekness, goodness, sympathy and tender compassion while un-Christlike traits are purged away, for without this growth heaven begun in the life on earth will not see the King. Those placing themselves in God's hands determined to do His will shall behold Christ's matchless charms and praise Him with songs to the Lamb, keeping the mind on heaven, remaining faithful to duty and integrity, living without contention, giving life wholly to Christ, and refusing to use influence against His truth for human approval or personal gain because He gave His life.
Fitness to meet Christ in the clouds requires the converting power of God to pass the perils of the last days, the higher education which is the religion of Christ, sanctification by the Holy Spirit, and close friendship and communion with God. It means having heaven in the soul with Christ manifested in the life, self denied and sacrificed to God's will, learning of God, overcoming unhappy tempers, clinging to the Mighty One, overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony, and following on to know the Lord. Those thus fitted enter when the gates of the city are opened as the nation keeping truth and join the song of triumph, and helping prepare a people to lay hold of God's might and power for that entrance is more important than anything else. Entry requires freedom from defilement, so a perverted appetite cannot enter, and all are urged to turn from it and be reconciled to God through Christ in order to behold His matchless charms.
Securing the immortal inheritance and abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, where Christ is seen as King in glory, is given probationary time in love to put away selfishness, pride, egotism and seeking the highest place, and to become humble devoted Christians leading others in salvation. It requires giving all diligence to add to faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge temperance, to temperance patience, to patience godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity, so as to be neither barren nor unfruitful, to make calling and election sure, and never to fall. Those who fear the Lord, continually surrender what He requires and wait on Him will be taught more deeply the mystery of God the Father and of Christ, will have visions of the King in His beauty, will have opened before them the rest remaining for God's people, and will soon enter the city whose Builder and Maker is God.
Christ desires everyone to enter heaven's kingdom and share the sight of the King in His beauty. Accepting His sacrifice and taking hold of what God has done gives the privilege of seeing the King and beholding His matchless charms. Those holding fast the faith, though parted in this world and not meeting again here, will meet again in the world to come to see the King and part no more. The joy belongs to those who after enduring trials and using possessions for God's glory receive eternal glory among the redeemed in the kingdom. The sight results from welcoming the Saviour into the heart and letting Him sanctify and purify it, with those relying on God and receiving His sacrifice sharing the crown of eternal life.
Readiness grows by receiving hope through faith in Jesus and being faithful, by believing in Christ and growing in faith, and by conversion with a life shaped by Christ and victory through the Lamb to enter the kingdom of glory. It is a daily following on to know the Lord in grace, knowledge and faith, advancing in the Christian life toward that blessed sight and preparing for future immortal life in the kingdom.
Glory of the Reward
The faithful will see Jesus as King in His beauty and dwell in His presence forever among holy angels, living at rest after suffering, trial, and passing through the time of trouble. Receiving the truths of God's word and letting them sanctify the life prepares for this hope when probation closes, and lives shaped after Christ the divine Pattern share it. The King is fair and glorious, the joy and light of the far-off holy land, and the purified will behold that distant blessed land and find lasting rest after earthly pilgrimage. Those joined to Christ will behold His matchless charms and remain with Him forever in heaven.
They will behold His matchless charms, loveliness and righteousness, longing to see Him in the golden city and receiving His salvation. Those planted in Christ and partakers of the divine nature through escape from worldly corruption will share this vision. Those who place themselves in God's hands to do His will shall behold Christ's matchless charms and praise Him with songs to the Lamb. In the future heavenly life Christ will walk and talk with them, open Scriptures not understood, and give them the fruit of the tree of life.
They will enter the heavenly city separated from the world to live for God's glory, with right to the tree of life and sight of Christ as King. The hope is fulfilled where the faithful receive the crown of immortality, enter the city of God welcomed by Father and Son through Christ's victory, and overcome through His strength. That hope includes immortal inheritance and life forever free from sickness, sorrow, pain and death for overcomers who keep God's commandments, with everlasting joy in His presence. The redeemed will see Christ wearing His kingly crown in the heavenly city and kingdom of glory, entering New Jerusalem's gate not as convicts but as sons and daughters welcomed to the Father's bosom. Crowns will be placed on their brows by Christ's own hand, they will eat from the tree of life in the midst of God's paradise and drink from the stream proceeding from God's throne, then sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. They enter with right to the tree, wearing the crown of glory and the white robe of righteousness, beholding Jesus whose matchless charms are seen in the city when the work is over. When the gates open for the truth-keeping nations to enter their Lord's joy with music and songs to the Lamb, those of firm faith will personally see Christ as King in beauty and receive an unfading crown of life as kings and priests unto God.
Christ will lead the redeemed beside the river of life and explain what perplexed them in this world, unfolding mysteries of grace until what seemed confused and broken is seen as perfect and beautiful harmony. In the heavenly school God's people as children of the heavenly King will dwell with the royal family, see Christ in His beauty and behold His matchless charms. There Christ will walk and talk with them and open what they did not understand, and they will enjoy peace and joy that calls for living now without contention and giving life wholly to Christ. They will continue learning in the school above where Christ teaches and reveals truths that sin-marred minds cannot fully grasp in this life.
Looking to Christ changes beholders into His divine image. The unsatisfied soul cries after the living God with unshaken confidence, longing to see the King in His beauty and by that sight to be made like Him. At the soon coming of the Lord in the clouds, those connected with Christ will see Him as He is and be made like Him, a sight decided by character formed day by day, requiring sanctification of body, soul and spirit and walking with God because heaven is holy. Thinking of heaven and speaking faith now brings happiness, peace and joy in anticipation, so lifting the head and rejoicing in God is the right of waiting believers.
Seeing Christ the King in His beauty at His coming in glory brings everlasting blessing when the redeemed are welcomed and taken to their eternal home. The faithful will dwell with Him and receive immortal life in the heavenly kingdom. Entering the city of God, the saved remain forever beyond temptation's reach and join in praise to Christ who gave His life for them. Believers will see Jesus in matchless loveliness in a place with no pain, sorrow, sickness or sadness. That promise gives certainty of final victory to the afflicted who have open communion between God and the soul, the divine Presence, and Jesus as constant Helper loving with pitying tenderness, calling the suffering to cling to Him, never doubt, commit the case to Him in faith that He will lead and do what is best for eternal interest.
When seen as King of kings and Lord of lords, the marks of crucifixion will shine from His hands. Those who lose their lives here will rise again to see Him in matchless glory, retaining a human body with human and divine natures blended.
Fixing the eye on seeing the Lord and entering the immortal heavenly land makes earthly honors and treasures seem worthless and makes one willing to bear Christ's cross, live selflessly and serve others in expectation of sharing His glory. The rich reward laid up for the saints is the joys of the world to come, immortality and eternal life through Jesus Christ in seeing Jesus whom the soul loves, and the nearness of fulfillment with present taste spoils this world, fixes affections, interests, hopes and all in heaven, and stirs longing for Christ to appear. Beholding Christ in matchless charms and seeing treasures of His Word lifts the soul in faith, confidence, hope and courage, makes heaven desirable even at loss of all else, and creates desire to understand the Master better and keep following on to know the Lord. Dwelling and talking about the sight now fills believers with light and glory of God's presence and full joy, moves them to praise the Lord with all within, teaches love for one another, and shows the world they possess what it lacks.
That sight is life measuring with the life of God itself, given to those whose life is hid with Christ and who will appear with Him in glory to behold Jesus as King in glory and beauty face to face around God's throne. Because heaven has infinite worth it is worth everything and calls for lifelong persevering untiring effort, living now as seeing the invisible God and living to His glory alone, with self dead and Jesus living within, bringing rest, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Dwelling in Jesus' presence and beholding His beauty and matchless charms in immortal glory is the crown of immortal glory and eternal life presented to every overcomer of world, flesh and devil. The warfare is won because Christ stands to help at every step, angels surround, heavenly agencies work with man, and divine nature is given to those who lay hold by faith so that through Jesus' merits every soul may win immortal life. To see the King one must give Jesus mental, moral and physical powers, lay them at His feet, use them in His service, and win souls to Him in return for His giving His life. The result is peace here, Christ formed within as hope of glory, and eternal reward when this life closes in the resurrection morning, when the dead come forth victorious over death and the grave, heaven's gates open, and the redeemed praise Him with immortal tongue.
Those who love Jesus for His matchless charms and stand at the appointed post of duty will meet around God's throne and see Christ as King in glory. The sight is the future reward for working not only for time but for eternity by fashioning character after the divine model, for which the well done is given. Those who will see Him now invite all who hear to come and partake of the waters of life freely.
The saved seeing the King in His beauty on entering God's city have eternal salvation, remaining forever beyond temptation and praising Christ who gave His life. Entrance into God's city with victor's crown and eternal life belongs to the future reward, prepared for by keeping eyes fixed on Christ now and relying on His divine strength to overcome evil. Washing character robes in the blood of the Lamb prepares for entering the redeemed's joy forever, when the King welcomes them through heaven's gates to remain. Seeing the King is the reward of following the Redeemer, obeying God's Word and watching in prayer, with a lasting home in the city free from temptation and danger.
Witnesses Who Beheld
Enoch beheld the King in His glory in the midst of Zion, and the vision is of the King in His beauty in the celestial city, the home of God, the realms of light with their eternal treasures. That seeing was by faith while still on earth, living with heart and mind and conversation fixed in heaven rather than set on gathering gold and silver or building up possessions here. The greater the surrounding iniquity, the more earnest grew the longing for the home of God.
By studying and meditating on Christ, John the Baptist beheld His holiness and majesty as the divine King and Messiah in His beauty and glory. Fixing the mind on Christ in this way makes self to be forgotten and lost from view, with a deep consciousness of personal unworthiness before divine holiness. That vision prepared him to declare God's message in God's power and righteousness, relying on God, and to stand fearlessly before earthly rulers because he had bowed before the King of kings.
The King in His beauty is Jesus Christ, fair and glorious, adored by angels as Messiah and light of the resting place of the faithful. The land that is very far off is the distant heavenly country, the bright holy land and immortal inheritance of the earth made new where the blessed will live forever. The sight will be fulfilled when He appears in the clouds of heaven in power and great glory at His second coming, when the redeemed welcome Him and are gathered to their eternal home after struggle, trial and the time of trouble are finished. Those who see Him are the righteous who walk uprightly and speak uprightly, turning from oppression, bribery, violence and evil, made without spot through obedience, overcoming the world, and washed in the blood of the Lamb. Looking to Him by faith now purifies the heart, changes beholders into His divine image, and brings everlasting joy in His presence where there is no pain, sorrow or death.
Meaning in Context
The promise is given in prophetic figures that describe spiritual realities, in which those who are righteous dwell safely on high with God, defended as by munitions of rocks, with bread given and water made sure, receiving secure refuge and unfailing provision. The vision belongs to the one who walks righteously and uprightly and does what is right, who speaks uprightly, who turns away from gain by oppression, bribery, violence and blood, who refuses bribes, stops the ears from bloodshed and shuts the eyes from evil. The character set out in the verses before is the character of those who will see the King and behold the distant land, and the vision of Jesus thus given becomes spiritual life to them.
Turning from idolatry to worship Jehovah brings forgiveness of sins, so that the forgiven boast in God alone as judge and lawgiver and king who saves them. The King in His beauty is Jesus Christ the Messiah, fair and glorious, adored by angels, loved by the soul, the joy and light of the land where the faithful will live at rest and dwell in His presence forever. Beholding the holiness and majesty of this divine King leads to forgetting self, recognizing unworthiness before God, and losing sight of self.
The land that is very far off is the distant heavenly country, the bright holy land, the precious home of the blessed, the immortal inheritance, the earth made new and the eternal home where the redeemed are saved in God's kingdom. There families will be reunited and broken ties never severed again, and the faithful after earthly pilgrimage will find joy and lasting rest. Throughout the history of the church Christ Himself is life and strength, efficiency and power, wisdom and holiness to His people, and those who realize this and walk righteously dwell securely with sure provision unto seeing the King in His glory.
Time of Fulfillment
The seeing will happen when Christ appears in the clouds of heaven in power and great glory at His second coming and coronation. Then the King appears in glory, and the redeemed welcome Him as witnesses of both His suffering and His victory, are gathered by Him, and are taken to their eternal home. That day is the near great day of the Lord, and the hope of it brings everlasting blessing. It is sure, though the promised coming has been long delayed.
The sight comes after earthly struggle, toil, trial and suffering are finished. Trials purify the faithful and prepare them to receive the seal of the living God, and only after passing through the time of trouble do they see the King in His beauty and dwell in God's presence among the holy angels. Those who are of good courage and endure a little longer, who without complaint share in Christ's sufferings and stand bravely, unwaveringly and steadfast to the end with increasing faith, neither failing nor discouraged, will see Him face to face with His name in their foreheads when their battles are over. This hope belongs to those who remain faithful and overcome through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.
The dead will awaken to see the King, for after only a little while of waiting God's people will see Him in heaven, the precious home of the blessed, where families will be reunited and broken ties never severed again. Eyes closed in death, like Byron's, will open again to behold the Saviour, and those fallen asleep in Jesus will be raised to glorious immortality, ascend to the city of God, and see the King in His beauty. Christ's resurrection from Joseph's tomb is the sample of that coming resurrection. When the warfare of those who hold fast the faith through obedience to all God's commandments is ended, they rest in hope until the morning of the resurrection, and then at the sounding of the last trump they see the King in His beauty and behold His matchless charms as their precious hope fulfilled. After Christ comes, raises the dead, and takes His people with Him, they will see Him as King in His beauty and enter the holy city, and those welcomed there are commandment keepers who have been tested and love God supremely, where there will be no second rebellion.
The fulfillment is near, after only a little while of waiting and of enduring toil and trial. The meeting calls for faithful work, watching, waiting and prayer, and for readiness to meet Him. Pilgrims and strangers on earth seeking a better, even a heavenly, country are almost home and will see Christ at His soon appearing. Looking and waiting for that sight means keeping faithful watch over the affections of the heart and character, maintaining a spotless life kept from the least defiling sin, taxing every power to understand God's Word and to listen to His warnings and counsel, adorning the soul temple to please the Lord with the incorruptible ornament of a meek and quiet spirit rather than outward adornment, bringing great and holy truths into practical life with hearts sanctified through the truth, and meeting the Lord in peace with new animation, intensified Christian graces, strengthened faith and confidence and trust in God, and quickened zeal and earnest fervor. The promise encourages firmness in faith through the delay: soon they will see Christ their King in the splendor of His second coming, behold the distant heavenly country long sought, reach their heavenly home, and have every tear wiped away.
The same hope was applied to expecting the Lord at His coming on the tenth day of the seventh month, when the midnight cry awakens believers to go out to meet the Bridegroom and look forward to seeing the King. The King and the distant home are also seen by faith while still on earth. Enoch saw the King in glory in the midst of Zion, in the celestial city, the home of God, the realms of light with eternal treasures, and while still on earth he lived by faith with mind and heart and conversation in heaven, with heart fixed on that home and its treasures rather than on gathering gold or silver, building possessions here, or earthly wealth. The greater the surrounding iniquity, the more earnest grew the longing for the home of God. Beholding Jesus by the eye of faith, seeing Him who is invisible, means seeing Christ the Majesty of heaven and King of glory who came to live the commandments and give the example of the character all must form to live in God's presence, and those who behold Him lose sight of self.
Character of Recipients
Those who will see the King walk humbly with God, placing themselves in His hands to do His will, growing in faith toward perfection and living for His glory separated from the world. Their lives are shaped after Christ the divine Pattern, with pure unselfish purposes formed by His meekness, humility and self-denial, so that they will live in His presence forever. Through His grace they fulfill the conditions of salvation and will enter the heavenly city with right to the tree of life, beholding heaven's attractions and the eternal glory reserved for the overcomer. That future hope requires preparation for the day of God by a life that measures with the life of God, walking humbly by faith rather than exalting self or claiming superiority.
They are planted in Christ and joined to Him in living union, partakers of the divine nature having escaped the world's corruption through lust, with Christ dwelling in them and their lives representing Him. Knowing Christ in this life and being identified with Him here is what fits them to see Him in His kingdom and behold His matchless charms. Those who spend the lifetime in the low sordid things of this world will have no desire to meet Jesus in His glory as sons and daughters of God, but those who perfect character after the divine likeness now will meet Him and present their children as taught of the Saviour from manger to cross. Reflecting the loveliness of His character is essential, for distrust, accusation and criticism that destroy trust and happiness make a person unfit for the happy family of heaven.
They will be found without blemish, spot or wrinkle, perfected in holiness and beautiful in character, with a life cleansed from sin and fitted as stones hewn, refined and fitted here for God's great building that comes together without sound of axe or hammer. Nothing short of that perfected holiness prepares for meeting Christ at His coming and entering the city to share everlasting life and praise. That preparation is God's training on earth in the first principles of the gospel, letting Christ shape patience, kindness, meekness, goodness, sympathy and tender compassion while un-Christlike traits are purged away, so that heaven begins in the life on earth. Pure thoughts and right habits are necessary to human and Christian happiness, and cherished debasing vices will exclude from heaven. Holiness in this life means putting away vain trifling talk and all that is frivolous and sensational, refusing to fill the mind with worldly entertainments and pleasures, using every moment of God-given life to His glory, gaining strength to resist the powers of darkness, and engaging earnestly in the work of saving the soul, for to lose the soul were better never to have been born, yet none need be lost.
They obey God's commandments and accept Jehovah's law as the rule of life, and only such will behold Christ in His glory around the great white throne and enter heaven. God's law is His standard of character, founded on wholehearted love to God and love to neighbor as self, and obedience to it is the condition of salvation on which present and future happiness depend. The King's people are overcomers who keep the commandments, believe and practice His Word, receive it into good and honest hearts and work with all their might in harmony with heaven as doers of the word, and their salvation brings entrance into the heavenly city, an immortal inheritance, life forever free from sickness, sorrow, pain and death, and everlasting joy in His presence. Those who after warning and reproof hug sins, take their own way, break from the Spirit and keep venturing to test the devil's wiles cannot have the seal of God, and going down to the grave they will not rise in the first resurrection nor behold the King. Ministers and leaders who do not believe and practice the Word likewise will not see Him in His beauty.
They are overcomers of the world, the flesh and the devil, holding fast faith and truth through warfare unto the crown of everlasting life. The reward of beholding Christ as King in glory and dwelling in His presence in immortal glory is given only to those who overcome Satan and temptation in this life as Christ in His human character overcame fiercer temptation while working at His trade in the carpenter's shop, and indifference in this battle for life forfeits that sight. They do not shun truth to save life but work out salvation with fear and trembling, press against darkness, lay hold of the mighty arm of God, and use the little time left to prepare for eternity so life is not lived in vain. Those who without complaint accept partaking with Christ in His sufferings and stand bravely, unwaveringly and steadfast to the end with increasing faith, not failing nor discouraged, will see Him face to face with His name in their foreheads, faithful through the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony when battles are over. Holding fast to truth through the Christian struggle leads to that crown and sight, with Christ helping at every step, angels surrounding, heavenly agencies working with man, and divine nature given by faith through His merits, as the one who would see Him gives Jesus mental, moral and physical powers, lays them at His feet, serves Him, wins souls in return for His giving His life, finds peace here with Christ formed within as hope of glory, and rises victorious in the morning of the resurrection to praise Him with immortal tongue.
They have surrendered suspicion, distrust, criticism, accusation, temper, pride of opinion, self-will and self-exaltation, learning meekness from Christ and abiding in His disposition as representatives of His character. Those who cherish such traits cannot share the happiness of the heavenly family nor be admitted to the kingdom and the marriage supper of the Lamb. Victory must be gained over besetting sins, selfishness, love of the world and every wrong word and action, with the heart humbled before God, for eternal life is at stake. Keeping distrust, lack of confidence, accusing, faultfinding, bad temper, self-dignity and other grown-up childish selfish habits closes the door against the soul, unfits for the heavenly courts where perfect trust and happiness are unbroken, and leaves one never to behold the King, while those who surrender will and wisdom to Christ, accept His teaching and are changed in character may enter and see Him.
Beholding Him by faith turns them from self-exaltation to justice, economy and self-denial, for those who see the invisible King in His beauty and look toward the distant land lose sight of self. Seeing Christ the Majesty of heaven and King of glory who lived the commandments as the example of the character all must form to live in God's presence leads to mortifying self, practicing economy, revealing justice and righteousness, spending nothing unnecessary on self, binding about wants, and giving to the cause in self-denial as Christ did what others use for display. They do not take excessive wages or confederate in underhand methods to draw large means from the Lord's treasury, claiming no more right to high wages than low-paid workers. Only those who turn to God with full purpose of heart, abhor selfish covetousness and reform will see Him, and without that reform from covetous unjust principles they will never see Him, for experience in this life decides eternal destiny.
Preparation and Warning
The work of getting ready to see the King in His beauty must be finished before He comes and before probation closes, for it is the truth received into the life that removes sin and imperfection and sanctifies for the heavenly hope. Those made holy keep body and spirit pure, are cleansed from sin and fitted for the heavenly courts, and then receive immortality when corruption is changed to incorruption. Purifying the soul by obedience to the truth and washing the character robes white in the blood of the Lamb is the preparation, and a deep experience in the things of God forming a Christlike character is required, since those cherishing sin at His coming cannot enter heaven.
Only those who now seek the Lord earnestly with the whole heart will be fitted to unite with the royal family and see Him when He appears in the clouds at the near great day of the Lord, while those who allow themselves to be deceived will perish. This seeking means humbling the heart before Him, forsaking sins, repenting and converting, having sins blotted out, and being fitted through sanctification of the truth, with thorough consecration of the heart to God in order to behold His righteousness. Each person must make the best effort to do God's will by heeding His Word and living out truth and righteousness in the family in preparation to meet Christ in the judgment, giving up sin, self-will and unconverted inclinations through Christ's sacrifice.
Seeing Him belongs to those who believe and practice God's Word and keep the truth, for His law is the standard of character founded on wholehearted love to God and love to neighbor as self, and obedience to it is the condition of salvation on which present and future happiness depend. Those who receive the Word into good and honest hearts and work with all their might as doers in harmony with heaven will enter the kingdom, while ministers and leaders who do not believe and practice it will not see Him in His beauty. Those who after warning and reproof hug their sins, take their own way, break from the Spirit of God, and keep venturing and testing the wiles of the devil cannot have the seal of God, and when they go down to the grave they will not rise in the first resurrection nor behold the King.
The meeting is near, so readiness calls for faithful work and for watching, waiting and praying in expectation of meeting the Lord at His coming. Keeping the eyes fixed on Christ now and relying on His divine strength to overcome evil prepares for entrance into His city with the victor's crown and eternal life, and following the light and laboring faithfully for others prepares for entering His kingdom. Pilgrims seeking the heavenly country are almost home, and looking and waiting means keeping faithful watch over heart affections and character, maintaining a spotless life kept from the least defiling sin, taxing every power to understand the Word and heed its warnings and counsel, adorning the soul temple with the incorruptible ornament of a meek and quiet spirit rather than outward adornment, bringing holy truths into practical life with hearts sanctified through the truth, and meeting Him in peace with new animation, intensified graces, strengthened faith, confidence, trust and quickened zeal. Watching in prayer with obedience to His Word and following the Redeemer brings a lasting home in the city with no more temptation or danger.
Preparation means washing the character robes white in the blood of the Lamb, through which the King welcomes the redeemed through the gates of heaven to remain forever in the joy of seeing Jesus in His beauty and entering immortal life. It is given through Jesus as a complete Saviour, calling for gathering with Him in vigilance against Satan, being continually clothed with His righteousness because there is no righteousness of one's own, and resting salvation only on Christ died for me whose blood cleanses from all sin. The heart touched by His subduing love is freed from self, selfishness, covetousness, anger and wrong temper, made tender, kind and patient with His love and compassion, and seeks the Lord earnestly, perseveringly and believingly unto perfection of Christian character, with His joy remaining to make joy full.
Parents who keep the truth will enter the gates and rejoice with their children in seeing the King, when they have taught them to love God and not follow worldly fashions, raising them in the Lord's nurture and admonition. Heaven is worth everything, so those who would be there cannot live to please this world but must live for God their Maker, educating the children He has given in His commandments at home and abroad, as Israel was taught rising up and sitting down, with blessing to serve and glorify Him. Parents are to lead children to God by instruction so they may enter the city and see Him, doing Christ's work by helping them overcome wrong traits and prepare for eternal life, and those who meet Him will present themselves with their children as having taught them of the Saviour from manger to cross. Those spending life in the low sordid things of this world will not want to meet Jesus then, for readiness requires partaking of the divine nature and perfecting character after the divine likeness now.
Worthy daily life grows beyond childishness, meets provocation with patience, kindness and forbearance, follows Christ through self-denial and daily cross-bearing, and overcomes evil more by keeping silent when best than by angry words. God's training on earth for the future life means learning the first principles of the gospel and letting Christ shape the character in patience, kindness, meekness, goodness, sympathy and tender compassion while un-Christlike traits are purged away, for without this growth heaven begun in the life on earth will not see the King. Those placing themselves in God's hands determined to do His will shall behold Christ's matchless charms and praise Him with songs to the Lamb, keeping the mind on heaven, remaining faithful to duty and integrity, living without contention, giving life wholly to Christ, and refusing to use influence against His truth for human approval or personal gain because He gave His life.
Fitness to meet Christ in the clouds requires the converting power of God to pass the perils of the last days, the higher education which is the religion of Christ, sanctification by the Holy Spirit, and close friendship and communion with God. It means having heaven in the soul with Christ manifested in the life, self denied and sacrificed to God's will, learning of God, overcoming unhappy tempers, clinging to the Mighty One, overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony, and following on to know the Lord. Those thus fitted enter when the gates of the city are opened as the nation keeping truth and join the song of triumph, and helping prepare a people to lay hold of God's might and power for that entrance is more important than anything else. Entry requires freedom from defilement, so a perverted appetite cannot enter, and all are urged to turn from it and be reconciled to God through Christ in order to behold His matchless charms.
Securing the immortal inheritance and abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, where Christ is seen as King in glory, is given probationary time in love to put away selfishness, pride, egotism and seeking the highest place, and to become humble devoted Christians leading others in salvation. It requires giving all diligence to add to faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge temperance, to temperance patience, to patience godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity, so as to be neither barren nor unfruitful, to make calling and election sure, and never to fall. Those who fear the Lord, continually surrender what He requires and wait on Him will be taught more deeply the mystery of God the Father and of Christ, will have visions of the King in His beauty, will have opened before them the rest remaining for God's people, and will soon enter the city whose Builder and Maker is God.
Christ desires everyone to enter heaven's kingdom and share the sight of the King in His beauty. Accepting His sacrifice and taking hold of what God has done gives the privilege of seeing the King and beholding His matchless charms. Those holding fast the faith, though parted in this world and not meeting again here, will meet again in the world to come to see the King and part no more. The joy belongs to those who after enduring trials and using possessions for God's glory receive eternal glory among the redeemed in the kingdom. The sight results from welcoming the Saviour into the heart and letting Him sanctify and purify it, with those relying on God and receiving His sacrifice sharing the crown of eternal life.
Readiness grows by receiving hope through faith in Jesus and being faithful, by believing in Christ and growing in faith, and by conversion with a life shaped by Christ and victory through the Lamb to enter the kingdom of glory. It is a daily following on to know the Lord in grace, knowledge and faith, advancing in the Christian life toward that blessed sight and preparing for future immortal life in the kingdom.
Glory of the Reward
The faithful will see Jesus as King in His beauty and dwell in His presence forever among holy angels, living at rest after suffering, trial, and passing through the time of trouble. Receiving the truths of God's word and letting them sanctify the life prepares for this hope when probation closes, and lives shaped after Christ the divine Pattern share it. The King is fair and glorious, the joy and light of the far-off holy land, and the purified will behold that distant blessed land and find lasting rest after earthly pilgrimage. Those joined to Christ will behold His matchless charms and remain with Him forever in heaven.
They will behold His matchless charms, loveliness and righteousness, longing to see Him in the golden city and receiving His salvation. Those planted in Christ and partakers of the divine nature through escape from worldly corruption will share this vision. Those who place themselves in God's hands to do His will shall behold Christ's matchless charms and praise Him with songs to the Lamb. In the future heavenly life Christ will walk and talk with them, open Scriptures not understood, and give them the fruit of the tree of life.
They will enter the heavenly city separated from the world to live for God's glory, with right to the tree of life and sight of Christ as King. The hope is fulfilled where the faithful receive the crown of immortality, enter the city of God welcomed by Father and Son through Christ's victory, and overcome through His strength. That hope includes immortal inheritance and life forever free from sickness, sorrow, pain and death for overcomers who keep God's commandments, with everlasting joy in His presence. The redeemed will see Christ wearing His kingly crown in the heavenly city and kingdom of glory, entering New Jerusalem's gate not as convicts but as sons and daughters welcomed to the Father's bosom. Crowns will be placed on their brows by Christ's own hand, they will eat from the tree of life in the midst of God's paradise and drink from the stream proceeding from God's throne, then sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. They enter with right to the tree, wearing the crown of glory and the white robe of righteousness, beholding Jesus whose matchless charms are seen in the city when the work is over. When the gates open for the truth-keeping nations to enter their Lord's joy with music and songs to the Lamb, those of firm faith will personally see Christ as King in beauty and receive an unfading crown of life as kings and priests unto God.
Christ will lead the redeemed beside the river of life and explain what perplexed them in this world, unfolding mysteries of grace until what seemed confused and broken is seen as perfect and beautiful harmony. In the heavenly school God's people as children of the heavenly King will dwell with the royal family, see Christ in His beauty and behold His matchless charms. There Christ will walk and talk with them and open what they did not understand, and they will enjoy peace and joy that calls for living now without contention and giving life wholly to Christ. They will continue learning in the school above where Christ teaches and reveals truths that sin-marred minds cannot fully grasp in this life.
Looking to Christ changes beholders into His divine image. The unsatisfied soul cries after the living God with unshaken confidence, longing to see the King in His beauty and by that sight to be made like Him. At the soon coming of the Lord in the clouds, those connected with Christ will see Him as He is and be made like Him, a sight decided by character formed day by day, requiring sanctification of body, soul and spirit and walking with God because heaven is holy. Thinking of heaven and speaking faith now brings happiness, peace and joy in anticipation, so lifting the head and rejoicing in God is the right of waiting believers.
Seeing Christ the King in His beauty at His coming in glory brings everlasting blessing when the redeemed are welcomed and taken to their eternal home. The faithful will dwell with Him and receive immortal life in the heavenly kingdom. Entering the city of God, the saved remain forever beyond temptation's reach and join in praise to Christ who gave His life for them. Believers will see Jesus in matchless loveliness in a place with no pain, sorrow, sickness or sadness. That promise gives certainty of final victory to the afflicted who have open communion between God and the soul, the divine Presence, and Jesus as constant Helper loving with pitying tenderness, calling the suffering to cling to Him, never doubt, commit the case to Him in faith that He will lead and do what is best for eternal interest.
When seen as King of kings and Lord of lords, the marks of crucifixion will shine from His hands. Those who lose their lives here will rise again to see Him in matchless glory, retaining a human body with human and divine natures blended.
Fixing the eye on seeing the Lord and entering the immortal heavenly land makes earthly honors and treasures seem worthless and makes one willing to bear Christ's cross, live selflessly and serve others in expectation of sharing His glory. The rich reward laid up for the saints is the joys of the world to come, immortality and eternal life through Jesus Christ in seeing Jesus whom the soul loves, and the nearness of fulfillment with present taste spoils this world, fixes affections, interests, hopes and all in heaven, and stirs longing for Christ to appear. Beholding Christ in matchless charms and seeing treasures of His Word lifts the soul in faith, confidence, hope and courage, makes heaven desirable even at loss of all else, and creates desire to understand the Master better and keep following on to know the Lord. Dwelling and talking about the sight now fills believers with light and glory of God's presence and full joy, moves them to praise the Lord with all within, teaches love for one another, and shows the world they possess what it lacks.
That sight is life measuring with the life of God itself, given to those whose life is hid with Christ and who will appear with Him in glory to behold Jesus as King in glory and beauty face to face around God's throne. Because heaven has infinite worth it is worth everything and calls for lifelong persevering untiring effort, living now as seeing the invisible God and living to His glory alone, with self dead and Jesus living within, bringing rest, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Dwelling in Jesus' presence and beholding His beauty and matchless charms in immortal glory is the crown of immortal glory and eternal life presented to every overcomer of world, flesh and devil. The warfare is won because Christ stands to help at every step, angels surround, heavenly agencies work with man, and divine nature is given to those who lay hold by faith so that through Jesus' merits every soul may win immortal life. To see the King one must give Jesus mental, moral and physical powers, lay them at His feet, use them in His service, and win souls to Him in return for His giving His life. The result is peace here, Christ formed within as hope of glory, and eternal reward when this life closes in the resurrection morning, when the dead come forth victorious over death and the grave, heaven's gates open, and the redeemed praise Him with immortal tongue.
Those who love Jesus for His matchless charms and stand at the appointed post of duty will meet around God's throne and see Christ as King in glory. The sight is the future reward for working not only for time but for eternity by fashioning character after the divine model, for which the well done is given. Those who will see Him now invite all who hear to come and partake of the waters of life freely.
The saved seeing the King in His beauty on entering God's city have eternal salvation, remaining forever beyond temptation and praising Christ who gave His life. Entrance into God's city with victor's crown and eternal life belongs to the future reward, prepared for by keeping eyes fixed on Christ now and relying on His divine strength to overcome evil. Washing character robes in the blood of the Lamb prepares for entering the redeemed's joy forever, when the King welcomes them through heaven's gates to remain. Seeing the King is the reward of following the Redeemer, obeying God's Word and watching in prayer, with a lasting home in the city free from temptation and danger.
Witnesses Who Beheld
Enoch beheld the King in His glory in the midst of Zion, and the vision is of the King in His beauty in the celestial city, the home of God, the realms of light with their eternal treasures. That seeing was by faith while still on earth, living with heart and mind and conversation fixed in heaven rather than set on gathering gold and silver or building up possessions here. The greater the surrounding iniquity, the more earnest grew the longing for the home of God.
By studying and meditating on Christ, John the Baptist beheld His holiness and majesty as the divine King and Messiah in His beauty and glory. Fixing the mind on Christ in this way makes self to be forgotten and lost from view, with a deep consciousness of personal unworthiness before divine holiness. That vision prepared him to declare God's message in God's power and righteousness, relying on God, and to stand fearlessly before earthly rulers because he had bowed before the King of kings.