6:2Isaiah 6:2

In Isaiah's vision of the Lord seated high and lifted up on a throne with His glory filling the temple, shining seraphim hover above and beside Him as appointed attendants, each with six wings, covering the face with two, covering the feet with two, and flying with two.8T 281.1–4+4 Their veiled faces and feet express reverence and adoration before God's holiness, majesty and unapproachable light, for even these exalted beings do not exalt themselves but humble themselves to honor and serve the Lord of hosts.GW 21.1–2+4 The One upon the throne is Jesus Christ, Lord of the temple, whose resplendent glory angels veil before and whose triumphs they celebrate as Commander of the heavenly hosts.Ms 64, 1895, par. 1–3+3 Beholding that glory exposes human uncleanness and pride and brings the cry of being undone, followed by cleansing when a seraph touches the lips with a live coal from the altar so sin is purged and the pardoned one is fitted to answer Here am I, send me.CT 374.2+4 Every worker for God needs that same sight of His holiness to bow humbly, distinguish the sacred from the common, and go forth with lips touched with divine fire to bear a plain and powerful message in the Spirit's power.7T 153.3–154.1+4

The verse belongs to Isaiah's vision in the year King Uzziah died of the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up, with His train filling the temple.Ms 124, 1903, par. 28–30+2 It is part of the account of the Lord seated on a throne in the temple attended by seraphim, whose glory filled the temple and the heavens in a vivid scene of heaven's glory and heavenly worship surrounding God's throne.7T 153.3–154.1+2 The glory revealed is the Shekinah, the visible pavilion of Jehovah once seen in the holy of holies over the mercy seat.Ms 71, 1897, par. 21–22 Isaiah had beheld the Lord in this greatness before bringing God's message to the people, and the vision stands as the experience needed by those who serve in God's institutions to maintain a vital connection with God and distinguish the sacred from the common.7T 153.3–154.1+1

Above Him stood the seraphim, hovering on both sides and beside the throne as shining guards and appointed attendants surrounding God's throne as guards of the great King and reflecting the glory around them.8T 281.1–4+2 Each one has six wings: with two he covers his face, with two he covers his feet, and with two he flies.8T 281.1–4+3 With four wings veiling face and feet and two used for flight, they stand above the Lord in the temple in reverential awe, with faces veiled in adoration as they serve their Maker.GW 21.1–2+2 Their posture and service belong to the awe-inspiring vision of God's greatness, holiness and majesty, before which Isaiah recognizes his own imperfection and uncleanness and those entrusted with sacred things tremble and fear.8T 281.1–4+2

The temple gate and inner veil are withdrawn to reveal the holy of holies where even a prophet's feet may not enter, where the train of God's glory fills the temple and the seraphim hover on each side of Jehovah's throne high and lifted up.PK 307.1–2 There they minister before their Maker and unite in solemn praise, crying Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts with the whole earth full of His glory.Ms 27, 1891, par. 12–13+2 At their cry the posts of the door move and the house is filled with smoke.Ms 48, 1903, par. 4–6

The seraphim stand above the throne as shining guards and appointed attendants of the great King, hovering on both sides and beside it, each with six wings — with two covering the face, with two covering the feet, and with two bearing them in flight.GW 21.1–2+3 Their veiled faces and covered feet are adoration before resplendent glory, expressing reverential awe before the holiness and majesty of God.RH Mar 11, 1915+4 That reverence is due to the great and holy God who dwells in light no one can approach, before whose holiness and glory those entrusted with sacred things must tremble and fear.Lt 71, 1895, par. 33–34+1

Their awe is so great that they do not admire themselves, and even these exalted beings do not exalt themselves but reflect the glory around them.GW 21.1–2+1 Beholding the King in His beauty and the glory that reveals His divinity brings humility rather than self-exaltation, shown when they veil faces and feet in humility before Him.Ms 64, 1895, par. 1–3+1 Their praise is directed wholly to the Lord of hosts, and their highest desire is to honor and serve their Maker.GW 21.1–2+1

Their covering of the face is holy awe at His infinite greatness and presence, shown especially when speaking the name of God.PK 236.3–237.1+3 The names of God and Christ are sacred and holy and exalted in character, and the reverence sinless angels show for the name teaches the reverence due to it.1T 410.1–2+1 Because sinless angels veil in that awe, fallen and sinful people should take His holy name upon their lips with still greater reverence, and every child should be taught this true reverence.PK 236.3–237.1+2 That means never speaking it lightly or thoughtlessly or needlessly, especially in prayer.PK 236.3–237.1+2 Before Him high and lifted up with His glory filling the heavens, all the earth is to keep silence, and human speech about where God is or what He is must be restrained and reverent, for on this point silence is eloquence, approaching as on holy ground with shoes removed and without careless, unsanctified familiarity.2MR 320.2–321.1

Reverence shown in attitude and demeanor deepens the feeling that inspires it, for true reverence is inspired by a sense of His infinite greatness and a realization of His presence.PK 48.2–49.1 The hour and place of prayer are sacred because God is there, calling for special reverence in prayer.ED 243.5+1

The One seated high and lifted up on the throne is Jesus Christ, Lord of the temple, and the glory filling the temple reveals His divinity.Ms 64, 1895, par. 1–3+1 Heavenly beings veil themselves before the enthroned Lord, beholding His resplendent glory and honoring Him as they celebrate His triumphs.RH Jan 2, 1900+1 Their reverence before the King in His beauty reflects His exalted place as Commander of the heavenly hosts before He came to earth, and shows that beholding God's glory brings humility rather than self-exaltation.Ms 64, 1895, par. 1–3+1

That glory is the Shekinah, the visible pavilion of Jehovah once seen in the holy of holies over the mercy seat.Ms 71, 1897, par. 21–22 There the high priest entered only once a year on the great day of atonement with the blood of the slain victim, typical of the blood of the Son of God shed for the sins of the world, and sprinkled it upon the altar.Ms 71, 1897, par. 21–22 When Christ leaves the temple its glory departs, and what Isaiah saw was Christ's glory, of whom he spoke.Ms 71, 1897, par. 21–22

The seraphim are shining guardians surrounding the throne in the most holy place above the ark containing His commandments, where glory shines forth from this holy place.Ms 7, 1902, par. 7+2 The winged cherubim above the ark, with wings raised and touching, represent the angelic host watching the law of God with interest.SG1 158.1 There thousand thousands minister unto Him and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before Him, veiling their faces in adoration before the glory of His throne.RH Nov 8, 1915+2 No earthly structure could represent the vastness and glory of that temple, which the earthly sanctuary only faintly reflected, yet the earthly sanctuary and its services were to teach important truths concerning that heavenly sanctuary and the great work carried forward there for man's redemption.RH Nov 8, 1915+2

The vision shows heaven closely connected with events on earth and God caring for those who are loyal to Him.5T 753.3 Heavenly beings and God's work stand in ordered harmony, teaching God's workmen to trust the Lord as the one who directs and coordinates the work rather than trying to control it themselves.Lt 58, 1895, par. 22–25 God is high and holy, surrounded by countless holy beings who stand ready to carry out His commands, actively directing and observing the universe and attending to every earthly action to approve or condemn it.5T 753.3+1

Beholding the glory and majesty of the Lord with the seraphim standing above Him, each with six wings, two covering the face, two covering the feet, and two used for flight, leads to recognition of personal imperfection and uncleanness and of the people's.CT 374.2+2 It is an awe-inspiring vision of God's holiness and glory, before which those entrusted with sacred things must tremble and fear, and those who handle sacred things are called to bow humbly and reverence the Lord of hosts.Lt 71, 1895, par. 33–34+1 Before that glory human imperfection is exposed and self sinks into nothingness, while human pride and self-righteousness are made insignificant, bringing recognition of sinfulness and of living among a sinful people, and leading to humility and contrition.Ms 9, 1894, par. 14–15+1

The vision belongs to the year King Uzziah died, of the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up with His train filling the temple and the seraphim standing above it crying Holy, holy, holy, until the posts of the door moved and the house was filled with smoke, with the whole earth full of His glory.Ms 27, 1891, par. 12–13+1 The sight brings conviction of being undone as a person of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips, followed by cleansing when a seraphim takes a live coal from the altar and touches the lips, so that iniquity is taken away and sin is purged through the refining Spirit.Ms 27, 1891, par. 12–13+1 Only then comes fitness to hear the call for someone to send and to answer Here am I; send me, with commission to go when the Lord asks whom to send.Ms 27, 1891, par. 12–13+1 Isaiah had thus beheld the Lord before bringing God's message to the people, and every worker chosen of God needs a similar experience of seeing God's throne and holiness.Ms 27, 1891, par. 12–13+1 Ministers today must have hearts imbued with the Holy Spirit and lips touched with live coals from the divine altar so they can bear a plain, clear, earnest, powerful message of definite present truth when many appointed teachers are departing from the faith and Satan with evil angels brings delusions and false theories to deceive if possible the very elect.Ms 48, 1903, par. 4–6

The overwhelming picture of God as high and majestic with His glory filling the temple could leave the viewer seeing only greatness and unable to recognize His grace, compassion, tenderness, goodness, and love.Ms 48, 1894, par. 6–7 The veiling of faces by angels before God also expresses heaven's response to meetings ruled by self-importance, where Christ's love and presence are displaced.Lt 22, 1894, par. 28–29

Every worker chosen by God needs a like experience of seeing the throne and the holiness of God, bringing conviction of unclean lips followed by cleansing of iniquity and purging of sin by a live coal from the altar through the refining Spirit, and only then fitness to hear the call for one to send and to answer in willingness to go.Ms 27, 1891, par. 12–13 Those who serve in His institutions need that vision of the Lord seated on the throne in the temple with the attending seraphim, in order to maintain a vital connection with God and to distinguish between the sacred and the common.7T 153.3–154.1 Those in responsible positions are shown by the sixth chapter of Isaiah much that is impressive, for they labor as a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men in full view of the whole universe of heaven.Lt 89, 1899, par. 8–10 Those who handle sacred things are called by the portrayal of the Lord high and exalted with the train of His glory filling the temple to bow humbly before Him and reverence the Lord of hosts.Lt 5, 1896, par. 7–8

Coming fresh from that communion gives efficiency for God's work, as with Moses descending with face glorified by communion with God and the high priest coming forth from the holy of holies.Lt 31, 1892, par. 15–18 Workers must not move in their own spirit but must first meet with Christ in secret, be hid that they may see Jesus, and be quickened by His Holy Spirit.Lt 89, 1899, par. 8–10+1 The work in heaven proceeds in ordered harmony, and God's workmen are to trust the Lord as the One who directs and coordinates the work rather than trying to control it themselves.Lt 58, 1895, par. 22–25

Ministers today must have hearts imbued with the Holy Spirit and lips touched with live coals from the divine altar, after conviction of being undone as men of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips and cleansing by the seraph's coal that takes away iniquity and purges sin.Ms 48, 1903, par. 4–6 Only so can they bear a plain, clear, earnest, powerful message of definite present truth in due season, when many appointed teachers are departing from the faith and Satan with evil angels brings delusions and false theories to deceive if possible the very elect.Ms 48, 1903, par. 4–6+1 That message is truth no less great and precious than Isaiah's, the doctrine of the cross and the imputed righteousness of Christ, borne not in word only but in the power of God to everyone who believes, as co-laborers with Christ bringing souls back to God by representing in actions the character of God, while guarding the work from what is unsuitable as important issues must soon be met.Lt 89, 1899, par. 8–10+1

The lessons of the chapter call people to take up God's work of warning others and preparing them for the day of God.AAC 4.2 Those carrying publications to sound the note of warning in the byways and highways to prepare a people for the great day of God are to read the vision of the King, the Lord of hosts, with its seraphim standing above Him each with six wings, two covering the face, two covering the feet, and two used to fly, and to take it home to their hearts.AAC 4.2+1 That representation is acted over and over again when workers press close to the side of Christ, wear His yoke, daily learn of Him, and, imbued with His Spirit, carry messages of peace and comfort to the sorrowing, disappointed, sad, and brokenhearted in a good and important work.Lt 122, 1899, par. 8–10