His face was as the sun shining in its strength. Revelation 1:16
The sun is the only natural object by which the face of God can be compared. As the brightest object in the sky, the sun cannot be gazed upon with the naked eye without causing significant damage to the eye.
One internet site warns: “Direct viewing of the Sun without a filter or viewer specifically designed for the purpose is dangerous and can result in eye damage or blindness.”
God’s Face and the Sun
Moses petitioned God the Father, “I beseech Thee, show me Thy glory.” God responded by saying, “Thou cannot see My face, for no man can see Me, and live. Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand upon a rock. And it shall come to pass, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in a clift of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. And I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back parts, but My face shall not be seen.” (Exodus 33.18,20-23)
Because of His great purity and holiness the face of God shines as the sun. Our mortal eyes are unable to endure such intense light. Therefore, it is impossible to look upon His face while in this mortal body. The face of Jesus Christ, who is “the radiance of His (God the Father’s) glory and the exact representation of His nature” (Hebrews 1:3) shines as the sun in all its strenght. The Bible says of His face: “His face did shine as the sun;” Matthew 17:2) and “His face was as the sun shining in its strength.” (Revelation 1:16)
The face of Jesus Christ was visible to man while He was on earth because He “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, being made in the likeness of men,” (Philippians 2:7) thus filtering the intense brightness of His face.
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