WHEN MEN SAW GOD!
Sermon by Sidney P. Achia
Psalm 15:1-5: A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy
tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the
truth in his heart.
3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour,
nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that
fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against
the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Mal_3:2 “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall
stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers'
soap:”
Psa_24:3 “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall
stand in his holy place?”
Rev 6:14 – 17: “And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled
together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and
the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every
free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the
face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to
stand?
Isa_33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the
hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who
among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
THE 72 ELDERS
Exodus 24:7 “And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the
audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we
do, and be obedient.
8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said,
Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you
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concerning all these words.
9 Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the
elders of Israel:
10 And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it
were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven
in his clearness.
11 And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also
they saw God, and did eat and drink.
12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be
there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments
which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.”
BUT, WHO CAN SEE GOD?
Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
WHO HAS SEEN GOD?
JOB
Job_19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my
flesh shall I see God:”
[Num_12:3 “(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the
men which were upon the face of the earth.”)]
Psa_25:9 “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek
will he teach his way.”
Psa_37:11 “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight
themselves in the abundance of peace.”
JACOB
1
12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top
of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and
descending on it.
13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD
God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou
liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread
abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south:
and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither
thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave
thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in
this place; and I knew it not.
17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is
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none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he
had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the
top of it.
2
Genesis 32:28 - 30 “And he said, Thy name shall be called no more
Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men,
and hast prevailed.
29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And
he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed
him there.
30 “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God
face to face, and my life is preserved.”
PARENTS OF SAMSON
Judges 13:22 “And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die,
because we have seen God.”
PROPHET ISAIAH
Isaiah 6:1 “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting
upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he
covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he
did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of
hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the
house was filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of
unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips:
for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand,
which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips;
and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.”
JESUS HIMSELF
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.”
APOSTLE JOHN
1 John 4:12 “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another,
God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.”
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OUR GON DWELLS IN LIGHT
WHO WILL NOT SEE GOD / WHO WILL SEE GOD AND GET
DESTROYED
Isa_60:3 “And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the
brightness of thy rising.
Ezekiel 1:27 “And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire
round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and
from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the
appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.”
28 “As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain,
so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the
appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I
fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.”
Daniel 2:3 “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the
firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for
ever and ever.”
Habakkuk 3:4 “And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming
out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.”
2 Th_2:8 “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall
consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the
brightness of his coming:”
Hebrews 1:3 “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express
image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power,
when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of
the Majesty on high;”
Isaiah 60:19 “The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for
brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be
unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.”
1 John 1:5 “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and
declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
Rev_21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to
shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the
light thereof.”
Rev_22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle,
neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they
shall reign for ever and ever.
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1 Timothy 6:16 “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. Amen.”
Psalm 36:9 “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we
see light.”
WHY COULD THE 72 ELDERS SEE GOD?
WHY THE 72 ELDERS ATE AND DRANK
1
At the command of God, Moses again ascended the mountain, and took with him
Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, with seventy of the most influential elders in Israel. These
were placed where they might behold the majesty of the divine presence, while
the people should worship at the foot of the mount. "And they saw the God of
Israel; and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as
it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of
Israel he laid not his hand; also, they saw God, and did eat and drink." {ST, May 13,
1880 par. 1}
They did not behold the person of God, but only the inexpressible glory which
surrounded him. Previous to this, had they looked upon such a scene, they could
not have lived, for they were unprepared for it. But the exhibitions of God's
power had filled them with fear, which wrought in them repentance for their past
transgressions. They loved and reverenced God, and had been purifying
themselves, and contemplating his glory, purity, and mercy, until they could
approach nearer Him who had been the subject of all their meditations. God had
enshrouded his glory with a thick cloud, so that the people could not behold it. The
office of the elders whom Moses took with him, was to aid him in leading the host of
Israel to the promised land. This work was of such magnitude that God
condescended to put his spirit upon them. He honored them with a nearer view of
the glory which surrounded him, that they might have a clear sense of his
greatness and majesty and power, and thus be prepared with wisdom to act their
part in the great work assigned them. {ST, May 13, 1880 par. 2}
Moses and "his minister Joshua" were next summoned to meet with God. The
decalogue was to be delivered, inscribed on two tables of stone, and as the time of
absence was to be a long one, the leader had appointed Aaron and Hur, assisted by the
elders, to act in his stead, giving them the injunction, "Tarry ye here, until I come
again unto you." "And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.
And the glory of the Lord abode upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days;
and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the sight
of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount, in the eyes of
the children of Israel. And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into
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the mount; and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights." {ST, May 13,
1880 par. 3}
Even Moses could not go up at once into the mount; for he could not
immediately approach so nigh unto God and endure the exhibitions of his glory.
Six days was he preparing to meet with God. His common thoughts and feelings
must be put away. During six days he was devoting his thoughts to God, and
sanctifying himself by meditation and prayer, before he could be prepared to
converse with his Maker. {ST, May 13, 1880 par. 4}
The Lord then gave Moses directions for the building of a sanctuary, in which the
divine presence would be specially manifested; he also gave further instructions in
regard to the Sabbath. Finally there was delivered to Moses, by the hand of Divine
Majesty, the testimony, or ten commandments, engraven on two tables of stone.”
{ST, May 13, 1880 par. 5}
The Experience of Enoch
“Of Enoch it is written that he lived sixty-five years and begat a son; after that he
walked with God three hundred years. During those earlier years, Enoch had loved
and feared God, and had kept His commandments. After the birth of his first son, he
reached a higher experience; he was drawn into closer relationship with God. As he
saw the child's love for its father, its simple trust in his protection; as he felt the deep
yearning tenderness of his own heart for that first-born son, he learned a precious
lesson of the wonderful love of God to man in the gift of His Son, and the confidence
which the children of God may repose in their heavenly Father. The infinite,
unfathomable love of God through Christ, became the subject of his meditations day
and night. With all the fervor of his soul he sought to reveal that love to the people
among whom he dwelt. {GW 51.2}
Enoch's walk with God was not in a trance or a vision, but in all the duties of
his daily life. He did not become a hermit, shutting himself entirely from the world;
for he had, in the world, a work to do for God. [52] In the family and in his intercourse
with men, as a husband and father, a friend, a citizen, he was the steadfast,
unwavering servant of God. {GW 51.3}
In the midst of a life of active labor, Enoch steadfastly maintained his
communion with God. The greater and more pressing his labors, the more
constant and earnest were his prayers. He continued to exclude himself at certain
periods from all society. After remaining for a time among the people, laboring to
benefit them by instruction and example, he would withdraw, to spend a season in
solitude, hungering and thirsting for that divine knowledge which God alone can
impart. {GW 52.1}
Communing thus with God, Enoch came more and more to reflect the divine
image. His face was radiant with a holy light, even the light that shineth in the face of
Jesus. As he came forth from these divine communings, even the ungodly beheld with
awe the impress of heaven upon his countenance. {GW 52.2}
His faith waxed stronger, his love became more ardent, with the lapse of centuries.
To him prayer was as the breath of the soul. He lived in the atmosphere of
heaven. {GW 52.3}
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As the scenes of the future were opened to his view, Enoch became a preacher of
righteousness, bearing God's message to all who would hear the words of warning. In
the land where Cain had sought to flee from the divine presence, the prophet of God
made known the wonderful scenes that had passed before his vision. "Behold," he
declared, "the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment
upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds."
[Jude 14, 15.]
53 {GW 52.4}
The power of God that wrought with His servant was felt by those who heard.
Some gave heed to the warning and renounced their sins; but the multitudes mocked at
the solemn message. The servants of God are to bear a similar message to the
world in the last days, and it also will be received by the majority with unbelief
and mockery. {GW 53.1}
As year after year passed, deeper and deeper grew the tide of human guilt, darker
and darker gathered the clouds of divine judgment. Yet Enoch, the witness of faith,
held on his way, warning, pleading, and teaching, striving to turn back the tide of guilt
and to stay the bolts of vengeance. {GW 53.2}
The men of that generation mocked the folly of him who sought not to gather gold
or silver, or to build up possessions here. But Enoch's heart was upon eternal
treasures. He had looked upon the celestial city. He had seen the King in His glory in
the midst of Zion. The greater the existing iniquity, the more earnest was his longing
for the home of God. While still on earth, he dwelt by faith in the realms of light.
{GW 53.3}
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." [Matthew 5:8.] For three
hundred years Enoch had been seeking purity of heart, that he might be in harmony
with heaven. For three centuries he had walked with God. Day by day he had
longed for a closer union; nearer and nearer had grown the communion, until
God took him to Himself. He had stood at the threshold of the eternal world, only
a step between him and the land of the blest; and now the portals opened, the
walk with God, so long pursued on earth, continued, and he passed through the
gates of the holy city,--the first from among men to enter there.
54 {GW 53.4}
"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; . . . for before his
translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." [Hebrews 11:5.] {GW 54.1}
To such communion God is calling us. As was Enoch's, so must be their
holiness of character who shall be redeemed from among men at the Lord's
second coming. {GW 54.2}
FOLLOWING THE LAMB
END OF THE 2300 DAYS
“I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son. I gazed on Jesus' countenance
and admired His lovely person. The Father's person I could not behold, for a cloud
of glorious light covered Him. I asked Jesus if His Father had a form like
Himself. He said He had, but I could not behold it, for said He, "If you should
once behold the glory of His person, you would cease to exist." Before the throne I
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saw the Advent people--the church and the world. I saw two companies, one bowed
down before the throne, deeply interested, while the other stood uninterested and
careless. Those who were bowed before the throne would offer up their prayers
and look to Jesus; then He would look to His Father, and appear to be pleading
[55] with Him. A light would come from the Father to the Son and from the Son
to the praying company. Then I saw an exceeding bright light come from the
Father to the Son, and from the Son it waved over the people before the throne.
But few would receive this great light. Many came out from under it and
immediately resisted it; others were careless and did not cherish the light, and it
moved off from them. Some cherished it, and went and bowed down with the little
praying company. This company all received the light and rejoiced in it, and
their countenances shone with its glory. {EW 54.2}
I saw the Father rise from the throne, [SEE PAGE 92.] and in a flaming chariot
go into the holy of holies within the veil, and sit down. Then Jesus rose up from the
throne, and the most of those who were bowed down arose with Him. I did not
see one ray of light pass from Jesus to the careless multitude after He arose, and
they were left in perfect darkness. Those who arose when Jesus did, kept their
eyes fixed on Him as He left the throne and led them out a little way. Then He
raised His right arm, and we heard His lovely voice saying, "Wait here; I am going to
My Father to receive the kingdom; keep your garments spotless, and in a little while I
will return from the wedding and receive you to Myself." Then a cloudy chariot, with
wheels like flaming fire, surrounded by angels, came to where Jesus was. He stepped
into the chariot and was borne to the holiest, where the Father sat. There I beheld
Jesus, a great High Priest, standing before the Father. On the hem of His garment was
a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate. Those who rose up with Jesus
would send up their faith to Him in the holiest, and pray, "My Father, give us Thy
Spirit." Then Jesus would breathe upon them the Holy Ghost. In that breath was
light, power, and much love, joy, and peace.
56 {EW 55.1}
I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they
did not know that Jesus had left it. Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to
carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the throne, and pray, "Father,
give us Thy Spirit." Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy influence; in
it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and peace. Satan's
object was to keep them deceived and to draw back and deceive God's children.”
BEHOLD
Chap. 80 - Pure in Heart and Life
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8.” {Mar 88.1}
Into the city of God there will enter nothing that defiles. All who are to be
dwellers there will here have become pure in heart. In one who is learning of
Jesus, there will be manifest a growing distaste for careless manners, unseemly
language, and coarse thought. When Christ abides in the heart, there will be
purity and refinement of thought and manner. {Mar 88.2}
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But the words of Jesus . . . have a deeper meaning -- not merely pure in the sense in
which the world understands purity, free from that which is sensual, pure from lust,
but true in the hidden purposes and motives of the soul, free from pride and self-
seeking, humble, unselfish, childlike. {Mar 88.3}
Only like can appreciate like. Unless you accept in your own life the principle
of self-sacrificing love, which is the principle of His character, you cannot know
God. . . . {Mar 88.4}
When Christ shall come in His glory, the wicked cannot endure to behold Him.
The light of His presence, which is life to those who love Him, is death to the
ungodly. . . . When He shall appear, they will pray to be hidden from the face of Him
who died to redeem them. {Mar 88.5}
But to hearts that have become purified through the indwelling of the Holy
Spirit, all is changed. These can know God. Moses was hid in the cleft of the rock
when the glory of the Lord was revealed to him; and it is when we are hid in
Christ that we behold the love of God. . . . {Mar 88.6}
By faith we behold Him here and now. In our daily experience we discern His
goodness and compassion in the manifestation of His providence. We recognize Him
in the character of His Son. . . . The pure in heart see God in a new and endearing
relation, as their Redeemer; and while they discern the purity and loveliness of His
character, they long to reflect His image. They see Him as a Father longing to
embrace a repenting son, and their hearts are filled with joy unspeakable and full of
glory. . . . {Mar 88.7}
The pure in heart live as in the visible presence of God during the time He
apportions them in this world. And they will also see Him face to face in the
future, immortal state, as did Adam when he walked and talked with God in
Eden. {Mar 88.8}
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LISTEN TO JESUS
John 15:3 “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken
unto you.”
John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
John 14:15 – 23: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you ANOTHER
COMFORTER, that he may abide WITH YOU FOR EVER;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it
seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he
DWELLETH WITH you, and SHALL BE in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I WILL COME TO YOU.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me:
because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I
in you.
Rev 3:20 – 21: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any
man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him,
and will SUP WITH HIM, and he with me.”
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my
throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with
my Father in his throne.”
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that
loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will
love him, and WILL MANIFEST MYSELF TO HIM.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt
manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my
words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him,
and make our abode with him.”
So WHEN did MEN see GOD?
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