NO ONE WILL EVER SEE THE FACE OF GOD THE FATHER
First of all, before we discuss further on whether we'll see the Father's face or not, please take a moment to read my previous blog posts on IS RAPTURE BIBLICAL?, IS RAPTURE BIBLICAL PART 2 and EVIDENCES FROM THE BIBLE SHOW THAT GOD NEVER PLANNED THAT ANY ONE WILL GO TO HEAVEN to understand what the bible says about "the Rapture" and that God never planned that anyone should visit him in heaven.
Now, back to our discussion on seeing God's face. Jesus said in John 1:18 that no one has ever seen God at any time.
(John 1:18 ESV) No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
(John 1:18 YLT) God no one hath ever seen; the only begotten Son, who is on the bosom of the Father -- he did declare.
Please note that the oldest and most reliable manuscripts of this Gospel read "only begotten God" in this passage, and it should be so translated.
The above verse means that no man, no human being, not even angels and Archangels have seen God. This is not a contradiction of Exodus 33:11, where the Bible states that the Lord spoke with Moses face to face. In a latter verse in Numbers 12:8, the Bible clarified that what Moses saw was a similitude (i.e resemblance or likeness) of God. Moses did not see His face. He saw the image and representation of God.
(Exodus 33:11 KJV) And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
(Numbers 12:8 KJV) With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
(Exodus 33:18-23 KJV) And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
It is also not a contradiction of Exodus 24:10, where it is recorded that a whole company of Israelites "saw the God of Israel" and in Job 42:5, where Job said of God, "Now mine eye seeth thee."
(Exodus 24:10 KJV) 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.
(Job 42:5 KJV) I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
(Hosea 12:4) Yea, he [Jacob] had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us.
Abraham, Moses, Jacob, the children of Israel, Job, Manoah, David, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and the prophets all saw what was a resemblance, appearances, visions, and manifestations of God; a manifestation of the "Logos", "the Glory of the God", "the Angel of the Lord", "the Word of the Lord". All only seems to have seen God, who frequently appeared to the Old Testament saints, in human form or angelic form.
(Hosea 12:10 KJV) I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.
Remember, God declared that no man can see His face and live. Also Jesus said, no one has ever seen God and we know His testimony is true. No one will ever see God's face. The closeness you will ever get is to see Jesus. Jesus said, if you have seen Him you have seen the Father.
(John 14:7 KJV) If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
(John 14:8-9 KJV) Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
(Colossians 1:19 KJV) For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
(Colossians 2:9 KJV) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
No man could ever ascend to the level of visually seeing God. We’ll not see God because God can’t be seen, He is invisible. Jesus Christ being God is the only one that can see Him. Now God represents Himself in the form of Jesus Christ in the world, and we will see Christ.
(John 5:37 KJV) And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
(1 John 4:12 KJV) No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Jesus is now the representation and manifestations of God. He said, no one can see [know] the Father except through [His face and appearance/ revelation] Him.
(Matthew 11:27 KJV) All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
(John 14:6-7 KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
What of angels? Didn't Jesus say that angels behold the face of God. The Bible also says the some angels stand in the presence of God.
(Matthew 18:10 KJV) Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
(Luke 1:19 KJV) And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
The references in the above verses are also in respect of the manifestations and appearances of the Father. To "behold the face of someone" is an expression which means to seek audience before another. To behold the face of my Father means to seek the audience of God. Even in His manifest presence, no one can behold His face and live.
(Revelation 7:11 KJV) And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God.
It is also worth of note that angels are created beings and that the Created cannot see that which is Uncreated? Only the Son and the Holy Ghost see the Father. Jesus two statements in Matthew 18:10 and John 1:18 are therefore not contradictory.
Have you ever wondered how Satan was able to deceive one-third of the angels when they lived in Heaven in the presence of God? Remember the Bible says there was war in Heaven. How is this so. How could Satan and many of the other angels reject God when they are in the very presence of God? The answer is in the statement of Jesus:
"God no one hath ever seen; the only begotten God, who is on the bosom of the Father -- he did declare."
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