But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord

2 Cor3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (KJV)

The glory of the Lord cannot be fully understood by us at the moment. But there will be a time when we will behold the Lord's Glory and it will shine through us as if we are transparent. This is the promise of God and we will one day be made into His image, by the Holy Spirit.

With unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord

2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

This verse reminds us that as we walk in the Spirit, He will transform us into the image of God from glory to glory. This makes a lot of sense because when we are close to someone, we also become like that person, as seen in husbands and wives who have been together for a long time.

To be in the image of God should be nothing surprising since from the very beginning in Genesis, it says that we are made in the image of God. It is not just having a form like God, but also the spirit like God. This may be difficult to imagine if we think we are such terrible sinners. However, with the Spirit's help, we are supposed to be more God-like in our spirit, because after all, He is our Heavenly Father.

It is useful then to hold up a spiritual mirror from time to time to check on our image. We need to ask ourselves: are we becoming more like God or more unlike Him.

They have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name

Revelation 14:6-13

John saw three angels flying in Heaven. The messages of the angels were very clear. The first message is to glorify God and call to worship, even as His judgment is coming. The second angel announce the fall of Babylon. The third message specifically relates to the Anti-Christ Beast, that anyone who received the Mark of the Beast, will face the full wrath of God and suffer for eternity. To receive the Mark of the Beast is an act of worship of the Beast, hence the eternal punishment.

It seems at first that the angels were flying to warn people of the Judgment and the consequences of worshipping the Beast in the End Times. However, the angels are in fact flying in heaven, as described by John. It is possible that God may command the angels to give these warnings on earth during the End Times, but there is no indication of this view. In fact the first two messages has always been given to God's people to spread to others throughout the history of Israel. The final message about not receiving the Beast has been written in the New Testament Scriptures for almost two thousand years of Y'shua's followers to tell others. In other words, there is no need to make angels visible and for them to broadcast the message to the whole earth. All people on earth should already know these three messages before the Last Days.

And then in verse 13, there is comforting words for those who resist the Beast in the Last Days. If Rapture happened first, then those left behind can still choose to follow Y'shua, be blessed and finally have rest after they are destroyed from this world.

He has Established the World by His Wisdom

The Lord calls on the people not to follow the ways of the Gentiles. In particular, God is referring to the practice of worshipping the gods of the Gentiles, hence idolatry. God describes how the idols are built and decorated with mortal hands and there is no life in them. This is in contrast to the God of Israel who is King of all nations. The Lord is true and living God, everlasting King.

God is described as the creator of the universe and everything in it including the earth, the sky and the seas. Any attempt to represent Him with an image is futile. Then God is identified with Israel as the tribe of His inheritance. His name is given as the Lord of Hosts. Again there is a warning of the coming invasion and captivity of Judah. It will be a time of great distress and the land will be made desolate.




Jeremiah 10
Idols and the True God

1 Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel.

2 Thus says the Lord:

“Do not learn the way of the Gentiles;
Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven,
For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.
3 For the customs of the peoples are futile;
For one cuts a tree from the forest,
The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.
4 They decorate it with silver and gold;
They fasten it with nails and hammers
So that it will not topple.
5 They are upright, like a palm tree,
And they cannot speak;
They must be carried,
Because they cannot go by themselves.
Do not be afraid of them,
For they cannot do evil,
Nor can they do any good.”
6 Inasmuch as there is none like You, O Lord
(You are great, and Your name is great in might),
7 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations?
For this is Your rightful due.
For among all the wise men of the nations,
And in all their kingdoms,
There is none like You.
8 But they are altogether dull-hearted and foolish;
A wooden idol is a worthless doctrine.
9 Silver is beaten into plates;
It is brought from Tarshish,
And gold from Uphaz,
The work of the craftsman
And of the hands of the metalsmith;
Blue and purple are their clothing;
They are all the work of skillful men.
10 But the Lord is the true God;
He is the living God and the everlasting King.
At His wrath the earth will tremble,
And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.
11 Thus you shall say to them: “The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens.”

12 He has made the earth by His power,
He has established the world by His wisdom,
And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.
13 When He utters His voice,
There is a multitude of waters in the heavens:
“And He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain,
He brings the wind out of His treasuries.”[a]
14 Everyone is dull-hearted, without knowledge;
Every metalsmith is put to shame by an image;
For his molded image is falsehood,
And there is no breath in them.
15 They are futile, a work of errors;
In the time of their punishment they shall perish.
16 The Portion of Jacob is not like them,
For He is the Maker of all things,
And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance;
The Lord of hosts is His name.


The Coming Captivity of Judah

17 Gather up your wares from the land,
O inhabitant of the fortress!
18 For thus says the Lord:

“Behold, I will throw out at this time
The inhabitants of the land,
And will distress them,
That they may find it so.”
19 Woe is me for my hurt!
My wound is severe.
But I say, “Truly this is an infirmity,
And I must bear it.”
20 My tent is plundered,
And all my cords are broken;
My children have gone from me,
And they are no more.
There is no one to pitch my tent anymore,
Or set up my curtains.
21 For the shepherds have become dull-hearted,
And have not sought the Lord;
Therefore they shall not prosper,
And all their flocks shall be scattered.
22 Behold, the noise of the report has come,
And a great commotion out of the north country,
To make the cities of Judah desolate, a den of jackals.
23 O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself;
It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
24 O Lord, correct me, but with justice;
Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.
25 Pour out Your fury on the Gentiles, who do not know You,
And on the families who do not call on Your name;
For they have eaten up Jacob,
Devoured him and consumed him,
And made his dwelling place desolate.