Glory

The glory of Lebanon was its trees, Isa. 60:13; that of Solomon was his kingly splendor, Matt. 6:29. The word may be briefly defined as manifested excellence. Its most important use in Scripture is with reference to God and Christ in the visible bright effulgence of their deity.

The first mention of the glory of the Lord, at the giving of the manna, describes it as like devouring fire, Ex. 16:7, 10; 24:17. It is likened to a bright rainbow with a Man on a throne at its center in Ezek. 1:26-28.

The glory of the Lord seen in the tabernacle and temple was called by the Jews the Shekinah, from a root meaning to tabernacle or to dwell. Amazingly, the Hebrew word in Ex. 40:33, 34 and the Greek word in John 1:14; Rev. 21:3 are formed of the same consonants. God’s glory was reluctantly withdrawn from the people of Israel because of their sin, Ezek. 9:3; 10:4, 18; 11:23, 24.

When the glory returns at the time of the inauguration of the kingdom it is seen to be a Person, Ezek. 43:2-6, identified as the Lord Jesus Christ in Jas. 2:1, AV marg. God’s glory, an unseen treasure in the hearts of believers now, 2 Cor. 4:6, 7, will become visible to the universe when they appear with Christ in glory at His return to the earth, Col. 3:4; Rev. 21:9-11.

William Evans, The Great Doctrines of the Bible, (Chicago: Bible Institute Colportage Assoc., 1912), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 293.

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