| The Christian Life | February 1941 |
A Heavenly Vision
“Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.”—Acts 26:19
THESE words of the Apostle Paul, addressed to a heathen king, constitute, in brief, the explanation of why he was before the king, answering to charges that had been made against him by the Jews. God had given Paul a vision, the significance of which to the apostle was that the remaining days of his life were to be spent in the service of the Christ whom, previously, he had persecuted and whose followers he had put to death. The far-reaching implications of this vision involve a relationship to the Lord which is illustrative of what similar visions from God have meant to all of His true servants throughout the ages.—Acts 26:16
Before being favored with this vision, Paul had been a student of the Old Testament Scriptures. He had been zealous of the faith of his fathers. He would have clearly in mind the many incidents of the past in which God favored His ancient prophets with special visions which were calculated to change the entire course of their lives. Being thus acquainted with the manner in which God singles out and authorizes His special servants to lay down their lives for Him, Paul knew instantly when he was struck down on the Damascus road that God had put His hand upon him, and was calling him to a great service. It was in response to this conviction that he lifted up his heart and voice to the Lord, saying “What wilt Thou have me to do?”—Acts 9:6
Paul knew that the Lord intended this vision to have more than a negative effect in his life. He knew it meant more than merely refraining from further persecutions of those who followed Jesus of Nazareth. It revealed that not only was he wrong in persecuting these Christians, but also that God was calling him to espouse His cause and theirs, and himself to die, if need be, as he had caused others to die because of their loyalty to Jesus, the Christ.
Paul might well have responded to the heavenly vision merely with a feeling of appreciation that God had called his attention to the wrong he was doing, and having it called to his attention, ceased from his wrong course and returned to his normal life as a Jewish lawyer. In the ordinary affairs of his life he might have had many opportunities to tell others of how marvelously the Lord had dealt with him and of how merciful the Lord had been in sparing him from the further humiliation of destroying His true people. He might also have, as opportunity afforded, borne witness that Jesus was indeed the Christ. All of this would have been good. But Paul knew that the vision meant more than this to him. He knew that God, through the vision, was calling him to devote all of the remainder of his life to serving the interests of the One whom, previously, he had persecuted.
WHOM SHALL I SEND?
Without doubt, Paul was well acquainted with Isaiah’s account of the vision with which God had favored him. This account is recorded in the sixth chapter of Isaiah’s prophecy. Isaiah tells us that, as this vision unfolded to him, he heard the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isaiah understood this to be a personal question addressed to hire, and he responded thereto in the affirmative, saying, “Here am I, send me.” Paul knew that the vision the Lord gave to him on the Damascus road contained an implication of the same question, and, in the same spirit of devotion to God manifested by Isaiah, he responded, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?”
Isaiah’s account of the vision given to him indicates that in substance it was a vision of God, a vision in which as the prophet says, “I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.” We are not to suppose from this that Isaiah saw God literally, because the Scriptures explain that no man can thus see God and live. It was, as the prophet explained, a vision of God. In varying degrees God has given a vision of Himself to all those whom. He has invited into His service. These visions have not always come while the individual was in a trance, or in other miraculous ways, but nevertheless, the heavenly vision method has always been the one employed by God in requisitioning those whom He desires to take into His confidence and use in His service.
In Isaiah’s vision, he saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, “high and lifted up.” Those to whom God has truly revealed Himself have always seen Him in this manner. No matter from what source or in what manner visions may come to us purporting to be of God, if they do not reveal Him as “high and lifted up,” they are not truly from Him. God has, never revealed Himself as a torment deity. He has never revealed Himself as degraded or in retreat before the forces of evil. God’s position has always been upon the throne, and those who have seen true visions of Him have been made to realize that He is a God whom they delight to worship and in whose service they are glad to spend their all.
“HIS TRAIN FILLED THE TEMPLE”
Not only did the prophet see the Lord high and lifted up, but he saw also that “His train filled the temple.” Obviously the prophet could get no other thought from what he saw than that the Lord’s presence and influence permeated and hallowed everything within the temple. This, in turn, would impress upon Isaiah’s mind the fact that if he were to become fully associated with the Lord, it could mean nothing else than that God and the will of God was to influence and dominate, from henceforth, his every thought and word and deed. There was to be no place for anything else in His life but God. If we are to be temples of the living God the same must be true of us.
If there could be still any doubt in the prophet’s mind as to the position of God and His holiness as the Creator of heaven and earth, the proclamation of the seraphims would reassure him, and, at the same time, lay more heavily upon him the implications of what he was seeing and hearing. These seraphims proclaimed, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah knew that, at the time he saw this vision, the whole earth was far from being filled with the glory of the Lord. But this assertion, nevertheless, would assure him that the time was yet coming when this would be true, and that in responding to the call of service, he would be joining a cause destined to certain and ultimate victory for all mankind.
Explaining further the progress of the vision, the prophet says that “the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.” This probably indicated to Isaiah ‘that the door of opportunity was opening for him to enter into the divine service. The prophet realized that he was utterly unworthy of the opportunity that was thus being suggested to him, and in deep sorrow and regret he said, “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.”
It is important to note the two thoughts which Isaiah puts together in the foregoing words, “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, … for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.” He knew this heavenly vision meant that he was being called into the divine service, but at the same time, as he considered the holiness of the One he was called to serve, he was struck with the sense of his own sins and his own lack of ability to enter upon such a sacred and exalted ministry. While he knew that he was being summoned to speak for God, yet he thought, and properly so, that being a man of “unclean lips,” he could not adequately and acceptably show forth the praises and the glory of the One whom the seraphims were proclaiming as “holy, holy, holy.”
But the vision progresses and Isaiah soon discovers that the Lord knew about his unclean lips, and that in spite of this He, nevertheless, was calling him to service. He realized, also, that the Lord did not intend to use his lips while they were unclean; but rather, had made provision whereby they could be made clean. Hence it was that, presently, Isaiah saw one of the seraphims come unto him “having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 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.” What wondrous grace is here manifested. It reveals God’s ability to use those who are imperfect by making a provision whereby they can serve Him in spite of the handicap of Adamic sin.
Properly enough, God did not extend the actual call to service until first of all He had given Isaiah the assurance that, in responding, his service would be acceptable. It is at this point that Isaiah hears the inquiry from the Lord, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Realizing that he was a man of unclean lips, Isaiah would have been presumptuous to have responded to this invitation had Dot the Lord previously given him the assurance that a provision was made whereby his lips could be made clean. Having this assurance, and being devoted in heart to God, Isaiah’s response was immediate and without reservation: “Here am I; send me.”
GOD’S APPROVAL NOT MEASURED BY RESULTS
When Isaiah responded in the affirmative to God’s invitation, indicating his willingness to go and speak for the Lord, he received his instructions as follows: “Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. … Then said I, Lord, how long? and He answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, and the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.”
From the human standpoint, this was not a very bright prospect for the prophet as he entered upon the divine service. Here the Lord was warning him that, in going forth in His service, he must not expect that the people would rally to the cause. He must expect, rather, that from the human viewpoint, his entire ministry may well seem to end in utter failure. But the Lord wanted Isaiah to know that he was to continue in the service even though no results were visible, He wanted Isaiah to go and speak for Him, irrespective of whether or not those who heard appreciated it. He wanted the prophet to sound forth His praises because he had seen His glory and could not refrain from proclaiming “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts.” Isaiah caught the meaning of what was implied in the vision and was faithful to it.
PAUL’S OBEDIENT RESPONSE
Paul’s vision came to him under different circumstances from those in which the Lord revealed Himself to Isaiah. Nevertheless; in principle, the import of the vision was the same. In it, Paul received a glimpse of the divine character which, to him, previously had not been apparent. The vision to which Paul later said he was not disobedient, did not all come to him on the Damascus road. It began there, but continued until, through it, he, too, like Isaiah, saw the glory of the Lord filling the temple, and heard the blessed proclamation, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts.” It was the effect of this vision which later caused the apostle to write in his letter to the Romans (11:33-36), “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! … Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things; to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”
Paul’s sense of his unworthiness to enter the divine service would be deeply impressed upon him by the details of the vision in which God called him to be an ambassador. Paul, in all good conscience, had been persecuting the Church of Christ. He had been in direct opposition to the purpose of God as it was then being worked out in the hearts and lives of His people. In persecuting the followers of Christ, he had been persecuting Christ Himself. Being an ardent Jew, he would, of course, be enthusiastic about the Messianic purpose; but now it was revealed to him that he was opposing that purpose. What humiliation!
As we trace the experiences of the great apostle, we cannot help being impressed with the truthfulness of his words spoken to the heathen king in which he explained that he had not been disobedient to the heavenly vision. From the time that he received the vision, until his sacrificial work was completed in Rome, Paul’s every talent was devoted to the work of glorifying God. This work led to suffering and privation, imprisonment and stripes, hunger and weariness, persecution and finally death, yet he never wavered in his determination to be obedient to the heavenly vision.
THE VISION OF PRESENT TRUTH
It is interesting, yea, thrilling, to note in the Scriptures the accounts of the visions which God gave to various of His servants from the days of Abel down to Paul. But even more vital to us, and certainly of more immediate significance, is the vision of Present Truth with which He has favored His people in this end of the age.
Abel was granted sufficient insight to the will of God to be able to exercise his faith in bringing a flesh and blood offering to the Creator. Enoch saw enough of the divine character and plan to enable him to forecast that the Lord would eventually come with myriads of His saints, to execute judgments in the earth. Enoch was faithful to this vision, the record being that he “walked with God.” Noah was given a vision, particularly concerning events then due, and in the faithful carrying out of his part in the divine arrangement for that time, co-operated with God in furnishing us valuable information pertaining to the signs of the time with which another world is now ending.
Abraham was given a vision in which he saw the divine purpose to be the blessing of all the families of the earth. How Abraham must have rejoiced in the knowledge of God’s character, which thus came to him in the revelation of such a far-reaching plan of blessing. God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, and continued thereafter to reveal to him many things in connection with His plan which was to be carried out through Israel for the blessing of mankind. How Moses must have rejoiced in the vision of God thus shown to him. Not only Isaiah but all the other prophets were likewise, and to a greater or less extent, taken into the divine confidence and used to further record the heavenly purposes winch, when understood, reveal the true character of our God.
When Jesus came, He was favored with a vision surpassing anything that had yet been experienced. To Him the heavens were opened and through the open heavens He certainly must have seen, as none other had ever seen, the glory of God. This vision was the inspiration of the Master’s life. For the joy that was thereby set before Him, He endured the cross and despised the shame, and is now set down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
All the apostles together with Paul, were favored with a heavenly vision. It did not come to all of them in the same way, nor under the same circumstances. But they all saw, nevertheless, the glory of God as that glory is revealed in the divine plan of salvation;
HEAVENLY VISIONS HARMONIOUS
The visions with which God favored His faithful people throughout the ages were always harmonious. They always had to do, in one way or another, with revealing the one glorious and eternal purpose as it centers in Christ Jesus, our Lord. The intent and purpose of these visions were measurably lost throughout the dark ages; at least, to all but a very limited few, and these few, constituting the true church, were compelled to flee into the wilderness, where they were nourished of God.
But finally God’s “due time” arrived to give a further, clearer and more wonderful vision to His faithful watchers who were again to know the “blessedness” of seeing His glory. Jesus had promised that when He returned He would gird Himself and come forth and serve His people. In fulfillment of this promise, a faithful servant, an individual, was selected to transmit the glory of the vision to the household of faith. The vision was not. given independent of the inspired Word, but by having the intent of that Word brought to light through the brightshining of the Master’s presence.
There was nothing new in the vision which was given to Brother Russell back in the early 70’s of the last century. But it was more resplendent in its glory than any single vision that had ever been given to God’s people previously, barring only that one which was given to the Master when the heavens were opened to Him. Such a statement is no exaggeration, because in the light of the vision itself, it is found to comprehend the significance of all the other visions.
As the vision has been transmitted to us, we discover it to encompass all that had been previously seen by Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and all the prophets. It affords the real understanding of what is meant by the statement that Jesus brought “life and immortality to life through the Gospel.” In it we see the true significance of what was revealed to Paul, when, in vision, he was caught up to the third heavens. It enables us to comprehend the significance of that wondrous vision Peter, James and John were given when they were with the Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration. It reveals the mystery, which is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” In it we find the true meaning of that which was revealed to, and spoken by the mouth of, all God’s holy prophets since the world began; namely, that glorious hope of restitution by and through which the voice of God has been heard throughout the ages.—Acts 3:19-21
Who can doubt, then, that this was a true vision of God? A vision in which He revealed the glory of His own dear self. A vision through which we see, today, our Heavenly Father as a God of love. A vision in which we see His marvelous and infinite wisdom. A vision in which His true justice and righteousness are understandable. A vision which shows the necessity of divine power for the carrying out of His loving designs for the blessing of all the families of the earth. It does not contradict any of the other visions; but rather, integrates and clarifies them. Yea, it harmonizes the implications of all the visions that previously had been given to the people of God and reveals their meaning to us in a manner so unmistakable that it surpasses anything of the kind hitherto given.
Yes, God has favored us with a vision; a vision of Himself, revealing to us His glorious character in a way that could not, otherwise, be so fully and clearly understood nor appreciated. But is that vision continuing to speak to us, as God spoke to Isaiah and Paul? Is it still saying to us, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” If we still hear that question being re-echoed in our hearts by means of the vision of Present Truth, are we continuing to respond in the words of Isaiah, “Here am I, Lord, send me”? If the vision is continuing to mean this to us are we responding to the opportunities of service, which divine Providence is setting before us? We hope so.
Isaiah did not ask how many converts he would make, if he answered the call to service. Paul did not respond to the vision on condition that the Lord would bless his efforts with immediate and apparent results. While some results did attend the apostle’s ministry, and he was blessed, indeed, with the privilege of establishing ecclesias in various parts of the then civilized world yet, in the end, Paul died alone, and in realization of the fact that many of those whom he had reached and loved and served, had turned away from him and become his enemies.
Our response to the heavenly vision must, likewise, be undertaken without consideration to the matter of whether or not our labor for the Lord will be rewarded with immediate fruitful results.
If we have properly understood the vision of truth, it will have revealed to us the fact that we are members of a fallen and condemned race, and that, in the filthy rags of our own righteousness, we could not render acceptable service to God. At the same time, if our faith can grasp the full sense of divine grace that is revealed in the vision, we will know that, through Christ, there is provided a robe of righteousness which covers our imperfections, and that in this robe we do have a standing before God, and can have the assurance that our imperfect works are acceptable to Him.
We will not, therefore, be deterred from responding to the vision with our whole hearts on the plea that we are not good enough. We will thank God for the justification that is made’ possible through the blood, and, in faith, devote ourselves fully to making known His glories as they have been revealed to us in the vision. We will realize that henceforth we are to be wholly devoted to showing forth the “praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Our response to the vision, moreover, will not be in word only, but in deed and in truth. We will respond at the cost of sacrifice, toil, weariness, persecution, pain, and finally, death. Our attitude will not be, Must I do this or that? but, May I sacrifice?
A MODERN EXAMPLE
Should we need any other example of the meaning of heavenly visions than that which is afforded in Jesus, Isaiah, Paul, and other servants of God who lived, suffered, and died in the past, we might well look to that “wise and faithful servant” through whom the vision of these last days has been transmitted to the household of faith. Brother Russell was long in doubt as to the true character and purpose of God. When the vision of God’s glory was given to him, he might well have received it with a negative appreciation and gone on about the ordinary affairs of life, satisfied that now he knew there was no eternal torment, and that God had provisions for the blessing of all the families of the earth. In this knowledge he could have rested contented, and as opportunity afforded, perhaps told others about it. But he knew that the vision meant more than this. He ‘knew that there was no way of really expressing his appreciation for the heavenly vision, except in terms of all that he had and all that he was and all that he had hoped to be.
So, in “all-out” obedience, without reservation he plunged into the service of God and remained in that service, despite the obstacles that confronted him at every turn of the road. He continued faithful, despite the opposition of nominal Churchianity, as well as oftentimes, the opposition of those who for a time, labored with him. He continued in obedient response to the vision despite the long hours which it often necessitated, despite ill-health, and the pain which racked his body increasingly as he neared the end of the way. This was Brother Russell’s conception of what it meant to respond to the vision of God.
As a result of his whole-hearted response, God was pleased to use him as the instrument through whom thousands of others including ourselves have been able to rejoice in the same heavenly vision. We, too, through Present Truth, have seen the Lord. We have seen Him in His glory and beauty, “high and lifted up”—we have recognized the evidences of the presence of the Prince of Peace. We can see the stately steppings of our God, as our King marches on to glorious victory in the full establishment of His Kingdom now so near.
What are we doing about it?
If we are accounted worthy of being associated with those who will have the privilege of being co-workers with God in glory, we must now continue our response to the heavenly vision in terms of full devotion to the Lord; a devotion which will not permit us to stop short of surrendering all that we have the divine service, to the glory of the Lord.