What transpires as humanity moves toward the culmination of all things is astounding. Scripture reveals that more glory and wonder of the Lord will manifest in the earth, culminating in a great awareness of His presence.
The Bible reminds us that the great tragedy in the Garden of Eden was not just sin, but the fact that man had “fallen short of the glory” (Rom. 3:23). Although many have “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man” (Rom. 1:22-23), this tragic estrangement was never God’s intention.
From the ancient days all the way until now, glory has been inching closer.
The Hebrew prophets had much to say about this. They envisioned a day when God’s glory would be all-consuming, impacting the nations and transforming the cosmos.
For example, Isaiah prophesied the following decree of the Lord, “I will gather all nations and peoples together, and they will see my glory” (Is. 66:18). In a similar way Habakkuk proclaimed, “For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the LORD” (Hab. 2:14). Each of these anointed mouthpieces insisted that the glory would be ultimately realized on the earth.
Overlooked by many, this reality began to emerge during the time of the New Testament. Through the person and work of Jesus, a great shifting took place. Strongholds of darkness were torn down. God’s presence was increasingly experienced on a level that rivaled ancient encounters in the garden.
Reflecting on this wondrous reality, The Apostle Paul boldly declared: “We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18).
It appears that many are driven by concerns about darkness. They’re not cognizant of the ever-increasing glory. They’re blind to the fact that they’re actually living in the age that the prophets longed for.
Everybody keeps asking, “When are we going to experience God’s glory?” They don’t realize that the day of the Lord’s presence has already begun. If we would only open up our hearts, we would finally discover the desire of the ages.
J.D. King is the international director of the World Revival Network. A frequent speaker and author, follow J.D. on Twitter.
