"What is this 'train'?" my friend, Helen, inquired of me after she received the Latest Word message I sent her, which quoted Isaiah 6:1. We knew it certainly wasn't a train, a mode of transportation. She mentioned the train of a bride's garment. "Yes, that's more like it," I responded. Another friend, Betty, added, "I see it more as part of a bridal gown, an addition to the dress itself, following behind, of purest white, so bright, it glistens!"

"I almost drowned once." Betty continued, "While underwater, unable to breathe, I saw Someone. He was like the brightest light I'd ever seen! All I saw was below the neck and it was so bright, like looking into the sun, but not hurting my eyes. A deep peace and all-encompassing love came over me and then I found myself out of the water. I believe it was Jesus who saved me from drowning! Even today, I can close my eyes and feel the love and see the brilliance!"

It's all about the glory of the Lord. In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, I searched for the Greek word for "train". In the place of "…the train of His robe filled the temple," I found "…the house was full of His glory." According to the seminary scholar, the meaning of the word "train" in Hebrew is "hem". Either way, what Isaiah saw was so great a brightness, that only God, completely filling the temple or house of Himself, can describe the magnificence of this Glory!

The Transfiguration of Jesus in the New Testament, provides us with more descriptions of His glory.

"His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light."
(Matthew 17:2)

"His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow,
such as no launderer on earth can whiten them."
(Mark 9:3)

"And as He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered,
and His robe became white and glistening."
(Luke 9:29)

Paul describes his encounter with Jesus to King Agrippa and provides us with a further description of His glory:

"…at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me."
(Acts 26:13)

The Psalmist cries out,

"So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory."
(Psalm 63:2)

Both Old and New Testament confirm the same message!

"His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool."
(Daniel 7:9)

"His head and His hair were white like wool, as white as snow…"
(Revelation 1:14)

Finally, an extraordinary promise is given to us in the New Testament:

"When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
(Colossians 3:4)

I receive that!

SURRENDER TO RECEIVE

Persist. I have much to disclose
of the Spiritual life lived in Me.
I have come to teach
that your everyday life
is but a shadow
of what's to come.
My soon coming again
will be in My full glory.
As for now, what I give to you
is but a portion of the greater life.
When you consciously surrender
your hold on life, to Me,
then will I reveal all the more to you.

© Constance Vanides
September 24, 2004

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© Constance Vanides