The concept of the saints beholding King Christ is a profound theme woven throughout the Scriptures, reflecting the ultimate hope and fulfillment of the Christian faith. This entry explores the biblical basis for the anticipation that believers will one day see their King, Jesus Christ, in His full glory.

Biblical Foundation

The anticipation of seeing Christ is rooted in the promises of Scripture. In the Old Testament, the psalmist expresses a deep longing for the presence of God, which finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Psalm 17:15 declares, "As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with Your presence." This verse captures the yearning for a direct encounter with the divine, a theme that resonates throughout the Bible.

In the New Testament, the promise of seeing Christ is made explicit. Jesus Himself assures His followers of this future vision. In Matthew 5:8 , He states, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." This beatitude underscores the purity required to behold the divine presence, a purity made possible through Christ's redemptive work.

The Glorious Appearing

The Apostle Paul speaks of the glorious appearing of Christ, which the saints eagerly await. In Titus 2:13 , he writes, "while we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." This passage highlights the eschatological hope that believers will witness the return of Christ in majesty and power.

The Apostle John also emphasizes this future vision. In 1 John 3:2 , he assures believers, "Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is." This promise of transformation and direct vision of Christ is a cornerstone of Christian hope.

The Beatific Vision

The theological concept of the "beatific vision" refers to the ultimate direct encounter with God, which the saints will experience in eternity. This vision is not merely a physical sight but an intimate, transformative experience of God's presence. Revelation 22:4 provides a glimpse of this reality: "They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads." This imagery signifies the intimate relationship and identification with God that believers will enjoy.

The Role of Faith

While the saints await the future vision of Christ, faith plays a crucial role in the present. The Apostle Paul reminds believers in 2 Corinthians 5:7 , "For we walk by faith, not by sight." This faith sustains Christians as they anticipate the day when faith will give way to sight, and they will behold their King face to face.

The Transformative Power

The vision of Christ is transformative. As believers behold Him, they are changed into His likeness. Paul articulates this transformative process in 2 Corinthians 3:18 : "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." This ongoing transformation prepares the saints for the ultimate vision of Christ in glory.

Conclusion

The hope of seeing King Christ is a central tenet of the Christian faith, offering believers a future filled with joy, transformation, and eternal communion with their Savior. This vision is both a promise and a source of strength, encouraging the saints to persevere in faith as they await the glorious day when they shall behold their King.Isaiah 33:17
Your eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Revelation 22:3,4
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The King and his Armies.
... horns" of the beast, 13:1. So, when "the King of kings ... Lord in the air (1:Thess.4:
17), "when Christ, who is ... Lord my God shall come and all the saints with thee ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the king and his armies.htm

A vision of the King.
... of Peace" (Hebrews 7:2); "King of saints" (Revelation 15 ... He is not King of the church,
but the Head of ... Body, the church; Head and Body together, Christ and His ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the lord of glory/a vision of the king.htm

The Blessed Privilege of Seeing God Explained
... (i) Through Jesus Christ the dread ... 3:10), but as Queen Esther looked upon King Ahasuerus
holding ... dim and we need spectacles, but the saints shall always behold ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/17 the blessed privilege of.htm

The Great Preparatives for the Saints' Rest.
... 4. The last preparative for the saints' rest is their solemn coronation and receiving
the kingdom ... For as Christ, their head, is anointed both King and Priest ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter ii the great preparatives.htm

Of the Erythr??an Sibyl, who Pointed in a Prophetic Acrostic at ...
... verses, forming an acrostic in these words: Jesus Christ, Son of ... Earth's heavenly
king his glories shall display: ... Crowned with his saints, in human form appear ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xviii of the erythraean sibyl.htm

Psalm LXI.
... hath an end, is short: but of this King are days ... not only while these days pass away,
Christ reigneth in His Church, but the Saints shall reign together ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxi.htm

Christ Exalted
... should be done for the man whom the King delighteth to ... to the vote of heaven as to
whether Christ should be ... but still the suffrages of all the saints, and of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/christ exalted.htm

Coming to Christ
... "To whom coming." Peter speaks of all the saints as coming ... servants, or sit, like
Mordecai, in the king's court.' No ... that we, are to be going to Christ ere long ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/coming to christ.htm

That Worthy Name.
... Only Christ can give joy and comfort, peace and rest to ... King, the King of Israel,
King of Saints, King of Glory ... all the earth, King in His Beauty, King of Kings ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the lord of glory/that worthy name.htm

The Kingly Priesthood of the Saints
... Jesus, our Lord, is to be King of all the earth, and rule all nations in a glorious
spiritual, or personal ... The saints, as being kings in Christ, have a ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the kingly priesthood of the.htm

Is suffering for Christ always going to be a part of being a follower of Christ? | GotQuestions.org

How is the church the Body of Christ? | GotQuestions.org

Who am I in Christ? | GotQuestions.org

Christ: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus