FACE TO FACE WITH GOD

Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Genesis 32:24

So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Genesis 32:30

Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the Lord. So Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face.” Judges 6:22

THE ANGEL OF THE LORD

Whenever someone received a visit from “the angel of the LORD,” this was in fact the pre-incarnate Christ. The visible appearances of God in human or angelic form in the Old Testament, is actually the Son of God manifesting Himself prior to His incarnation.

Jacob and Gideon had seen the pre-incarnate Jesus face to face.

The LORD (Yehovah) would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. Exodus 33:11

The LORD (Yehovah) would speak to Moses face to face.

And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." Exodus 33:19-20

THE FACE OF GOD

Although these passages concerning Moses seeing the face of the LORD may seem to contradict one another, “The face of God” may mean here God's real and true self. The inference being that no-one can look on God as he is in his total purity and majesty.

The Dictionary of Bible Themes defines the expression, “The face of God” as a term used to refer to the character of God, especially his favor towards his people. For God to turn his face to his people is to offer them his grace and help; for God to turn his face against his people is to withhold his favor and blessing. To seek the face of God is to seek his favor.

THE FACE OF JESUS

The gospel writers frequently mention the face of Jesus Christ.

On the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter, James, and John saw how "his face did shine as the sun" (Matthew 17:2), as He spoke of His forthcoming death. Shortly after this, "he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51) to meet His death.

A few days after His entrance into Jerusalem, He was delivered into the hands of wicked men who took delight in desecrating that face which, in loving grief, had just wept over the city and its indifference to God. But first, in the garden just before His arrest, He "fell on his face" in agonizing prayer (Matthew 26:39).

Then the Roman soldiers began "to cover his face" [they blindfolded Jesus] (Mark 14:65), and to "spit in his face" (Matthew 26:67), and finally, "they struck him on the face" (Luke 22:64). In fact, they abused Him so severely that "his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men" (Isaiah 52:14). The New Living Translation reads, “His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human.”

WHEN HE COMES AGAIN

But when He comes again, the Christ-rejecting world will cry out to the mountains to "fall on us, and hide us from the face . . . of the Lamb . . . from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away" (Revelation 6:16; 20:11). All the redeemed, on the other hand, will rejoice forever in "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6).

and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. Revelation 1:13-16

No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Revelation 22:3-4

This is the last reference in the Bible to the face of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a glorious promise it is, with its assurance we His servants will finally see Him face to face!

As a Jewish believer in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God, I have an understanding of the Hebrew culture, mindset, and the context in which the Scriptures were given. I have posted a series called, "Revealing the Mysteries of the Bible" that I hope will bless you.

"Revealing the Mysteries of the Bible"

Part I - Introduction:
https://steemit.com/christianity/@lastdays/revealing-the-mysteries-of-the-bible

Part II - "Hebrew Pictogaphs"
https://steemit.com/christianity/@lastdays/hebrew-pictographs

Part III - Numerical Values of the Hebrew Letters
https://steemit.com/christianity/@lastdays/numerical-values-of-hebrew-letters

Part IV - Puzzling Questions in the New Testament Answered
https://steemit.com/christianity/@lastdays/puzzling-questions-in-the-new-testament-answered

Part V - The Trinity Revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures
https://steemit.com/christianity/@lastdays/the-trinity-revealed-in-the-hebrew-scriptures

Part VI - The Mystery of God Accomplished at the Rapture
https://steemit.com/christianity/@lastdays/the-mystery-of-god-accomplished-at-the-rapture

Part VII - WHAT DO “HALLELUJAH,” “SHALOM,” AND “AMEN” REALLY MEAN?
https://steemit.com/christianity/@lastdays/what-do-hallelujah-shalom-and-amen-really-mean