Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. –Hebrews 12:2

They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. –Acts 2:3

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” –Acts 10:1-3

“No one has ever seen God” (1 John 4:12). // “The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire...When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last” (Rev. 1:14, 17). These seemingly contradictory statements were both written by the apostle John. Did he make an innocent mistake in 1 John 4:12? Who knows. It had already been written that Moses saw God’s face (Num. 12:7-8). Although one thing is true, the apostle John eventually did see the glorified Jesus in Revelation 1:14; and probably the Father in Revelation 4. Of course, Ezekiel 1 and Isaiah 6 also have visions of God on his throne. Abraham spoke with God in human form along with two other angels (Gen. 18). Jacob even wrestled with God (Gen. 32:22-32). With all of these Scriptures, how could John say, “No one has ever seen God?” (1 John 4:12). He must’ve meant that no one has ever seen God in his most pure and unveiled form.

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“Angel Sparkles: Visions That Confirm Revelations”

Supernatural Lights

Daniel Jennings, The Supernatural Occurrences of John Wesley, ch. 11.

Richard Foster, Prayer, ch. 14: “Contemplative Prayer.”

Augustin Poulain, The Graces of Interior Prayer

Steve Thompson, You May All Prophesy

Teresa of Avila, Interior Castle

SermonIndex Podcasts

—. Leonard Ravenhill.

—. David Wilkerson.

—. A. W. Tozer.