Blessed are THE PURE IN HEART:
for they SHALL SEE GOD.
–Matthew 5:8 (KJV)–

I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was IN THE ISLE that is called Patmos, FOR THE WORD OF GOD, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I WAS IN THE SPIRIT on the Lord’s day, AND HEARD BEHIND ME A GREAT VOICE, as of a trumpet.
–Revelation 1:9-10 (KJV)–

At that time THE WORD OF GOD CAME
to John son of Zechariah IN THE DESERT.
–Luke 3:2 (GNT)–

THE SPIRIT LED JESUS INTO THE DESERT to be tempted by the devil…Then Jesus answered, “Go away, Satan! THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!’” Then the devil left Jesus;
AND ANGELS CAME AND HELPED HIM.
–Matthew 4:1, 10-11 (GNT)–

—

Bernard McGinn, The Foundations of Mysticism (Crossroad, 1991), pp. 100-101, 133.

Ronald Kydd, Charismatic Gifts in the Early Church (Hendrickson, 1984).

Jeff Doles, Miracles and Manifestations of the Holy Spirit In the History of the Church (Walking Barefoot Ministries, 2007), chs. 1-4.

Eddie Hyatt, 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity (Charisma House, 2002), chs. 1-5.

Cecil Robeck, Charismatic Experiences in History (Hendrickson, 1986).

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 4. Old Man: Is there, then, such and so great power in our mind? Or can a man not perceive by sense sooner? Will the mind of man see God at any time, if it is uninstructed by the Holy Spirit?

Justin: Plato indeed says that the mind’s eye is of such a nature, and has been given for this end, that we may see that very Being when the mind is pure itself, who is the cause of all discerned by the mind, having no color, no form, no greatness— nothing, indeed, which the bodily eye looks upon; but It is something of this sort, he goes on to say, that is beyond all essence, unutterable and inexplicable, but alone honourable and good, coming suddenly into souls well-dispositioned, on account of their affinity to and desire of seeing Him.

Old Man: What affinity, then, is there between us and God? Is the soul also divine and immortal, and a part of that very regal mind? And even as that sees God, so also is it attainable by us to conceive of the Deity in our mind, and thence to become happy?

Justin: Assuredly.

Old Man: And do all the souls of all living beings comprehend Him? Or are the souls of men of one kind and the souls of horses and of asses of another kind?

Justin: No. But the souls which are in all are similar.

Old Man: Then, shall both horses and asses see, or have they seen at some time or other, God.

Justin: No, for the majority of men will not, saving such as shall live justly, purified by righteousness, and by every other virtue.

Old Man: It is not, therefore, on account of his affinity, that a man sees God, nor because he has a mind, but because he is temperate and righteous?

Justin: Yes, and because he has that whereby he perceives God.

Old Man: What then? Do goats or sheep injure any one?

Justin: No one in any respect.

Old Man: Therefore these animals will see [God], according to your account.

Justin: No; for their body being of such a nature, is an obstacle to them.

Old Man: If these animals could assume speech, be well assured that they would with greater reason ridicule our body; but let us now dismiss this subject, and let it be conceded to you as you say. Tell me, however, this: Does the soul see [God] so long as it is in the body, or after it has been removed from it?

Justin: So long as it is in the form of a man, it is possible for it to attain to this by means of the mind; but especially when it has been set free from the body, and being apart by itself, it gets possession of that which it was wont continually and wholly to love.

Old Man: Does it remember this, then [the sight of God], when it is again in the man?

Justin: It does not appear to me so.

Old Man: What, then, is the advantage to those who have seen [God]? Or what has he who has seen more than he who has not seen, unless he remember this fact, that he has seen?

Justin: I cannot tell.

Old Man: And what do those suffer who are judged to be unworthy of this spectacle?

Justin: They are imprisoned in the bodies of certain wild beasts, and this is their punishment.

Old Man: Do they know, then, that it is for this reason they are in such forms, and that they have committed some sin?

Justin: I do not think so.

Old Man: Then these reap no advantage from their punishment, as it seems: moreover, I would say that they are not punished unless they are conscious of the punishment.

Justin: No indeed.

Old Man: Therefore souls neither see God nor transmigrate into other bodies; for they would know that so they are punished, and they would be afraid to commit even the most trivial sin afterwards. But that they can perceive that God exists, and that righteousness and piety are honourable, I also quite agree with you.

Justin: You are right.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies 4.20.7. Therefore the Son of the Father declares [Him] from the beginning, inasmuch as He was with the Father from the beginning, who did also show to the human race prophetic visions, and diversities of gifts, and His own ministrations, and the glory of the Father, in regular order and connection, at the fitting time for the benefit [of mankind]. For where there is a regular succession, there is also fixedness; and where fixedness, there suitability to the period; and where suitability, there also utility. And for this reason did the Word become the dispenser of the paternal grace for the benefit of men, for whom He made such great dispensations, revealing God indeed to men, but presenting man to God, and preserving at the same time the invisibility of the Father, lest man should at any time become a despiser of God, and that he should always possess something towards which he might advance; but, on the other hand, revealing God to men through many dispensations, lest man, falling away from God altogether, should cease to exist. For the glory of God is a living man; and the life of man consists in beholding God. For if the manifestation of God which is made by means of the creation, affords life to all living in the earth, much more does that revelation of the Father which comes through the Word, give life to those who see God.