“For now we see
through a glass, darkly;
but then face to face:
now I know in part;
but then shall I know
even as also I am known.”
(1 Corinthians 13:12)
As clear and evident as the Revelation of Jesus Christ had been to the disciples and the people who gathered around Him, still there was more to come. The Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles at Pentecost, and gave them the power to speak in tongues, (“as the Spirit gave them utterance“) (Acts 2:4). Explaining this phenomenon, Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians that knowledge and interpretation were even more important than speaking in tongues. And he confessed that he could not see Christ face to face. His knowledge was partial.
“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” (1 Corinthians 13:9-10)
When Christ returns, we shall see Him face to face. We expect Him to reveal to us more knowledge, complete knowledge. To merit this favor, we must prepare ourselves and fill the lamps of our hearts and minds with the pure oil of wisdom, so that we are ready to meet the bridegroom. We must prepare ourselves to receive words such as these:
“Verily I say, this is the Day in which mankind can behold the Face, and hear the Voice, of the Promised One. The Call of God hath been raised, and the light of His countenance hath been lifted up upon men. It behoveth every man to blot out the trace of every idle word from the tablet of his heart, and to gaze, with an open and unbiased mind, on the signs of His Revelation, the proofs of His Mission, and the tokens of His glory.” (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 10)
He is calling us, inviting us to look upon the signs of His Revelation, to consider the proofs of His Mission, and to behold the tokens of His glory.