God is a Spirit. No one has seen God at any time. How then does the Bible speak of seeing God's face? The face of God is his spiritual presence and approval. It is the privilege and blessing of forgiven man.
Sin Turns Away God's Face
Sin, turns away the face of God from us. "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you." (Isa. 59:2). These words, spoken to Israel, demonstrate that not only does sin hide from us the face of God, it also separates.
Isaiah brings charges against Israel for their sins. They attempt to cover themselves with their own "works", i.e. human efforts to absolve sin. However, like the fig leaves sewn by Adam and Eve, he says their works will not cover them, (59:6).
They committed violence, made haste to shed innocent blood, and constantly thought iniquity and destruction.
Separation is Death
James wrote that as body without the spirit is dead, so faith with out works is dead. The essence of death is separation, a spiritual disconnect with God. Thus, one from whom God's face is hidden is also dead. That means the essence of seeing God's face is resurrection from death.
Understanding Heavenly Things
Man, wrapped up in earthly garb, tends to think earthly about spiritual matters, (1 Cor. 2:13-14). To most, dying is about the expiration of the physical body. That is death, but not the most critical death. In fact, that could be more styled as a transition, especially for the righteous, (Rev. 14:13).
Real death occurs even while one yet lives. "But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives." (1 Tim. 5:8). See also Eph. 2:1). It is the latter which hides the face of God from us.
The Promise of Seeing God's Face
Having transgressed and disobeyed God Israel received grace and mercy through the Lord. Through their Redeemer, God would turn away the transgression in Jacob. "The Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob, says the Lord. "As for Me," says the Lord, "this is My covenant with them:" (Isa. 59:20).
Paul applies this prophecy to Israel, saying that God would save Israel by the Deliverer who comes out of Zion, to turn away ungodliness from Jacob. "For this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins." (Rom. 11:26-27).
Arise and Shine
God then tells Israel to Arise and Shine for your light has come, (Isa. 60:1). Israel's sins now removed they once again enter God's presence. However, they come not alone, but renewed and with the Gentiles as the mystery of God in one body, (Isa. 60:3)
The rising here is their resurrection. They are no longer separated from God in death, but reunited through their Redeemer, the Messiah, or Christ. They with the Gentiles, united together in the one body of Christ, stand before God's throne without fault, and forgiven.
There is no more curse, they see God's face and His name is on their foreheads, (Rev. 20:3-4). It is this message of salvation, fulfilled at Christ's coming in AD 70, to which God calls the world, a message of healing for the nations, an opportunity, a blessing and privilege to see the face of God.
