Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical context, "appearances" often refer to the manifestations of God, angels, or other divine beings to humans, as well as the physical presence or appearance of individuals. These appearances serve as significant events that convey messages, reveal divine will, or demonstrate God's power and presence.Divine Appearances 1. Theophanies: Theophanies are appearances of God to humans. One of the most notable theophanies is God's appearance to Moses in the burning bush. In Exodus 3:2, it is written, "The Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed." This appearance marked the beginning of Moses' mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. 2. Christophanies: These are pre-incarnate appearances of Christ in the Old Testament. An example is found in Genesis 18, where the LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre. Abraham saw three men standing nearby, one of whom is often interpreted as a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. 3. Angelophanies: Angels frequently appear in the Bible to deliver messages or provide guidance. In Luke 1:11-13, the angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah to announce the birth of John the Baptist: "Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear. But the angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.'" Appearances of Jesus Christ 1. Post-Resurrection Appearances: After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and others to confirm His victory over death. In John 20:19, it is recorded, "On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!'" 2. Transfiguration: The transfiguration of Jesus is a significant event where His divine glory was revealed to Peter, James, and John. Matthew 17:2 states, "There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light." Human Appearances 1. Physical Appearance: The Bible occasionally describes the physical appearance of individuals to highlight their character or role. For instance, Saul is described in 1 Samuel 9:2 as "an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the others." 2. Spiritual Appearance: The New Testament emphasizes the importance of inner spiritual beauty over outward appearance. In 1 Peter 3:3-4, it is written, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight." Appearances in Visions and Dreams 1. Prophetic Visions: Prophets often received divine messages through visions. In Isaiah 6:1, Isaiah describes his vision of the Lord: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of His robe filled the temple." 2. Dreams: God sometimes communicated through dreams, as seen in the account of Joseph. In Genesis 37:5-7, Joseph dreams of his future rise to prominence, which eventually leads to his role in saving Egypt and his family from famine. Throughout the Bible, appearances serve as a means for God to interact with humanity, revealing His plans, providing guidance, and demonstrating His power and presence. These events are pivotal in the unfolding of the biblical narrative and the fulfillment of God's promises. Library Stories are Told of Certain Appearances or visions... A Doubt Raised About Divine Appearances. Christ's Appearances in Galilee; to the Seven on the Sea of ... For There are Different Appearances, as it Were, of the Word... Of Certain Outward Temptations and Appearances of Satan. Of the ... Now, that Miraculous Appearances have Sometimes Been Witnessed by ... Ninth and Tenth Appearances of Jesus. Third and Fourth Appearances of Jesus. First and Second Appearances of the Risen Christ. The Resurrection ... The Essence of God Never Appeared in Itself. Divine Appearances to ... Thesaurus Appearances (10 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance Appearances (10 Occurrences). ... John 8:15 You judge according to appearances: I am judging no one. (WEY). ... /a/appearances.htm - 9k Angel (209 Occurrences) Know (8133 Occurrences) Knowledge Borrowing (1 Occurrence) Discrepancies James (40 Occurrences) Logos Shine (62 Occurrences) Resurrection (42 Occurrences) Resources Do angels appear to people today? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Hallucination Theory? | GotQuestions.org What does it mean that God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7)? | GotQuestions.org Appearances: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Appearances (10 Occurrences)John 7:24 John 8:15 2 Corinthians 5:12 2 Corinthians 10:7 Ezekiel 1:16 Ezekiel 10:10 Ezekiel 10:22 Ezekiel 43:3 Nahum 2:4 Malachi 1:9 Subtopics Related Terms |
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