Glory on the Mount, and Coming down of the Glory from Mount Sinai

February 4, 2024

By Mark Farquharson

The Israelites saw the Glory of God when it descended on Mt Sinai. There are those who teach that when the glory came to mount Sinai that this is when Pentecost came. However this is not the case for it had not descended to the people, as the holy spirit did when it came.

If we follow the pattern when the holy spirit came, then it should have descended to the Israelites as the holy spirit descended on the apostles. The apostles did not see the Holy spirit from above, they experienced the holy spirit when it descended on them.

Thus the glory needed to come down of the mountain. This happened after the second time Moses was up the mount for forty days and nights. Moses brought the glory down with him, for his face shone with the glory, Exodus 34:28-35. This should have happened after the first 40 days, but because the people worshipped another god, Moses did not bring the glory with him. Thus he had to repeat the action to show what would have happened.

The holy spirit descended to the apostles, Moses descended with the glory. If the glory is up on the mount then it has not descended to the people. While they could see it, they did not have the opportunity to experience it.

When Moses descended with the glory they did not what to see the glory. His face shone with the glory of God, Moses had to veil his face, thus hiding the glory from the people. The apostles did not have to hide the Holy Spirit from the people. The holy spirit was not to be observed from afar.

2 Corinthians 3:18 Now we all, with uncovered face, mirroring the Lord's glory, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the spirit." CLV

With Moses face covered he hid the glory of God, however those who are true believers in the Kingdom of God are being transformed and are not to hide the glory of God.

For more on when Pentecost occurs: True Count to Feast of Weeks, Pentecost