The following is an attempt to capture the essence of the beatific vision with a much fuller, more technical discussion by Kyle Strobel on the link at the end.
The beatific vision (first God's own, than ours) creates eternal and infinite delight (happiness) because that which is most beautiful and delightful (God) is beheld, engaged and communed with (participated in).
We experience this vision now by faith (through a glass darkly...from a distance). The greater our faith the more we experience it. But in eternity we will experience it directly (face-to-face). As God reveals more of himself now, our capacity to experience him in eternity also increases.
The essence of the life of God is the giving and receiving of infinite glory/honor/love/ delight in and among the persons of the Godhead (Trinity). It is this foundational, primary, eternal, and infinite community of Glory/Beauty/Delight we too are designed for and called (offered) to participate in.
Our sharing and participation in this blissful vision and experience is our greatest joy/happiness. This, in turn, moves us to share this/him with others. As we do, our delight in him is further magnified and intensified.
Our sharing and participation in this blissful vision and experience is our greatest joy/happiness. This, in turn, moves us to share this/him with others. As we do, our delight in him is further magnified and intensified.
As God's image-bearers, our joy is God's greatest joy (outside of the joy he has always known and knows within himself as Father, Son, and Spirit).
It is ours only because it is first his.
Our taking part in and sharing (passing along..." paying it forward" if you will) his glory to others throughout the world not only brings God honor/glory but also gives him great joy, as well as us.
God delights in our delight in him and our sharing that delight with others. This is what he does (i.e. he delights in himself and the sharing of this delight. He is our delight). Partaking and delighting in Him is what we are also designed for. In this primary way (among other ways) we are just like him (in his image).
He does not wish to keep his glory to himself but desires it be multiplied throughout the earth, thereby increasing that glory - not by him becoming more glorious within himself - He is already infinitely glorious i.e. His glory cannot be taken away or added to - but in his glory being experienced by more people i.e. more broadly disseminated and in this sense multiplying his glory i.e. the experience of it among a greater number.
This is why he sends us and why we go.
All things are from him through him and to him. To him be the glory forever! Amen! (Rom 11:36)
Joh 16:14 He will glorify me -- display my infinite worth/beauty --, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine -- i.e. all that the Father has -- and declare it to you.
Joh_17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory -- majesty, beauty, infinite delight/joy -- that I had with you before the world existed.
Joh 17:13 But now I (Jesus) am coming to you (Father), and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy (delight) fulfilled in themselves
Joh_17:22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,
Joh_17:24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world (i.e. from all eternity past before anything was created there has been this dynamic, overflowing giving and receiving glory between the Father and Son in and by the Spirit. Christ came so we could participate in this in the same way they do).
A much fuller and more technical discussion of the beatific vision by Dr. Kyle Strobel is available here.
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Other posts related to beatific vision
The importance and necessity of the Trinity
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The following is a reproduction of Strobel's article with highlights and notes added by me. (endnotes are not included. For endnotes click here for the full article.
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Jim Deal