Johannes Maccovius, Theological Distinctions XXI.
James Dodson
Chapter XXI
Of Glorification
I. Glorification will be the same in nature, not in degree.
This is clear from Daniel 10, where those who rise again are compared partly to the firmament, partly to the stars.
II. We will see God, not absolutely as He is, but as He is disposed toward us.
1 John 3 says, “We shall see God as He is.” But this is not to be understood absolutely; rather, we will see Him most perfectly insofar as He has most perfectly declared Himself toward us. That is, we will know perfectly what and how great the benefits are which He has bestowed upon us.
III. In the future life there will be knowledge among men, both of the blessed, and of those—
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—who lived together, and of all others.
John 19 testifies this, where it is said, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” That we will also recognize others whom we have not known is clear from Matthew 17, where Moses and Elijah were seen conversing with Christ; for it is said of Peter that he knew them, and that he said to Christ, “Let us make three tabernacles,” etc.
IV. Salvation consists both in deliverance from evil and in eternal life.
Salvation is an aggregate being; for it denotes two things: deliverance from evil and the giving of good. And indeed the former is the cause of the latter: the holy life of each one is the cause.
V. Life is distinguished from salvation.
Eternal life belongs to angels absolutely; but it does not belong to us absolutely, but as salvation.