Review: To Gaze upon God: The Beatific Vision in Doctrine, Tradition, and Practice By Samuel G. Parkison

by on May 1, 2025 | Comment

Eschatology is one of those perennially discussed (and often debated) topics in Christian theology that, in my estimation, can often miss the main point by getting caught in the details. Usually, the first question it prompts is about what someone’s view of the millennium is, with the close follow up being about how national Israel fits into the picture. Although those issues are certainly of great importance, they miss the main question that ought to be wrapped up into our eschatological views: What happens at the end of all things in reference to our relationship with God?

Samuel Parkison takes up the question to answer it resolutely: the great goal of all things is that believers will see God. The tradition of the church has called this doctrine the beatific vision because that sight of God after we have been fully cleansed of sin will be one that is most happy and will instill entire blessedness. This book is then a profound reminder that as we fulfill our chief end to glorify God and to enjoy him forever, we will do so in measure as we see him.

The outline of this book works through biblical foundations, historical formulations, and theological construction. Although sometimes that well-worn outline can prove to be cliché and tired, not serving to further the aims of the book effectively, this book is greatly helped by leaning upon that model. Because this doctrine is unfamiliar to many, this format helps orient readers to the topic in a step-by-step fashion without throwing them too soon into the deep end.

Thus, one of this book’s great strengths is its method of orienting us to the issues in this doctrine. By establishing a basic biblical-theological outline as a first port of call, Parkison shows us that Scripture teaches us something of this doctrine. Hence, it does deserve our attention. The following analysis of historical precedents in the broader tradition and the Reformed tradition gives insight into the issues that developed as various theologians attempted to provide a thicker explanation of this biblical teaching specifically in relating it to other doctrines. This history, so to speak, lays out the buffet so that we know what is even on the menu. The subsequent theological construction provides direction on what we truly ought to order.

Parkison brings two great strengths to this material. First, he gives enough detail without overwhelming and without becoming tedious. Too often, sections of historical examination can feel like book reports. This volume uses this section effectively to show us what questions we need to ask concerning the best formulation of this doctrine of the beatific vision.

Second, Parkison is a master at using what is good in the sources he considers to build upon in constructive directions. Too often, theologians look to historical precedent simply to find something to criticize. Even more, we too often read our contemporaries with a primary view to finding their mistakes. Parkison, rightly and most helpfully as I see it, focuses on what is thought-provoking and usable in other people’s work, even if he has serious disagreement with other aspects of their argument. He shows us the best of using what is helpful without adopting an all-or-nothing approach. His irenicism is exemplary and his book proves more helpful and more incisive because of it.

The standout of this work is that it raises questions about how the beatific vision relates to other facets of our salvation. It is always a dangerous move to review a book by someone whom you consider to be your friend, but I am glad that I took the chance in this case. Sam’s section on the doctrine of justification and imputed righteousness had my heart soaring. His clarity on how these issues relate to our anthropology, specifically in his rejection of Rome’s doctrine of the donum superadditum, is stellar. I was gladdened and impressed at each stage of the discussion about connecting the beatific vision to truly Protestant soteriology.

Without naming the following items as criticisms of the work, some of the other items left me with questions to ponder. I do not presently have objections to what Parkison argues in this book on these matters, but I need to let them simmer longer to come to a clearer mind of my own. In fact, far from a criticism, the best books leave us with things to consider more deeply in our own reflection.

The issues the come to the fore are the Christological connection of the beatific vision, the nature of the beatific vision as ocular or intellectual, and the relation of the beatific vision to rewards in heaven. Concerning the first, is our experience of the beatific vision only inasmuch as we see Christ, or will we behold the triune God more fully? On the second, is the beatific vision something we experience because of our eyes and physical sight, or is it something more intuitive, located in our mind? Regarding the third, do believers have various capacities for the joy of the beatific vision correlated to variable heavenly rewards? In each, Parkison shows himself deft at warding off false dichotomies. In that skill, he leaves us with great things to consider and for our ongoing rumination. As a closing remark, I note that I personally am convinced—even though it is a minority position that I hold with Kevin DeYoung1—that believers will experience invariable rewards, meaning that heaven is not tiered in how much reward our earthly works accumulate. Even here, however, Parkison’s case that we will all continually and perpetually experience an ever-deepening state of blessedness in everlasting life as we contemplate the beatific vision opens up new doors to overcome some superficial aspects that have troubled me about most presentations of the variable-rewards view.

Notes

  1. Kevin DeYoung, Daily Doctrine: A One-Year Guide to Systematic Theology (Wheaton, IL: Crossway: 2024), 357–58.

©Harrison Perkins. All Rights Reserved.

Samuel G. Parkison, To Gaze upon God: The Beatific Vision in Doctrine, Tradition, and Practice (Lisle, IL: IVP Academic, 2024).

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