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b) The Lord Emerges From His Seclusion
REVELATION 1:12-16
12 I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Having turned, I saw seven golden lamp stands. 13 And among the lamp stands was one like a son of man, clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 His head and his hair were white as white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters. 16 He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
The Seven Lamps: When John turned around and looked behind him, in order to see the source of the loud voice, he initially saw seven lamps. Their flickering flames were reflected in the golden lampstands. The number seven reminds us of the seven-pronged lamps in the tabernacle (Exodus 25:31-40), which became a symbol for the scattering of the Jews throughout the world after the destruction of Jerusalem. However, each of the seven lamps in John’s vision stood alone and was not connected to the others.
The Glorious Son of Man: In the midst of the circle of lamps stood an exalted figure, the name of whom – The Son of Man – points us to the previously-mentioned prophecy in Daniel 7:13-14 and to the 124 references to the Son of Man by Jesus Christ in the four accounts of the Gospel. Half of these references to the Son of Man describe Christ’s lowliness and humility, as He was in the process of fulfilling His work of salvation (Matthew 20:28). The other half of the references to the Son of Man describe Jesus’ great glory at His return (Matthew 16:27; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; John 17:24).
John had already seen his Lord transfigured on Mount Hermon, near Caesarea Philippi. The disciple recognized the eternal love of Christ shown at His crucifixion, and he began his account of the Gospel with the following words: “… and we behold His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The glory of Jesus Christ that John beheld while on the island of Patmos outshone and exceeded all John’s previous visions and realizations.
A long, flowing robe covered the body of the Son of Man. It was bound by a golden sash around the midsection. Under the Old Covenant, the high priest wore a tablet on his white robe that had twelve precious stones encrusted upon it, and upon each of the stones was engraved the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This was to show that he was constantly interceding for them before the Covenantal God. But the Son of Man did not have His robe bound together at the waist with a belt, as if He were getting ready to perform labor or ride off into battle. He stood exalted in everlasting peace as the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Jesus is High Priest, King, and Judge in one and the same person. He is Lord (Luke 2:11; Philippians 2:11)! His holy glory illuminates and radiates pure love and mercy.
The Head of the Lord: The head and hair of the Son of Man were as bright as light, as white as snow, and as pure as spotless white wool. He did not have the gray hair of an old man; rather, His head shone with pure holiness. Just as white light contains every color of the spectrum, glowing more intensively than any other color, so too did the head of the Son of Man glow in the fullness of His holiness.
His splendor and majesty were intensified through holy eyes that glowed like flames of fire out of the blinding white of His countenance. The light beams of these eyes manifest His all-penetrating omnipotence. Nothing remains hidden from these eyes. Jesus appeared to John here as the Judge who sees everything, uncovers everything, and discerns everything. All injustice is revealed through His gaze, putting an end to all discussions, self-justifications, and excuses. Everything becomes clear without words. Blessed are all who confess every sin and hypocrisy, and ask the Lord for forgiveness now – before they must stand before the Eternal Judge.
Lord Jesus, You see all my sins – the bad things I have done and the good things I failed to do. Forgive me, I implore you, for the sake of Your atoning sacrifice.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You see all what I did or neglected. Please forgive me my offence, for the sake of Your atoning sacrifice. Amen.
His Gleaming Feet: The long robe of the High Priest and Judge extended to His feet, which glowed like liquid brass in a melting furnace. Yahweh (the Lord) once said to Him: “Sit thou at my right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool” (Psalms 110:1). Only ashes remain where these flaming feet walk in Their fiery hotness (1 Corinthians 15:27; Hebrews 2:8). No enemy can escape this consuming fire. The holiness of the Lord judges all uncleanness, all lies, every rebellion and murder – whether committed by man or by demon.
Lord, do not condemn me, for my sins are as the sands of the sea.
PRAYER: Lord, do not start to judge me, for my sins are as the sand on the seashore.
His Thunderous Voice: Whoever has had the opportunity to stand on the platform near the Rhine waterfall in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, or had the privilege to experience the Niagara Falls along the border between the United States of America and Canada, knows that all other voices are drowned out by the thunderous roar of these cascading, foaming, churning walls of water. Observers are left speechless before such grandeur. Similarly, it is the glorious Son of Man who will have the last and final word. No earthly voice can compete with His. We will all stand before Him speechless and shaken to the core as we listen to what He has to say.
PRAYER: Lord, purify my lips, so that they will proclaim Your glory.
The Seven Stars in His Right Hand: While John was alive, the Roman Caesars minted coins that had their own figures imprinted upon them and upon which they were shown to be holding seven stars. This symbol was an attempt to portray their all-encompassing power.
Everyone alive at the time knew what the Pleiades star cluster was. Therefore, Jesus appeared to John as the ruler of all, who holds the fate of the cosmos and all who follow Him in His hand. No one will snatch one of His own from His hand (John 10:28).
Lord, we thank You that You will not allow a single one of Your own to perish!
PRAYER: Lord, we thank you, because you do not let anybody from us fall.
The Sharp, Two-Edged Sword: According to the New Testament book of Hebrews, the Word of God is like the two-edged short sword of the Roman soldiers that was used in close combat (Hebrews 4:12). The divine Word, whether in conversation or preached from a pulpit, has the power to cut through and subdue our thoughts and motivations.
In John’s vision, Jesus appeared as the divine Judge, from whose mouth proceeded a long, two-edged sword – one that resembled the long sword of an executioner – that was used to put to death those who had been condemned.
The word of Jesus Christ judges every unrepentant, rebellious person that continually rejects His death on the Cross. The words from the mouth of the Lord can bring not only life, but also ruin and death. Whoever too long refuses to heed the calling and pleading of Jesus and willfully rejects His offer of grace, will meet the unsheathed sword of God’s wrath.
The holy Judge decides with finality over the life of each person and entire peoples. His authority is uncontested. No one can resist Him.
PRAYER: Lord, do not put me to death in Your wrath, but give me grace to repent.
His Countenance Was Like the Sun Shining in Its Strength: At the end of his first vision, John describes the overall impression of the glorious Son of Man. He attempted to describe his robe, hair, eyes, feet, voice, and mouth in human terms. When describing the countenance of the Lord, he could find no stronger analogy than the Mediterranean sun in all its glory and power. Whoever tries to gaze for a few seconds directly into the noonday sun must close his eyes immediately because of its intensity, or he will be blinded. The all-penetrating glory of Jesus is beyond any human comparison.
The exalted Ruler and holy High Priest appeared to John as a righteous Judge who had already begun to assume His office. However, the glorious picture of His majesty and power was not oppressing to the churches, for the Apostle assured them in the introduction of this letter that the Lord loves us and has freed us from our sins through His blood (Revelation 1:5)!
PRAYER: We magnify You, Lord Jesus, because You confirmed to the imprisoned John Your glory that shines as a bright sun that he might be assured that You are alive in Your greatness, and that You are the eternal Judge and the faithful Savior. Help us to keep Your guidance and your purposes in our hearts and to be changed from pessimism to boldness and from hopelessness to hope.
QUESTION:
- What impressed you from the description of Jesus as the glorified Son of God?