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Revelation 1.13-18
November 20th 2016
Meat
So we left off at verse 12 which says:
Revelation 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
And we noted that these seven candlesticks are representative of the Seven Churches in Asia to whom John is to take this revelation.
In this (these seven churches – and as mentioned last week) we see direct and literal application to that time – because they DID exist. Even the historicist view of the book cannot deny that the Seven Churches did exist and therefore there was actual application to them at that time.
This is the most literal application of the contents – no reading into it, no conjecture.
(Okay, let’s read verses 13 through to the end of the chapter where Jesus is now introduced to us.)
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
All right back to 13
“And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
So standing there in the midst of the seven separate light stands was “one like the Son Man.”
Going back to Daniel chapter seven we discover similar verbiage used hundreds and hundreds of years before. It says,
Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
We notice here that the same phraseology is used here – one like the Son of Man.
Now, here this is evidently the Lord Jesus Christ himself who is called “the Son of man.”
But the Greek here is important because it is missing the article so it really should read,
“like unto a son of man.”
In other words, this being had the form that was like a human being but He was more than that – He was different.
Here’s the thing – He was NOT the Son of Man that John was used to when Jesus walked the earth with him.
This being was like unto “a son of man” (all lover case – like a man) but as we will see He was so much more.
This clarification is really important. First of all since there is no article in the Greek we know that this should not read, “like THE Son of Man but like a son of man.”
This little detail suggests that while we know that it is Jesus exalted (due to how He describes Himself especially in verse 18) John was not saying that He was the Son of Man (the Jesus of Nazareth) in an exalted form. In other words it seems like His exaltation removed him far enough away from “who He was in the flesh” that all John was saying was that he beheld a being that was in the shape of a person – arms legs hair.
But we must also admit that John’s use of the term might directly tie to the Daniel 7:13 description.
I would suggest that both the glory and light in which He now appeared (along with the dress and costume) was so unlike the lowly human Jesus John knew that its quite possible at this stage of the game John wasn’t even aware it was Him.
John writes:
“And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
Borrowing from the Old Testament we have a couple of allusions made here to the dress of the Lord.
For starters, a garment that hung down to the feet describes two types of people in the OT.
Isaiah 6:1 could indicate that this was the apparel of a King but Exodus uses very similar language to describe the dress of a high priest.
Because, apparently, Jesus would have ostensibly just come out of the Holy of Holies to share this revelation with John the manner of dress would be appropriate.
Aaron’s robe and girdle (described in Exodus) were “for glory and beauty,” and this appears to fit the description we are reading here. And as Aaron wore similar vestments when he came forth out of the temple to bless the people this seems to be a direct reflection of the same – except in this case it was Jesus as our high priest after the Order of Melchizedek, coming out of the Holy of Holies to bring reward (and judgment) upon His own.
It is also interesting that while tradition suggests that the temple priest wore the girding around their loins JOSEPHUS [in his Antiquities 3.7.2] expressly says that the Levitical priests were girt “higher up,” – “about the breasts or paps (a word I am really not fond of repeating).”
Also, the high priest’s girdle was inter-woven with gold, but here Christ’s appears to be all gold – so this is a case where the antitype exceeds the type – something we would expect.
So there He was, in the midst of the seven torch lights, dressed in the robes of a King and the great high priest. John continues (verse 14)
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
In Daniel 7:9 we read a similar description about the Ancient of Days, which says:
“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
In chapter 10 of Daniel we again find similar descriptions that we will read here, saying:
“His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.”
I am convinced that what John was witnessing was Jesus as God. Meaning the Man Jesus, having overcome sin and death as a man, was now King of Kings and Lord of Lords and is experiencing all that God intended for Him once He passed through mortality – which was everything. So now his presence was very similar to His father, the Ancient of Days, who is described in similar terms in Daniel.
So . . .(v 14) “His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
We have four things mentioned here and all for described through comparisons.
We have . . .
His head AND his hairs
“were white (like wool), as white as snow.”
His eyes
“were as a flame of fire.”
(vs 15)
“And his feet
“like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace;”
and his voice
“as the sound of many waters.”
Alright, let’s get down to some brass tacks here.
First of all we know from context that this description is of Jesus Christ glorified. There is no doubt that it is Him and there is no doubt that He has been consummately glorified, fitted as a man (for he appears as a son of man but not as the son of man – meaning as Jesus of Nazareth with brown hair and regular olive skin) for heaven.
We also know that these very same descriptions of the eyes, and feet, and robes and hair glowing are all found in the books of Isaiah, Daniel, and Ezekiel.
In all of these places they are describing Yehovah God.
We have a choice to make. Some say that these Old Testament descriptions are describing a pre-incarnate Jesus – that this was what he looked like prior to taking on a body of flesh and becoming The Son of Man.
The title “Ancient of Days” first appears in Daniel 7:9, where Daniel is describing his vision of heaven.
Here a being sits on a flaming throne with wheels of fire, His hair and clothing white as snow. The flaming throne is symbolic of judgment, while the white hair and title “Ancient” indicate that God existed before time began.
In Isaiah 43:13, we find that God refers to Himself existing from ancient of days (literally, “before days were”).
This means God existed before days were even created (and which is supported by Genesis)
We also read that God in the Old Testament is described as being from “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 90:2) but that this is assigned to Jesus to as the Alpha and Omega and that in the Old Testament of Isaiah 44:6 God is also called “the first and the last” just as Jesus refers to Himself here.
In terms of physical descriptions all that we read in the Old Testament are assigned to God but now here in Revelation 1 we find them assigned to Jesus (as a man or a son of man) with whited hair, blazing eyes, glowing feet etc.
Where glorious God judged and reigned over Israel in the Old Testament it seems that now we see a similar description occurring here in Revelation 1:14-15 is given to Christ who appears to possess the same power of judgment over His church as the Ancient of Days had over Israel.
We see this “all knowing reign and power” given to Jesus as He is described as possessing perfect clarity to know all there is to know about the seven churches.
Now, the title “Ancient of Days” is found only three times in Scripture and all of them are in Daniel and all are couched in prophetic passages of Daniel 7:9, 13, and 22.
Daniel 7:9 says
“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.”
Then in verse 13 we read:
Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
And then in verse 22 we read:
22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
It seems like the first two references speak to God the Father but the third time (in verse 22) that the title Ancient of Days refers specifically to Jesus whose judgment will be part of the end-times events.
Some suggest that the term then speaks of God the Father in the Old Testament and then to the Son Jesus, in the New (as in here).
This is hard to refute. Because of this most use this evidence as supporting the particulars of creedal Trinitarianism.
I tend to see that the fact that Jesus comes to pronounce judgment on the world as the Ancient of Days and in all they ways that He is described as saying nothing more than Jesus, having overcome, inheriting all that God the Father has, including the title of Ancient of Days.
A few more points about this description here of post-ascension, about to return to earth Jesus.
John writes that the tone and hue of his feet were like golden melted brass (perhaps a better description of them taking the Greek) that his His voice as the sound of many waters, which might be better understood as the roar of the ocean.
This is really sublime material folks. Jesus, who was born of a woman, laid in a manger, walked the earth, ate and drank and laughted and wept – now over all as He comes to John in a vision.
His voice is described almost in terms of vibrations. And again, we find a comparison to the Old Testament descriptions of God where it says in Ezekiel 43:2,
“And behold the glory of the God of Israel came from the east: and his voice was like the sound of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.”
And also Daniel 10:6 which says:
“His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.”
I believe that as a man, Jesus had to obtain these characteristics from the Father having ultimately overcome all things while in flesh.
I believe that it was God in Him that empowered Him to fully die to His will and ways and learn obedience through suffering.
I believe that in Him we see ourselves but also discover the perfection of God within ourselves, and that having finished all things became the author and finisher of our faith – the faith of the human race.
I believe that here, John is witnessing who Jesus actually is, having overcome the flesh, and that possessing all power and authority (and all the keys to the kingdom given Him by the Father) He now, as someone who once was all man, is truly the Alpha and Omega, the first and the Last, the beginning and the end, and even the Ancient of Days.
In my estimation He came and then became, our template. Not that we could ever do what He has done. But we are called to pursue the path He blazed, to trod it outside the city gates, to pick up our cross fully expecting to become joint heirs with Him by and through faith and love.
This is truly a Revelation to John as he knew a Jesus who bore dirty feet, and worn clothing, and even a miserable death.
But now He is revealed in the form which became a culmination of all of His earthly decisions and suffering.
Now He is truly the Alpha and Omega not only for the House of Israel but for the Human race once the work for Israel completes.
John continues.
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
And he had in his right hand seven stars.
We note a consistency of the right and the left here even as the hand He held the seven starts was the right. We also note (from verse 20) that what John calls the seven stars represented the seven angels of the seven churches.
Whether they were actual star-shaped things or actual angels referred to as stars we don’t know.
We are also not sure if they danced on the palm of His hand or were stationary or if they had a relation to the seven light stands – none of this is shared with us.
Why each of the seven churches have an angel assigned to them is another mystery and why only seven as there were far more churches in existence at that time.
This question bodes well with the historicist view which takes the seven churches as representative of entire church periods throughout history and in the face of this question the historicist view tends to make the most sense – to me.
I mean why would John and the revelation of Revelation only be to those seven Churches? Why isn’t the church at Antioch or Jerusalem mentioned? The historicist view goes a long way to answer these questions.
We’ll talk more about the seven spirits and the seven churches in the coming weeks.
But in addition to the Seven stars John says,
“And out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.”
Now, if you are like me, I imagine a long two-edged actual steel sword sort of abruptly plunging out of his mouth – like an enormous steel tongue – which is a very freakish sight when you think about it.
So it’s important that I step back and try and understand other ways to understand this rather than the literal.
Firstly, John does NOT say he sees a sharp two-edged sword stick out of His mouth. All we read is that “out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.”
So right there we might believe that all John is really describing is the Word of God coming out of Jesus mouth, which is in scripture, likened to a double-edged sword.
And being that the setting of the Book of Revelation is one of coming judgment we can see that by the words of His mouth (by the sharp edge of this two-edged sword) all will be judged.
Of course the writer of Hebrews provided us with a great description of the power of the Word of God to cut (to divide) and open up matters (hearts) as a means to judge them.
Hence we read that:
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
I have to believe that this is the context of what John is saying, that this figure (Jesus) was able to split and divide asunder all things BY HIS WORD (e.g., the sheep and the goats) even the soul and the Spirit, that He was capable of discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart of all people.
John was attesting to this by saying that there went forth from His mouth went a sharp two edged sword.
Again, this description is not unique to John’s revelation. We read a number of parallel verses that reflect the two (or double) edged sword with the Word of God. Later in Revelation 19:15 we will read
“And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”
Ephesians 6:17 says this:
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Then in Revelation 2:16 we will read:
“Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
In a Messianic prophecy Isaiah says
(49:1-2) “Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me.”
Hosea 6:5 says,
“Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.”
An ancient two-edged sword was designed to cut both ways and is therefore a tremendous emblem for getting to the truth of a matter.
But here in the historical setting there were two groups that were going to be cut to the core as the sword will cut both ways – through the guilty House of Israel and through the masses to reveal the true in heart.
His word will accomplish this. The word of His mouth. John has told us here in the first chapter that the Lord is equipped with such a weapon and is prepared to wield it.
John adds:
“and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.”
This is the third reference to fire or flame in this description of the ascended Christ.
In verse 14 John said:
“and his eyes were as a flame of fire,”
And in verse 15 he said:
“And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace”
And now we read:
“and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.”
Once again, a comparison presents itself to us – the Son of Man whom John knew that walked the earth and then “the Alpha and Omega who is now reigning in the Holy of Holies where God, the consuming fire, dwells.
In describing God, the Psalmist wrote:
Psalm 97:3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
We read in 1st Timothy 6:13 Paul writes:
I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.
I suggest that John is witnessing the ultimate fact about our Lord and Savior, yes our King and mediator to the Father – that He is the ONLY man who dwells in the light (as no other can approach unto) that He has seen that light (which no man could or can) and here He stands before John, his own body adopting or morphing or receiving the capacity to dwell in the light.
John says that His countenance (His face) was full of splendor and light – similar to Moses when He came down from the mount with the Law.
How bright was His countenance? John says it:
“Was as the sun shineth in his strength.”
Again, a description that in part is all over the scripture as Judges 5:31 says
“But let them that love him [the Lord] be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might.”
And 2nd Samuel 23:4 says, “And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun ariseth, even a morning without clouds.”
And Psalm 19:5,
“Which [the sun] is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.”
In all this we have some remarkable comparisons to nature and the things within it that have been created by God and His Word.
John has likened aspects of his person to
“snow”
“Flames of fire”
“The Sound of many waters.”
“And a countenance as the sun in his strength””
We note that all of these elements can be a blessing or a soar curse with the “snow and water” having the capacity to refresh and cool or freeze and inundate or drown while “fire and the sun” have the blessed capacity to warm and comfort and heal or to burn and destroy.
In this He truly does possess a two-edged sword and an unfettered ability to give life or take it – and that He will – in His eminent coming or arrive on the scene.
We are talking about John seeing the full living embodiment of God in the person of Jesus Christ, a man born of flesh.
He retained the image or shape of “A son of Man” but appears to be the complete and living God, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the End, the first and the Last, the Ancient of Days – and someone who John did in fact have the capacity to actually see!
Scripture says that no man can see God and live.
God said to Moses in Exodus 33:20 “Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.”
Of course we read in John 1:18 “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
And as Jesus said (in John 6:46) when he was on earth:
“Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God (meaning Himself as none of the rest of us are of God), he (Jesus) hath seen the Father.”
He we see this played out – Jesus, here as the full complete embodiment of God – proves He has not only seen Him, He is Him – all that He is, Jesus has and is, and coming from the Bosom of the Father, He continues to declare Him fully to John.
This is obviously not a representation of Jesus risen from the grave – still in His grave clothes and marred beyond recognition.
His bloody countenance here is bathed in light as piercing as the unobstructed sun.
Let me take the first line of our last verse for today (17) where John writes:
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.
And we have yet another comparison before us – in a number of ways. First of all, when Jesus walked the earth people fell at His feet, but it was rarely (if ever) as if dead.
But all through the key books of the Old Testament (relative to the book of Revelation – Isaiah, Daniel and Ezekiel) we find similar responses between God and those who come upon Him in some fairly direct manner.
So in Isaiah 6:1 Isaiah says:
“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
In Ezekiel 1:26 we read:
“And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
27 And I saw as the color of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
And then in Daniel we read almost all that we have talked about or that has been used for imagey present.
This story we will come back to in the future but for now try and just hear the similarities in the language that Daniel uses and what John describes here.
Ready. We’re in Daniel 10 beginning at verse 7
7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.
16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.
17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.
18 Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,
19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.
It is not by mistake that after John fell as dead before the image of the glorified Christ that we read our last line of our last verse for today.
“And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
In Daniel we see the being touching Daniel to strengthen him.
In Isaiah we see the angel of the Lord touching his lips. In Ezekiel the Spirit moves him to stand on his feet. When Jesus walked the earth He touched many, healing them, raising them, and helping them overcome their fears and disease.
And then here, when John, who has fallen as dead on the ground, Jesus
“laid his right hand upon me, (the same hand that bore the seven stars) and said unto him Fear not; I am the first and the last: (verse 18) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
A passage that we will discuss these words at length next week.
End
Q and A
