So for my next post I would like to discuss the revelation of Jesus as found in Revelation 1:9-20. I will not be discussing every detail of the passage, but only those aspects as revealed concerning Jesus himself.
Revelation 1:9-20 NIV
John’s Vision of Christ
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Okay, so again there is a lot to digest there. I have touched on a lot of this passage already, but left out mainly vv 12-16 on purpose for this part of the thread. Now something of note before I begin in earnest is the striking similarity this vision of Jesus has with the vision of Daniel found in Daniel 10.
1) Jesus wore a long robe with a golden sash around his chest. This is a vision of Jesus as High Priest in my opinion. The sash is a symbol of service. The robe, while not specifically named as an ephod, could easily be constituted as such. The Ephod the priests wore were basically sleeveless robes that were held to the body by a sash. In Exodus 28, when God is describing to Moses the priestly garments Aaron and the Levite Priests were to wear, a sash and an ephod were two such garments. The sash held the ephod in place against the body so that the priest could serve. The color gold is significant. It's used to represent:
purity
something set apart for the LORD's service
riches (obviously)
kings or kingdoms
All of these descriptions could go into play with this symbolism of the vision of Jesus. He is the King of kings. He is the High Priest forever after Melchezidek. He is pure. He is rich in love, grace, etc. As our heavenly high priest, he serves in God's presence on our behalf in the pureness and richness of his love. As we find out later in Revelation, he is the conquering king who was promised long ago.
2) His hair was white, as white as wool. Now in Daniel 7:9 we read, "As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze." We see the connection with the Ancient of Days. This is but one manifestation here in which Jesus is revealed as the Eternal God. What an AMAZING revelation that Jesus, even in his exalted state both is God and serves God on our behalf. Something we in more modern times always associate with white hair is age, of course, but also wisdom. Even in ancient cultures, especially in ancient cultures, white hair was a sign of wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:30 says Jesus is our wisdom from God. All throughout the Proverbs, wisdom speaks to us as though living in a human and authoritative form. All these are connected to this image of Jesus having white hair. The Ancient of Days, as High Priest, is our wisdom from God, serving on our behalf.
3) His eyes were like a flame of fire. Hebrews 12:29 says that God is a consuming fire. I believe to be another description of Jesus having God-like qualities, indeed revealing Jesus as God himself. Now what is the most remarkable thing about fire? It sheds light. It reveals things in the darkness. When you go camping, you set a fire before night time so you can see. Well, the eyes of Jesus as we find out in chapters 2-3 of Revelation, peer into the hearts of each and every one of us. He sees through the darkness into the depths of our souls in order to convict us of unrighteousness and impurity. This is not him judging us to prove how sinful or wretched we are, but rather him revealing to us where we lack in our walk with him so that we too may be made partakers of the heavenly kingdom. Remember only those who overcome will be spared from the second death, which is the lake of fire (Revelation 2:11)
4) His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace. Now bronze in the Bible has many representations, but the main ones are judgement, forgiveness, and strength. Goliath when he tormented Israel was a type of judgement against them. God sent the Philistines against King Saul's army to reveal to them how far from him they were. What was his challenge to them? Come and face me, surely your God will protect you (liberty taken in paraphrase). His armor was made entirely of bronze, down to the spear weapon he yielded. He was also a STRONG man, a big man. The two main pillars of Solomon's Temple were made of bronze to support the structure. Moses in Exodus made the altars and all the instruments of the outside of the Tabernacle out of bronze as commanded by God. These things were used primarily in executing sacrifices for sin (to take place of God's judgment and purchase forgiveness). In Numbers, Moses made a serpent of bronze so that the Israelites would be spared death in judgement. An image that Jesus quotes in John 3 in reference to God's love and forgiveness through him on the cross. The significance of this being Jesus' feet is his charge to the church, Go into all the world and preach the gospel. The gospel message is a message of judgement, but also of forgiveness. Judgement in that God has judged sin, and will judge each of us based on our sins (Acts 17:30-31). Should we believe in Jesus, we will receive forgiveness and life, but should we not believe, we have already been condemned (John 3:16-18) for the judgement was passed down 2,000 years ago on the cross. The church is the "Body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12), feet represent movement, transportation. I know it is hard to imagine in today's world of planes, cars, etc, but 2,000 years ago the two feet God gave you were the main source of movement. So I believe Jesus' bronze feet of Revelation 1:15 are a symbol of his body's (the Church) mission to spread the gospel (judgment and forgiveness) around the world.
5) His voice was like the sound of many rushing waters. Now there are many descriptions of God's voice in the Bible:
Thunder (John 12:29; Exodus 19:16-20)
A whisper (1 Kings 19:12)
Psalm 29:3-9 New International Version (NIV)
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord strikes
with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
I believe this to be yet another manifestation of Jesus as God. Indeed the description of his voice as the sound of rushing water gives the implication that his voice gives life. Water is the most basic need of life. Without it we could die in days. Jesus words give life to those who hear them, as he describes again in Revelation 2-3 to the 7 churches. John 5:24, "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life."
6) In his hand are the 7 stars. Now in verse 20 we learn the seven stars are the seven angels to the churches of Revelation. This is really just a statement about the sovereignty of Jesus. He is in control. He has been given all authority (Matthew 28:18; 1 Corinthians 15:25) and as King of kings and Lord of lords he is sovereign to do his will on the planet through the church. He is head over heavens hosts, as the OT calls him, the LORD of hosts, the LORD Almighty.
7) From his mouth proceeds a sharp two edged sword. This invokes strong visions of Hebrews 4:12, "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." Another reference to Jesus as "the Word of God" (Revelation 19:13; John 1:1) At his coming (Revelation 19; Zech 14; 2 Thes 1-2) Jesus will destroy entire armies and the anti-christ with just the breath of his mouth (2 Thessalonians 2:8). His word pierces hearts of unbelievers, kills sin and the old man, and attacks those who dare oppose his rule and reign.
8) His face was like the sun shining in full strength. Jesus when he was revealed in all his glory with Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration had his face shining as the sun. When he returns to the earth, the brightness of his coming will destroy the anti-christ and his followers (2 Thessalonians 2:8). In the creation of the universe, God said, "Light [in me], BE!" and light was released into the universe out of himself. The brightness of Jesus' presence is what started the creative process as recorded in Genesis 1 and restated by Paul throughout his letters, especially Colossians.
Jesus in this manifestation and vision is revealed as High Priest, King, and God. His church (which is his body) is to take the message of his death, burial, and resurrection to the world. Knowing that we have such a GREAT, GLORIOUS, AWESOME Savior, we should be emboldened to not fear what man can do unto us, but rather through love serve and sacrifice ourselves for the one who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us! (Revelation 1:5)
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http://www.christianforums.com/t7863075
