REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 1.13

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

(The Apocalypse)

CHAPTER 1

 

 

(Verse 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.

(Verse 14)

His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire;

(Verse 15)

And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.

(Verse 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.

 

The Vision of Jesus Christ

Amidst the seven candlesticks (lampstands, churches), John is about to observe Jesus for the first time since His ascension. He is familiar with and has heard this voice before. John turns around to see the voice that spoke to him from behind. And since he is in the realm of the Spirit (another dimension), John witnesses the incarnate glorified Christ, what Jesus looks like today. Understand, this is the only description of Jesus in the New Testament. So, John tries his best to Describe Him:

A. Regarding His Appearance

1.  One like the Son of Man – A human form-like

 

B. Regarding His Clothing

1.   A garment - A full-length robe extending to the feet

2. A golden girdle – (Literally: sash, band, belt wrapped tightly around his chest), breastplate

 

C. Regarding His Body (seven attributes)

1.  His head and hair - Snow-white like wool

2.  His eyes – As a flame of fire

3.  His feet – Like fine brass burning in a furnace

4.  His voice – As the sound of many waters

5.  His right hand – Holding seven stars

6.  His mouth – Went forth a sharp two-edged sword

7.  His face, countenance – As the sun shines in His strength

 

One like unto the Son of man

The Appearance of Jesus Christ

The Son of Man appears over eighty times in the Gospels. It was one of Jesus’ favorite titles because He left His deity, took on the form of a servant, and was clothed in humanity (cf.  Philippians 2:5-11). This was executed to become the atonement for man’s sin.

 

The reference is taken directly from Daniels's vision:

Daniel 7:13 – I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like The Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven.

 

Gospel writer Matthew articulates His coming in a revelation:

Matthew 25:31 – When the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory.

 

Son of Man – This name designated Jesus as the Messiah. A favorite title Jesus defined Himself to express His humanity when approaching the cross, and about His Second Coming.

 

The Apparel of Jesus Christ

Clothed with a garment down to the foot

His Garment

The picture is one of an Old Testament High Priest:  

Exodus 28:2 – And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty…that he may minister unto Me in the priest’s office.

 

By reading Exodus 28, you will be provided with specific instructions on how the priestly robe (ephod) was to be made. The robe is presumably white, however, following our text, at this point, no color is mentioned.

 

At the Mount of Transfiguration, Mark describes his clothing in this fashion:

Mark 9:4 - His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them.

 

Noteworthy to mention: We have no dress code here on earth. But, if we are to be conformed to His image (cf. Romans 8:29; Philippians 3:21), my calculated guess is we will be wearing white robes when we all get to Heaven.

 

Three Offices of Jesus Christ

Interestingly, also by His garment, three offices of Christ are represented:

1. A Priest – High priests in the Old Testament wore a similar robe (cf. Exodus 28:4).  Portraying Christ:

Hebrews 7:26 – For such an High Priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.

 

2.  A Prophet – In his vision in Daniel 10:5, the reference is one of a prophet: Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen   – Understood as fine linen, meaning robe.

 

3.  A King – As royalty, kings always wore robes. King Saul (cf. 1 Samuel 24) and other kings of Israel are depicted wearing robes. 

 

Later, in Revelation 19:21, the robe is described as being dipped in blood. In that passage, it is observed after His final battle when Jesus has ascribed the title of KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, written on His robe and His thigh.

 [For a devotional, a suggested reading of Psalm 104 here would be appropriate]

 

And girt (bound) about the paps (breast, chest) with a golden girdle (belt)

His Golden Girdle

Ordinarily, belts were girded about the lions. However, a large breastplate (fashioned like the High Priest’s ephod) was wrapped around His chest instead. This not only made for greater movement to maintain the lamps but also so the robe would not catch on fire. Also, it is entirely made of gold, emblematic of divine righteousness, unlike the High Priest’s vesture.

 

The Attributes of Jesus Christ

Each attribute denotes the glorified body of Jesus Christ.

His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow

His Head and Hair

The primary significance of the words head, hair, white, wool, and snow are descriptive of purity rather than age, with the added aspect of wisdom. Whiteness is also analogous to righteousness, holiness, and justice.

Daniel 7:9 – I beheld…The Ancient of Days…whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool. Why wool? A reminder: He is The Good Shepherd.

 

Ancient of Days (the Eternal One) – Speaks of His eternality.

 

And His eyes were as a flame of fire

His Eyes

Eyes are metaphorical of penetrating insight and knowledge of the Lord. They have the piercing ability to expose sin. Nothing is hidden from Him, and everything is seen truthfully and accurately.

Hebrews 4:3 – Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to Whom we are accountable. (NLT)

 

1 Peter 3:12 – For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

There is a backside to His eyes, i.e., fire: Fire is symbolic of judgment. In His total omniscience (infinitely all-knowing, understanding, perceiving), Jesus will adjudicate all unrighteousness.

 

And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace

His Feet

·        At His first incarnation, Jesus walked from town to town wearing sandals while preaching and teaching.

·        A woman sinner in Luke Chapter 7 washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

·        At the cross, His feet were nailed together with an iron nail.

·        Jesus’ enemies, one day in the future, will become His footstool.

Psalm 110:1 – David hears Jehovah God say to the Messiah (Adonai): Sit thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.

 

The Lord almost purposely makes it obvious that bronze or brass feet are symbolic of judgment. It mirrors Daniel’s description:

Daniel 10:6 – And His arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass.

 

Bronze is an older dated metal, much harder and darker in color than brass. The Weymouth Translation of the Bible renders it a silver bronze that was white-hot. Here, an estimated alloy of copper and silver is combined with bronze, thus implying brilliance or whiteness when burning (similar to the light from a welder’s torch). This is harmonious with light (as in The Heavenlies, and also reminiscent of light emanating from a glorified body.

 

In the Old Testament Tabernacle was a brazen altar, a place where sacrifices and judgment took place.

Revelation 19:15 – He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.                                      

 

All the ungodliness in the world will be pressed or crushed like grapes in a winepress, again depicting judgment.

 

If you think you know someone with a loud voice, notice what it says in verse fifteen:

And His voice as the sound of many waters

His Voice

His voice is likened to the same voice in:

 Revelation 19:6 – And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings.

1.  The same voice that brought creation into existence

2.  The same voice that spake to Abraham and Moses

3.  The same voice that said, “Peace be still.” (cf. Mark 4:39)

4.  The same voice that raised Lazarus (cf. John 11:43)

5.   The same voice that said, “This is My beloved Son.”

6.  The same voice that will call forth the dead (cf. John 5:28)

7.  The same voice that will say, “Surely I come quickly.”

Everyone, great and small [magna et parva], shall hear His voice, The godly to the resurrection of life and the ungodly to the resurrection of damnation (cf. John 5:28)

 

 

And He had in His right hand seven stars

His Right Hand

Why the right hand? The right hand symbolizes:

1.  Perfect peace

2.   Perfect rest

3.  Perfect power

4. Perfect protection

5.  Perfect service

6.  Perfect honor

7.  Permanence

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.

 

 

And he had in His right hand seven stars…The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches

Seven Stars

Revelation 1:20a specifically unlocks the mystery for us: They are the seven angels, angelic representatives, ministers, messengers, and pastors (by implication) of the seven earthly churches, congregations, or assemblies.

 

 

Angels – [ἄγγελος; aggelos; ang'-el-os. G32]. Angels are celestial spirit beings of the supernatural realm and are an outcome of God's direct creation (a special act as in Adam). They played a huge role in the activities of the Bible and are referenced twenty-seven times in the panorama of Revelation.

1. They as stars fought for Israel (cf. Judges 5:20)

2.   An angel saved Daniel from the lions (cf. Daniel 6:22)

3. They ministered to Christ at His temptation (cf. Matt. 4:11)

4.  They announced His birth to the shepherds (cf. Luke 2:9-13)

5.  They rolled away the tombstone (cf. Matthew 28:2)

6.  They loosed Peter from a jail cell (cf. Acts 5:19)

7.  They will accompany Jesus at His Second Coming (cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8)

In our last study, we noticed angels will be delivering letters to seven churches that are in Asia Minor (Chapters 2 and 3 – The Things Which Are).

 

And out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword

His Mouth

Proceeding out of Jesus’ mouth comes what? – Now we know it is not a literal sword but, The Word of God, the basis for all judgment. 

Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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.

 

The Roman military and the gladiators used mainly two types of Swords for battle: One was a pugio (Greek, machaira - G3162), a large dagger about 7 to 11 inches. This sword is referenced in Hebrews 4:12. The other was the Trajan Gladius Hispaniensis (Latin for a Spanish Gladiator sword), or the more popular Greek version Rhomphaia. This was a large double-edged battle sword, measuring from 24 to 27 inches, and is likened to John’s vision. Its connotation is primarily used to defend the Church in judgment against its enemies.

 

The word sharp speaks of total truth. Two-edged: One side is for pronouncing judgment, and the other side will encompass justice in truth. Hence, total truth in judgment and justice will be the criterion by which God adjudicates, Justice to the believers, and judgment to the unbelievers. 

 

And His countenance was as the sun shineth in His strength

His Face – Countenance

Countenance: Face. [Literally: expression, demeanor, composure, look, appearance, [Wikipedia)]. Gazing into something remarkable as the sun (Strong’s G3799, G3700), a visage reminiscent of the Psalms:

Psalm 89:15 – Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of Thy countenance.

 

Psalm 90:8 - Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance.

 

Strength: (δύναμις, dunamis, from which we derive our English word dynamite – Strong’s, G1411).

Said another way, His appearance was like an explosion of the sun’s light.

 

 

In our next lesson, we will discover what happened to John after his initial encounter with the Son of Man.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.  What was important about the clothes Jesus wore?

2.  What did His feet represent?

3.   What was Christ holding in His hands?

4. Who are the angels?

5. What does a Gladius sword symbolize?

6.   Why the language: Sharp, two-edged?

7.  How would you describe Christ in one word?

 

 

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