JESUS CHRIST
"When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. 13 And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. 14 His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. 15 His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. 16 He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.
19 “Write down what you have seen—both the things that are now happening and the things that will happen. 20 This is the meaning of the mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches."
Revelation 1:12-20
When the apostle John was worshiping the Lord in Spirit and in truth on the Lord’s Day, he heard a loud voice behind him like a trumpet and he turned and saw his King.
Even in isolation, away from the church, John set aside time to worship and it’s here where we see a direct correlation between worshipping God in spirit and in truth, the way He desires us to worship, and encountering Jesus Christ.
Many desire that type of encounter – and this is one main way God has established encountering His presence, worship God in spirit and in truth on the Lord’s Day.
When John turned, he immediately saw seven gold lampstands which represent the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. And standing in the middle of the churches, John says he saw someone who looked like the Son of Man.
John uses the title Jesus gave Himself, when Jesus was exemplifying His authority as deity in the flesh obeying the will of God the Father. Jesus said in John 3:13 NLT, “No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven.”
Thus, in this instance, with this prophetic vision, John emphasizes the title Son of Man to stress the authority of Jesus Christ, deity in the flesh, the One who is Wisdom incarnate, the One who holds heavenly wisdom and knowledge of things to come. The One who has the right to deliver this prophesy. When Jesus walked this earth, He highlighted the truth that no prophet has ascended to heaven and returned with heavenly knowledge. This statement is imperative as many want the authority to declare revelation to draw allegiance and adoration to self, when all power, glory and honor belong to Jesus Christ – He alone has ascended and descended from heaven.
So, as John turns and sees the Son of Man, the One who can declare rightfully prophetic words of what’s to come, standing amidst His church – as Jesus Christ is the head of the church – the apostle John then describes Jesus with symbolic truth illustrating His preeminence and Sovereignty.
Jesus was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest, symbolic of the priesthood, Jesus is our Great High Priest, who perfectly intercedes for His church and understands weaknesses – Hebrews 2:18.
Jesus’ head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, symbolizing holiness. As God says in Isaiah 1:18, “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as snow, though they are red like crimson, I will make them white like wool.” God transforms sinners into holy saints by Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, as His one offering forever made perfect all whom are being made holy – Hebrews 10:14.
John goes on to describe Jesus’ eyes as flames of fire, purifying all that He sees. Nothing escapes His notice, everything is exposed before His very eyes – Hebrews 4:13, and He alone perfectly purifies without causing greater corruption within an individual.
We are told in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 that on the day of judgment, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done, and the fire will show whether the person’s work holds any value. If the work survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward, but if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss and will be saved by like someone barely escaping through flames. Thus, we know Jesus’ eyes of flames of fire identify righteous work versus unrighteous – Malachi 3:2-3, the righteous work is saved, while all that was done outside of the will of God is burned with the individual having a saved soul but a lost life.
John then describes Jesus’ feet as polished bronze refined in a furnace. Bronze was used on the altar of burnt offering – Exodus 38:1-2. Therefore, we see similarities to the gospel shoes of peace in calling sinners to repentance or else they will experience divine judgment.
John moves on to describe Jesus’ voice, stating it thundered like the mighty ocean waves. Now when he first heard Jesus, he said Jesus’ voice sounded like a trumpet – announcing what’s to come. But here in likening Jesus’ voice to mighty ocean waves, John emphasizes Jesus’ authority in dealing with His church.
Jesus held seven stars in His right hand and a sharp two edged sword came from His mouth. The seven stars symbolize the seven pastors of the seven churches, the leaders whom Jesus holds in His hands – Jesus remains in control at all times over His church, and over His ordained anointed pastors. And the sharp two edged sword coming forth from Jesus’ mouth is the word of God – the word divinely tells us how to live this life as Christians and warns of divine judgment for all who defy the living God. Thus, no pastor has power over Jesus Christ, or over the Word of God.
John goes on to state Jesus’ face was like the sun in all its brilliance symbolic of the glory of the Lord.
Therefore, as Jesus walks through His church – He is the High Priest, transforming sinners into holy saints, purifying His church with His perfect knowledge, emanating the gospel while perfectly judging sin, speaking with authority, in control over His pastors who lead the churches, delivering the Word of God, showcasing God’s glory.
When the apostle John saw this majestic sight, he fell at Jesus’ feet as if he were dead, overcome by the glory of the Lord. But Jesus spoke to him sincerely telling him to not fear – Jesus holds power over death and the grave.
Jesus then commissioned John to write down what he sees happening and the things to come. The revelation of Jesus Christ.
Today, do you hear Jesus Christ speaking to your heart regarding what He desires for you to do for Him and His glory?
Prayer: Abba, thank You for this description of Jesus Christ amidst the church. No matter the suffering we face, may we rest assured Jesus is in the midst of His church and He holds all authority. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
