We are continuing from yesterday our look at the real Jesus to whom we should pray, as described in..
Revelation 1:9–20 (ESV)
9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
I want you to think with me about this image of Jesus. As we think on this, ask yourself, is the image that’s presented different from the way you’ve pictured God?
For what we see here is the vision the Father gave John of Jesus Christ as He was then and is today.
Yesterday, we looked at…
HIS POSITION
“standing in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man.”
HIS NAME
“Son of Man.”
HIS CLOTHS
“clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest”
We continue..
HIS HAIR (verse 14)
“The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow.”
This is taken from the description of the Ancient of Days in Daniel 7:9, “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool…” (Daniel 7:9)
The Ancient of Days is a reference to God the Father. God the Son is now seen in the same way.
This is symbolic of two things: (1) It speaks to us of the eternal existence of Jesus Christ with the Father. (2) It speaks to His divine purity and sinlessness. The snow and the white wool are the emblems of stainless purity.
Isaiah uses this picture of whiteness to say how God looks as us when we repent and trust in Him.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,” said Isaiah, “they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool” (Isaiah 1:18).
HIS EYES (verse 14)
“His eyes were like a flame of fire.”
His flaming eyes speaks of our Lord’s perfect knowledge, infallible insight, and inescapable scrutiny. This describes His piercing judgment of sin.
We often like to pretend, to hide what is bad and parade what is good. It prevents community from becoming grace-based and real. And it keeps us from enjoying God. But John tells us, “He sees me. He sees everything.” As the writer of Hebrews puts it, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13)
HIS FEET (verse 15)
“his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace,”
This is probably a continuing picture of Jesus’ judgment upon sin. The bronze altar in the temple was related to sacrifice for sin and divine judgment on it. The shining rays may stand for speed, for the swiftness of the feet of God to help His own or to punish sin.
HIS VOICE (verse 15)
“and his voice was like the roar of many waters.”
It is said that to be near the base of Niagara Falls is an overwhelming experience. The sound of rushing water is at once deafening and soothing. It blocks out all other noise and cannot be ignored.
This is another pictures of Jesus as He judges the church with His powerful voice.
HIS HAND (verse 16)
“in his right hand he held seven stars”
The seven stars represents the seven angels of the churches to which Jesus is addressing this book as explained in verse 20. The word angel literally means a “messenger” or “one who is sent.” In this case, the angels are not literal angels, nor believers in general; but, as chapters 2–3 show, they are pastors, or ministers, of the local churches in places of authority and responsibility.
The picture is quite clear. In His right hand, Jesus is in charge of His church, and He is telling the leadership what to say to the churches.
HIS MOUTH (verse 16)
“from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword”
The sword referred to was not long and narrow like a fencer’s blade; it was a short, tongue-shaped sword for close fighting. The symbolism tells us of the penetrating quality of the word of God. If we listen to it, no shield of self-deception can withstand it; it strips away our self-delusions, lays bare our sin and leads to pardon.
Hebrews 4:12
“The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword”
HIS FACE (verse 16)
“his face was like the sun shining in full strength”
Jesus is filled with the dazzling splendor and transcendent glory of His deity.
WHAT SHOULD BE OUR RESPONSE?
verse 17-18
“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”
Combining all these thoughts, we see Christ in all His perfections as supremely qualified to judge the seven churches. Later in the book He will judge His foes, but “judgment (must) begin at the house of God” (1 Pet. 4:17). Note, however, that it is a different kind of judgment in each case. The churches are judged with the purpose of purification and reward, the world with the purpose of punishment.
No picture can possible describe what John saw. But does this, in a small way alter the image of who you pray to? Remember, Jesus shows us the Father. When we pray to God, we should be overwhelmed with His power and majesty. By all rights, we should fall down in fear. Yet, Jesus says, “Fear not.”
Fear not, because Jesus is from the beginning and will have the last word.
Fear not, because Jesus is the Living One.
Fear not, because Jesus died for our sins and is alive for evermore.
Fear not, because Jesus is Lord over death and provides for our resurrection.
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