“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. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 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.” Revelation 1:13-16
Here in verses 13-16 we have what appears to be a cryptic and very figurative description of Jesus. This is really the first of several “revealings” of Jesus that John records for us. If you remember in the first article in this series on Revelation I stated that; “I believe that the best approach to this great work of the Apostle John is to let the text speak for itself. We also must recognize that the text is often a reference back to the Old Testament. I will endeavor to point out any and all Old Testament references as I become aware of them in this study.” We see in this description of Christ a clear example of the type shadow relationship and the use of Old Testament prophetic writings for John’s basis for his own writing. In reality though it is more than that, it is in fact a declaration of John that the coming of Jesus that he is describing is the exact fulfillment of all of those Old Testament prophetic writings.
This passage is the epitome of that expectation so I hope you will go with me to the Old Testament to see how some of these things relate to what has already been written by the prophets. I also hope that you will be patient with my ability to identify the symbols of this section. I may get some right, but feel free to tell me if you believe there is a better understanding of these figures.
Let’s first take a look and “see” what John heard. We need to go back to verse ten to see the first reference to the “voice” that John heard.
“and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet” v. 10
“Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me” v. 12
“and his voice was like the roar of many waters” v. 15
We see that the voice like a trumpet was used when God wanted to declare judgment that was impending. In Isaiah, God is telling the prophet to utilize this type of trumpet-voice as he begins to give a prophecy of Israel’s judgment.
“Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins. Isaiah 58:1
At Mount Sinai when God through Moses gave the law to Israel he spoke with this fearsome voice.
“And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled and when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.” Exodus 19″16 & 19
This voice so terrified the people that they declared to Moses:
“You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” Exodus 20:19
“And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.” Ezekiel 1:24
As John turned to see this great voice, he saw the candlesticks, and then standing in the midst of the candlesticks was one like the son of God.
“He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:25
“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 there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14
From this point on in this revelation of Jesus, John strives to describe what he sees. He begins with His robe and moves from there to his hair, his eyes, his feet, and then back to his voice ending with his right hand and the contents thereof. In looking at these items that are described we can see a very close parallel passage in the prophecy of Daniel chapter 10.
“I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground.” Daniel 10:5-9
“and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.” Daniel 10:14
In these two great passages we are undeniably given a description of Jesus Christ. In Daniel it is a prophetic vision looking forward, and in Revelation John gives us a post resurrection view. I find it rather odd that many who say that Jesus is to return the same way in which he left, and by this they mean that the physical and bodily appearance is meant as the angel told the disciples in Acts chapter one. This description in Revelation one does not match the description of Jesus as he was taken up from them, nor does the description of Jesus in Revelation chapter 19. It is probable that what the angel meant by; “in like manner”, had nothing to do with the physical description or the physical bodily nature of his ascension. It more than likely refers to him returning on or in the clouds for that is the “manner” in which he was taken up in Acts 1.
Let’s compare the two passages:
“Son of Man” Daniel 7:13
“Son of Man” Revelation 1:13
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“The hair of his head was pure like wool” Daniel 7:9
“The hairs of his head were white like wool, as white as snow” Revelation 1:14
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“A Man clothed in Linen” Daniel 10:5
“A Man clothed with a Long Robe” Revelation 1:13
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“With a belt of fine Gold” Daniel 10:5
“With a golden sash” Revelation 1:13
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“His face like the appearance of lightning” Daniel 10:6
“His face was shining like the sun shining in full strength” Revelation 1:16
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“His eyes like flaming torches” Daniel 10:6
“His eyes were like a flame of fire” Revelation 1:14
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“His arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze: Daniel 10:6
“His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace” Revelation 1:15
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“The sound of his words like the sound of a multitude”, Daniel 10:6
“His voice was like the roar of many waters” Revelation 1:15
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“I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground” Daniel 10:9
“When I say him I fell at his feet as though dead” Revelation 1:17
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“And behold a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees” Daniel 10: 10
“But he laid his right hand on me…” Revelation 1:17
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“Then he said to me, Fear not” Daniel 10: 12
“…Saying, Fear not” Revelation 1:17
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What is it that we should make of these striking similarities between Daniel and John? I think that at least we can conclude that John is writing of the fulfillment of that which Daniel was only prophesying. But what was it that Daniel was prophesying.
“And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. ” Daniel 7:14
All of this grand language describing Christ is describing him coming in His kingdom. Daniel is clear that when this happens it will be a kingdom where “All the people, nations, and languages should serve him”.
This again is tied to John’s words in Revelation.
“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,” Revelation 14:6
Here again, John is quoting Daniel and he includes in his statement of these things being fulfilled that this would be the time of the preaching of the “Everlasting Gospel”.
I think it is clear that John is declaring that the kingdom has come in the person of Jesus, and that this time would be everlasting, it would include all the people groups of the earth and it would be an era in which Jesus Christ is glorified, magnified and exalted. This is the day and age in which we live today. We are now living in the day of the everlasting gospel and we are bound to praise and worship him with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength. This is an amazing text and the comparisons with Daniel are also amazing. There is so much more here.