When Jesus presented His Revelation to the apostle John, His appearance was quite different from the last time John had seen the risen Christ. Jesus was now displayed in His full glory, more in keeping with the radiant glimpse of Him given on the Mount of Transfiguration, rather than on the Mount of Olives at the time of Jesus’ ascension. His voice now boomed with power instead of calm and gentle tranquility, though His message remained one of love and deliverance through faith.
John writes:
12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters. Revelation 1:12-15 (NKJV)
The white of Jesus’ hair, as with God the Father’s as described in Daniel 7, speaks of God’s purity. This is a divine purity that no human can achieve on their own but is gifted to us through faith in Christ.
Jesus’ eyes of fire shine the Light that has come into the world, the Light of Christ.
His feet of brass speak of judgment, as in the Old Testament, where brass was the metal used in sin sacrifices for atonement. All judgment over good and evil has been granted to Christ by the Father, as Jesus taught His apostles, recorded in the gospel of John:
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. John 5:24-30 (NKJV)
The Light of Christ saves us from condemnation with mercy and grace, made possible through faith by His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. When we encounter Jesus in faith, we are reborn as new spiritual, eternal creations by the power of the Holy Spirit. We then desire to turn from our sins and follow Christ in His light. We hear His words and seek to obey Him, repenting of our sins, confessing them and turning back to Him when we fail.
But we are also told that many will not respond to His loving call, consistently rejecting His Light and choosing to follow evil. Jesus is the ultimate judge of those who repeatedly refuse His generous offer of forgiveness and salvation by grace, something only He is authorized to do.
Though tender and quick to forgive our many sins and shortcomings, He speaks with authority, the sound of many waters, as at a great waterfall. He spoke the universe into existence with His words, and He speaks salvation into us with them today. Let us seek to walk together in His goodness and love, learning from His word, and encouraging each other in fellowship and worship.
Reflection
God so generously offers us complete forgiveness today, no matter our sin. His creation was brought forth by His spoken word, but our salvation was achieved only through Jesus’ painful sacrifice on the cross, a voluntary offering of suffering and death in our place. He rose in glory on the third day as the first born from the dead. Christ now invites us to follow Him in faith, worshiping and serving Him throughout eternity as both kings and priests. Let us all choose to join Him there!
Father God, Your amazing love and grace overshadow us. Our sins are many, but Your love for us is strong. You long for us to reach out to You to be cleansed by the blood of Christ, through faith, to one day experience Your blessed resurrection of life. May we all be with You forever, worshiping and serving You into eternity, as You lead. May we bask in the glow of Your divine Light, reflecting Your purity, holiness, and love. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have a blessed and beautiful day in the Lord today.
Times and Seasons - The Book of Revelation FOR TODAY 