Hearing God’s Revelation to the Churches

Revelation 1:12-16

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; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

The One speaking to John was the Son of Man, Jesus Christ Himself!  The seven lampstands of gold symbolize the churches addressed in the previous verse, and Jesus stands in the middle of them as He gets ready to speak to them soon.  This is important to understand the grace and peace that have been told to them in verse four in light of strong words to come, and that the messages to them are personally given by the Lord through John as he writes the words down to later be sent and read to them.  Christ is described in words John seeks to find to capture the awe and wonder of the divine before him; though wonderful, the comparisons cannot not do justice to what he really saw.  He had a long robe of sorts with a golden belt, a head and hair whiter than Moses after being face to face with God in the tabernacle, and had burning eyes like powerful flames of the altar.  His feet looked like shining brass fresh out of the refinery, perhaps to show the purity and holiness of the one standing there.  When He spoke, it was as if all languages were as one, sounding like a waterfall or bubbling brook or raging river of power; we can only imagine how that sounded and what John tried to describe as he saw and heard Him.  He held seven stars in the right hand of power, the angels of the corresponding churches being addressed.  They are under His rule and authority to address with the words to follow soon.  The sword that cuts both ways is His word of power for judgement and revealing of the hearts and minds (Hebrews 4:12).  His overall appearance was as if looking straight into the sun, powerfully bright and strong, comforting and able to consume with fire.  John saw, heard, and wrote.