Revelation 1:12-16, 20
The Son of Man—In His Glory
When our Lord came two-thousand years ago, he came in humility, born to humble parents in a stable (cave), and laid in a feeding trough. But this is not his usual state. From eternity our Lord was and is the Second Person of the Triune God, the only Son begotten of his Father, dwelling in inaccessible light. And now he is exalted to the Father’s right hand having taken his earthly body with him but now glorified. To put it another way, his humble state of being for those thirty or so years was an anomaly; his normal state of being is glorious, and three disciples were blessed to get a glimpse of that state when the veil was pulled back as he was transfigured before them.
So John (who was one of the three) now turns to see the one with the voice like a trumpet and the roar of many waters. John describes him in all of his awful appearance; a long robe and golden sash, hair white as snow, eyes like flame of fire, feet like burnished bronze refined in a furnace, a two-edged sword protruding from his mouth, and face shining like the sun in full strength. John naturally falls as if dead before him.
The description is very similar to Daniel 7:9-10 wherein is described the “Ancient of Days,” apparently a description of the Father but the Son shares his Father’s glorious appearance. In Daniel 7:13-14, a “Son of Man” appears on the clouds of heaven and receives dominion over all peoples and nations. Certainly what we see here is our Lord and Savior in all his regal attire appearing in his kingly office.
And over what does he rule? He rules over his Church represented by the seven golden lampstands—a reference to Zechariah 4:1-10 where the lampstand represents the temple yet unfinished under Zerubbabel during its rebuilding. That there are seven lampstands refers to all the churches. And he who stands in the midst of the churches is the same mighty Lord we just described above.
We remember that from our Lord’s mouth proceeded a sword—no doubt to judge the nations—but also to judge the churches when they stray from and compromise the truth when confronted with trial. But even so, he still holds the “seven stars” in his hand, which might represent angels who preside over the churches, the pastors of those churches, or the faithful of each church. Be that as it may, we may be comforted that in this world, the Lord walks among his churches as King, Protector, and Savior.
