Eight Descriptions of Christ in Revelation 1
“Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.” Revelation 1:12-16
In Revelation 1, the apostle John has an encounter with the Son of God saying, “I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me. And having turned I saw…” Revelation 1:12 He had been taken up in the Spirit to see the beauty of Jesus and the events of history unfolding, and even though he fell like a dead man at the sight of the glorious Son, never had he been so alive! In the natural, he lay prostrate, but in the spirit, he stood ascended.
Dressed in the same garments (of beauty and glory) mentioned in Exodus 28:4, Jesus addresses John in His Priestly splendor - wearing a garment down to His feet and girded with a sash around His chest. Revelation 1:13 He reveals Himself as the One who has gone before mankind to pay the price and who “Has freed us from our sins by His blood, and made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father…” Revelation 1:5-6 John is reminded of Christ’ righteousness and finished work, then begins to describe the glory features of Christ:
HIS HEAD speaks of His dominion, and how He governs the church, His body. Christ is the great Apostle who gives leadership, direction, and inspiration to the church. Hebrews 3:1 He imparts His mind and thoughts into the beloved.
“He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.” Colossians 1:18
HIS HAIR speaks of His pure and eternal nature, as the Ancient of Days. Just like John in Revelation 1:14, Daniel sees the Ancient of Days on His throne, with hair like pure wool, signifying eternal wisdom and knowledge. Daniel 7:9
HIS EYES speak of His fiery heart as our Bridegroom. As His eyes reveal His burning heart of love, it teaches us that Christ judges anything that stands against it. 1 Corinthians 3:13
Scripture also teaches us that the eyes are the window to the soul. Jesus said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.” Matthew 6:2 Daniel describes the son of man having “…eyes like flaming torches” Daniel 10:6
HIS FEET speak of Christ’ conquering through the death and resurrection, and how He will soon crush satan. Paul writes in Romans 16:20, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”
The Greek word for crush is sytribo meaning, “to break in pieces, to tear one's body and shatter one's strength.” It is complete and utter annihilation. When we preach and proclaim the (gospel) message, we remind satan of his soon coming demise.
“For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.” 1 Corinthians 15:25
HIS VOICE speaks of the power of His Word - it is the very source of life and hope in this age. Matthew declares, “Bread alone will not satisfy, but true life is found in every word, which constantly goes forth from God’s mouth.” (4:4 TPT)
Just as waterfalls (“many waters”) release sounds that cannot be heard by the human ear, so His voice has many sounds yet to be discovered, only through the Spirit. In Psalm 29, David declares:
“The voice of the Lord echoes through the skies and seas. The Glory-God reigns as He thunders in the clouds. So powerful His voice, so brilliant and bright; How majestic as He thunders over the great waters! His tympanic thunder topples the strongest of trees. His symphonic sound splinters the mighty forests. Now He moves Zion’s mountains move by the might of His voice, Shaking the snowy peaks with His ear-splitting sound! The lightning-fire flashes, striking as He speaks. God reveals Himself when He makes the fault lines quake; Shaking deserts, speaking His voice. God’s mighty voice makes the deer give birth. His thunder-bolt voice lays the forests bare. In His temple all fall before Him With each one shouting, “Glory, glory, the God of glory!” Psalm 29:3-9
HIS RIGHT HAND speaks of His divine power, the Lord’s strong hand of war. It was in the context of Israel's deliverance that God led them out with His mighty right hand. Exodus 15:6, 12
Here in Revelation 1, Christ holds the seven stars (angels) in His right hand, signifying Jesus releases power and protection from His hand. He feeds us with provisions along our journey. Psalm 23
“Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.” Psalm 60:5
HIS MOUTH speaks of the intimacy of His Word, and His ability to sustain our hearts with the kisses of His mouth. His “kisses” come as we encounter Him in the Scriptures as well as the prophetic (now) Word of Christ. Romans 10:17
“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth - for your love is more delightful than wine.” Song of Solomon 1:2
In Revelation 1:16 and 19:15 John also writes, “Coming out of His mouth is a sword,” which signifies the judging and penetrating power of the Word of God - it judges the thoughts and intents of our hearts, in order to bring us to a greater level of purity, love, and power. Hebrew 4:12
HIS FACE speaks of His beauty, and the knowledge of God - Christ paints the purest and most powerful picture of God. Paul says it like this, “For God who said, Let light shine out of darkness, is the One who has cascaded His light into us - the brilliant dawning light of the glorious knowledge of God as we gaze into the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 (TPT) Jesus came to reveal the Father, saying “If you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father.” John 14:9
Presence in the Hebrew renders the meaning “face.” John describes the end-time consummation as being one with God “face to face.” Revelation 21:1-4
When Christ revealed His glorious face, both John and Matthew describe it as “Shining like the sun,” meaning that revelation comes as we gaze on Him. Things yet to be discovered are unveiled as we look on our glorious Savior.
May we continue to look on the One our soul loves!
-RA
