part 6: John’s Vision of the Son of man
Puzzled About Revelation, March 18 2021
“I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone ‘like a son of man’”
Introduction
What do we do when life is hard, when our trials overwhelm us, we feel alone and helpless, and our future appears hopeless? Where do we go for help? Whom do we look to?
John, the beloved disciple, was an old man, exiled and alone, suffering for his faith on the island of Patmos, wanting to encourage his fellow believers who were likewise being persecuted by the Roman Empire.
Tonight, John introduces us to the One who alone can give us strength and comfort during life’s trials and tribulations, and the glorious hope of a bright future in the midst of this present darkness…
“I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
V.9: 9 I, John, your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
Context: John received these visions while suffering persecution and tribulation for the Word of God and his testimony of Jesus Christ. John’s audience was facing similar hardships.
V.10-11:10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
Context:
“On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit”: John received these visions while in a posture of humility, worship, and prayer “in the Spirit” (See Eph. 6:18).
“I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet”: This recalls how the LORD appeared and spoke to Israel at Mt. Sinai and makes John a “type” of Moses-figure(See Ex. 19:16-19; 20:18-19).
Command:
“Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches”: John was invited to observe and participate in the unfolding of revelation to mankind by WRITING and SENDING what he SAW to the seven churches (and all the churches).
What John saw next left him scrambling for words to describe his experience…
V.12-13a: 12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man…
Symbols: Much of what John saw he described using SYMBOLISM. Symbols (signs) convey truth using images to paint pictures in our minds. Often, Scripture provides the meaning of the symbol, either in the passage itself or from an Old Testament symbol familiar to John’s audience. We must understand the meaning of the symbol and then believe the reality it points to as TRUE.
“And when I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. Seven lampstands = the seven churches
“The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels [or messengers] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
“and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man”:
“Son of Man” was a familiar OT title ascribed to the Messiah in both Ezekiel’s & Daniel’s visions, the description of which is almost identical to John’s vision (See Ezek. 1; Dan. 7:9-14; 10:1-11,15-19).
Jesus used this specific title no less than 75 times in the four Gospels when referring to Himself in the 3rd person.
NOTE: Where was the one “like a son of man” located in John’s vision: Among the lampstands! Where is Jesus when His people are facing trials and tribulation? Right there with them in the midst of it! Hallelujah!
V.13b-16: …dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden belt around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
Dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash (belt) around his chest: Gold is a symbol of royalty, and the belt represents truth or righteousness—this person is a Righteous King.
“‘Though your sins are like scarlet,they shall be as white as snow;though they are red as crimson,they shall be (white) like wool.’
’All of us have become like one who is unclean,and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.’”
o Son of Man = pure, holy, righteous, undefiled, without sin or stain
His eyes were like blazing fire: This refers to His all-seeing, all-knowing nature as a just Judge.
Heb. 4:13: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace: Bronze is symbolic of the place of judgment for sin.
The bronze altar in the courtyard of the tabernacle/temple was the place where Israel’s sin was dealt with through sacrifice and burnt offering (See Ex. 27:1-8; 38:1-7).
This Son of Man is going forth with feet to judge sin! When Jesus returns, His feet will tread the winepress of the wrath of God and the wicked will be thrown in the fiery furnace (hell)!
This can also be a picture of Jesus’ judging activity among His churches as He refines and purifies them from their sins through fiery trials in the “furnace of affliction” so that they are not (finally) condemned with the world. Just as a guilty Israelite was to flee and take hold of the horns of the (bronze) altar in hopes of finding mercy, we too must flee to the feet of Jesus and find mercy for our sins!
His voice was like the sound of rushing waters: Symbolic of His power and authority.
In his right hand he held seven stars:
“Right hand” is the hand of power and authority.
“Seven stars” refers to the seven “angels” or “messengers” of the seven churches (See Rev. 1:20, above).
In Greek, angelos can sometimes refer to human messengers (See Matt. 11:10; Mk. 1:2; Lk. 7:24,27; 9:52; James 2:25). In this case, the seven stars may be the elders or pastors of the local church.
This symbolizes the authority the Son of Man has over all angelic powers and principalities (Col. 1:15-18, 2:15; Heb. 1:4; Rev. 9:13-16); it also symbolizes the blessed position of the messengers of Christ’s churches—a great comfort in times of tribulation!
Coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword: This symbolizes the Word of God as sharp and discerning—it divides truth from error.
Heb. 4:12: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance: Speaking of His unmatched glory, beauty, holiness, and moral perfection.
V.17-18: 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead: John’s reaction to this vision was one of being completely overwhelmed to the point of death!
See also Isaiah 6:1-5; Ezek. 1:28; Dan. 10:7-11,15-19.
Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid… Though He is infinitely glorious and unlike any other, this Son of Man is full of grace and mercy, identifying with John (and us) in our weakness; He is full of compassion to sinners!
I am the First and the Last…Without beginning or end, He is before all things (Col. 1:17).
He is our Creator and Judge, the Source and Destination of all, for “from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever!” (Rom. 11:36)
This title is deeply connected to YHWH in the Hebrew Scriptures, indicating that Jesus is equal to the “I AM” of the Old Testament, yet a distinct Person.
“This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.”
“Listen to me, Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am He; I am the first and I am the last. 13 My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together. 14 Come together, all of you, and listen: Which of the idols has foretold these things? The Lord’s [beloved, son] will carry out His purpose against Babylon; His arm will be against the Babylonians.15 I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called Him. I will bring Him, and He will succeed in His mission. 16 Come near Me and listen to this: ‘From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret; at the time it happens, I am there. And now the Sovereign Lord has sent Me, with His Spirit.’”
I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever: This refers to His eternal nature and the only One who has the power to give life and resurrect the dead because of His resurrection from the dead (Col. 1:15-18).
And I hold the keys of death and Hades:
“Keys” refers to authority. The one who holds the keys holds the power or authority over what the keys unlock. Jesus’ victory over death and the grave means that we do not need to fear them any longer because He holds the keys!
“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”
Conclusion
Each of these attributes of Jesus will be emphasized in the coming letters to the churches as a means of encouragement…which attribute encourages you today? How comforting to know that it is THIS Jesus who sovereign over all creation and holds our lives in the palm of His hands! Even death and Hades have no power over the children of God! AMEN!