John’s Vision of Christ

By Tim LaHaye, D.Min., Litt.D.
President, Tim LaHaye Ministries/Founder, Pre-Trib Research Center, El Cajon, California

As John turned to see Who was speaking to him in Revelation 1.12, he saw seven golden candlesticks and a Person in their midst, for Whom he lists ten very descriptive details. Nothing about the Person of Christ is interpreted because the Holy Spirit has interpreted these details on other occasions in the Scriptures. Each of these characteristics of John’s vision is noted along with their meaning from Scripture:

“One like unto the Son of Man” indicates this Person was not a grotesque supernatural creature; rather, His appearance was human. “Son of Man,” a title Jesus frequently applied to Himself is used of the Messiah in all four Gospels and Daniel 7.13.
“Clothed with a garment down to the foot.” Typically high priests wore long robes as they ministered in the holy place in the temple. Jesus is our Great High Priest in our relationship with God: Hebrews 2.17 and 3.1.
“Girt about the paps with a golden girdle” refers to an ancient world symbol of strength and authority. The average working man wore a short tunic of loose-fitting clothes. Only those in authority wore a girdle: Matthew 28.18.
“His head and His hair were white like wool, as white as snow,” conveys the thought of antiquity and reminds us of the vision of Daniel 7.9-13, where Christ is called “Ancient of Days.” The whiteness also speaks of the righteousness of God.
“His eyes were as a flame of fire.” The Greek construction is literally, “His eyes shot fire,” indicates Christ was indignant over the indifference of the apostate churches. Whenever the Church of Jesus Christ is not what it should be, it arouses the indignation of Christ.
“His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace.” The bronze imagery speaks to us of judgment, reminding us of the brazen altar of the tabernacle, where sin was judged.
“His voice as the sound of many waters.” At the edge of a large waterfall, the hearer is engulfed by the deafening roar of the turbulent waters. This figure seems to indicate the attitude of the Son of God as He comes in judgment on the Day of the Lord. In that day, all other voices will be stilled by the deafening, overpowering voice of the Son of God.
“He had in His right hand seven stars.” The Lord Himself interpreted this in verse 20, “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.” The Greek word translated angels is literally messengers. Some believe the word angels refers to the messenger/pastors appointed by God to lead local congregations. Another view is each messenger is an actual angel especially assigned to that church. This could mean all churches have guardian angels, just as Christ indicated little children have guardian angels: Matthew 18.10.
“Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.” Hebrews 4.12 tells us the Word of God is “sharper than any two-edged sword.” Evidently the spoken word of Christ will go forth as a sharp sword against which there will be no defense in the Day of Judgment.
“His countenance was as the sun shineth in His strength” speaks of the divine nature of Christ and reminds us of the description of Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration: Matthew 17.2.