His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
John in the Spirit saw the glorified Son of man with head and hair brilliantly white like wool and snow, eyes blazing and piercing like a flame of fire, clothed in royal garments of majesty down to the foot with a golden girdle and a countenance bright as the noonday sun. It is Jesus in glorified humanity as a real personal Being, no longer in the poor garments and humiliation of His suffering but in exalted solemn glory as the first and the last who liveth and was dead and is alive forevermore. His fiery eyes search every church and every heart, reading secret thoughts, motives and deeds with nothing hidden or screened from Him, so that the unready dread His gaze while the pure in heart stand with joy in His sufficient grace. This is how He will appear when He comes in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory as conquering King of kings, which Satan will imitate by appearing as a dazzling majestic being claiming to be Christ to deceive those who received not the love of the truth. He is seen walking among the candlesticks which are His churches, holding their destiny and the concerns of the loyal in His charge with tender watchcare, calling all to get ready now through repentance, cleansing from sin, and obedient faith that beholds His glory by faith on earth in order to behold it fully in heaven.
Vision Setting on Patmos
Revelation 1:14 belongs to what John saw when in the Spirit on the Lord's day on Patmos, banished there for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus. The Lord's day is the Sabbath instituted in Eden, precious to John in exile as when among companions in cities and towns, whose promises he repeated and claimed as his own as the sign that God was his. It was heard and seen when a voice behind him spoke, and in that Sabbath vision he saw one like the Son of man in the midst of seven golden candlesticks. Enemies appeared to triumph outwardly, yet God placed him there as if hidden on a desert island, deprived of the society of brethren and cut off by the ocean, so that Christ could visit him with a wonderful view of His glory. Light from the Son of God shone on barren Patmos and made it a heaven to the lonely exile, and the testimony then given is given also to us, so that no man can deprive God's servants of its light.
John was then old and persecuted, more than fifty years after leaning on Christ's bosom, banished for fidelity to his Saviour and for faithfulness in witnessing. Heaven was open before him in unspeakable joy, and Christ came in person from heaven, working by the Holy Spirit, to open to him the future of the church and of the world and what would take place in the last days and at the close of this earth's history. The risen Saviour made His presence known on the holy Sabbath to prepare him to endure hatred and scorn, and in exile John beheld his glorified Redeemer and saw more distinctly than ever before what is to be. In Christ he saw mercy, tenderness, and love blending with holiness, justice, and power, sinners finding a Father of whom their sins had made them afraid, mercy and truth meeting together, and the throne terrible in unbelief becoming in repentance a place of refuge where instead of fleeing from God sinners flee to His arms for protection and pardon.
At a voice as of a trumpet in clear distinct tones declaring Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, John turned to see the voice and saw one like the Son of man in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. He was told to write what he saw in a book and send it to the seven churches, which represent all the churches in the world, for seven represents a perfect whole, concerning things which are and things which shall be hereafter. His message comes from One who has authority, holding the seven stars in His right hand, and must not be turned from flippantly. The description was given not for John alone nor for the seven churches in Asia alone, but through those churches as an inspired message with powerful impression in every age to the close of this earth's history. It was presented with words of explanation giving what is of greatest importance for the present and reaching from time into eternity.
The glory overwhelmed John so that he fell at His feet as dead, until Christ laid His right hand on him and told him not to fear as the first and the last who lives and was dead and is alive forevermore. Christ appeared in the indescribable glory of the holy sanctuary as a glorified divine Being, and this revelation enabled John to endure the sight and carried His message for the churches. His humanity could not endure it, so Jesus had to come and revive and strengthen him to endure it and then give him mysteries to make known and to write to the churches. This shows human beings cannot see unveiled divinity and live but would be struck out of existence, which is why Christ took humanity upon Himself and why God reaches people through human lips rather than by an angel or by unveiled glory, so messages sent by God should not be thrown aside because they come from human lips.
Appearance Described in Verse
His head and hairs were brilliantly white like wool, as white as snow, described as white and curly hair resting upon His shoulders. That whiteness belongs to the risen Christ seen in John's vision, displaying His majesty and glory. His eyes were as a flame of fire, blazing and piercing like fire. They were changed from humiliation to glory, no longer bearing the marks of humiliation seen in His earthly suffering.
He was clothed with a garment down to the foot and girt about the chest with a golden girdle, in garments of royalty, beauty, majesty, and glory unsurpassed by anything mortal eyes have beheld. He no longer wore the poor garments of humanity worn for man's sake, nor the old purple robe and crown of thorns and sorrowful appearance of His humiliation, but heavenly brightness and glory. A crown of glory was upon His brow, with whiteness like snow upon Him. He appeared in glorified humanity and in human form, still bearing the nail marks in His hands and feet. His countenance was bright and glorious like the sun shining in its strength, as brightly as the noonday sun, with as much glory as a human being could behold and live.
His appearance is in striking contrast to His earlier appearance as a suffering, despised man. It displays His majesty, dignity, and exalted solemn glory.
Christ Revealed in Glory
The white hair and fiery eyes belong to Christ as He will appear when He comes in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and they show Him to be a personal being, not an essence. He is a real person with a distinct personality, seen in His glorified form with a bright, glorious countenance like the sun shining in its strength.
John saw one like the Son of man standing in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, revealing Jesus in His glorified form as the first and the last, who liveth and was dead and is alive forevermore, with the keys of hell and of death. The description records the impression made by seeing his glorified Lord on the Isle of Patmos, more than fifty years after John had leaned on His bosom, when banished there for fidelity to his Saviour, Christ came in person to open to him the future of the church and of the world. The glorified person so portrayed is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and the one soon to ride forth conquering and to conquer.
The appearance presents the risen Christ in glory as a glorified divine Being in the indescribable glory of the holy sanctuary and in immortal glory. It is evidence that Christ is risen and alive and gives living power to the church. That revelation enabled John to endure the sight and carried Christ's message for the churches. When dark clouds of oppression and persecution surround God's people and seem to extinguish them, the risen Saviour as the Sun of Righteousness shines most clear and impressive, revealing the brightest beams of God's glory in the deepest gloom and teaching the most instructive lessons. He still enters prisons to reveal Himself to His chosen ones and is with them in the fire at the stake, revealing Himself to His people amid persecution to bring them strength and hope amid darkness.
In exile for faithfulness in witnessing, given special light for the church, John beheld his glorified Redeemer and saw more distinctly than ever before what is to be at the close of this earth's history. In Christ he saw the mercy, tenderness, and love of God blending with His holiness, justice, and power. He saw sinners finding in Him a Father of whom their sins had made them afraid, where mercy and truth met together and righteousness and peace kissed each other. Instead of fleeing from God because of sin, sinners flee to His arms for protection and pardon, and the throne that is terrible in unbelief becomes in repentance a place of refuge.
Searching Eyes of Judgment
His eyes like blazing fire are His piercing, searching gaze upon every congregation and every heart. Nothing is hidden from Him, for He examines thoughts, motives, purposes, worship and actions, weighs what people do, records it, and sees sins that others have not detected or even suspected.
His fiery sight rests upon every person and reads the secret of the soul, discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart. All things are naked and open before Him, no deed of darkness can be screened from His view, and no sin meditated in human minds is unknown to Him. Since He sees iniquity, no one in themselves could stand before that gaze.
At His return those same fiery eyes search His children through and through, exposing their true condition and raising the question of who shall be able to stand. The rejected are filled with dread, terror and fear, growing pale and becoming dark under that exposure. His presence makes all feel solemn fear about standing, while the faithful anxiously ask whether their robes are spotless and whether they are ready.
Those with clean hands and a pure heart can stand, for His own words assure them that His grace is sufficient. That assurance brings joy to those who are ready. His coming searches all creation through and sees every life fully, which means the Judge is examining hearts now. Every person must therefore get ready for judgment, pray for pardon, stand clear before God, be cleansed from every stain of sin before death comes, humble the heart, repent, and come to the Mediator who pleads for sinners so that all sins may be laid upon the Sin-bearer.
Prophecy and Counterfeit Coming
The verse belongs to the revelation of Christ as He will appear when He comes in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. It shows Him as a personal being, not an essence, with head and hairs white like wool, as white as snow, and eyes as a flame of fire. At His return His eyes appear as a flame of fire as He rides forth in glory and majesty, and His countenance shines as brightly as the noonday sun in the glory and power of the conquering King of kings.
It stands in the first three chapters of Revelation that give an earnest warning to prepare to meet the Lord in the clouds of heaven because He comes with power and great glory. Those chapters rebuke indifference to the signs foretold by Christ and give evidence that the end of the world is right upon us.
Satan will imitate this description of the Son of God, appearing as a majestic, dazzling being resembling Christ to deceive people. He has power to clothe himself with that same royalty and majesty seen in Christ's garments of royalty, beauty, majesty, and glory unsurpassed by anything mortal eyes have beheld. He will personate Christ coming the second time, proclaiming himself Christ with soft voice and pleasant words to the Christian world who received not the love of the truth but had pleasure in transgression of the law. They will believe he is Christ and shout that Christ has come the second time and has lifted up his hands to bless them just as He did when He was upon the earth.
That resemblance does not make him Christ, and Scripture exposes the deception. The description is similar to Daniel's vision of the heavenly visitor who came to teach about events in the latter days. The entire revelation given to John was already rehearsed by Moses in the Exodus and in the plagues brought upon Egypt, showing that Scripture is tested by Scripture and there is no contradiction in the Word of God.
Care for Church and Call to Respond
The white-haired, flame-eyed One is the Son of man standing and walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, which are the seven churches, holding their seven stars in His right hand. His message to His people comes from One who has authority and must not be turned from flippantly. He is their Advocate, sending messengers throughout His dominion and seeking to sanctify and prepare His followers for service. The vision was opened before the history of the church for future ages to assure John of the Saviour's interest and care for His people.
How closely heaven is connected with events on earth, and how great is God's care for those loyal to Him, is shown in this picture of Christ with head and hairs white and eyes as a flame of fire. The program of coming events is in the hands of the Lord, and the Majesty of heaven has the destiny of nations as well as the concerns of His church in His own charge, so that God's servants in great emergency are not to trust to themselves, for the world is not without a ruler. The messages to the churches in Revelation 1 with Revelation 2 and Revelation 3 give the history of Satan's effort to bring dissension into the church by subtlety to destroy good accomplished, and the instruction there must be met today.
Though the church is enfeebled and defective, it is the object of Christ's supreme regard, constantly watched over by Him with tender solicitude and strengthened by His Holy Spirit. Members of His church are to let Him impress their minds and work through them to His glory, to heed and obey the messages He gives to His church, to make certain their redemption, and to be among those who meet Him with joy at His coming and not among those who shall wail because of Him. That same Jesus who appeared to John when banished to Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girt about with a golden girdle, is the all-sufficient and all-powerful One whose presence is with believers cut off from the world by the ocean and left alone. He will visit isolated believers, will be found of all who call upon Him, and will manifest to them His love and the love of His Father, honoring their home by the divine presence, as light from the Son of God shone on barren Patmos and made it a heaven to the lonely exile.
When banished as if hidden on a desert island and deprived of the society of his brethren, John was visited by Christ with a wonderful view of His glory to make known what was to come upon the earth in the last days, though enemies appeared to triumph outwardly. The risen Saviour made His presence known to John on the holy Sabbath day to prepare him to endure hatred and scorn for the sake of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus, and the testimony then given is given also to us, so that no man can deprive God's servants of its light and revelation. The appearance proves to believers and unbelievers that Christ is risen and alive and gives living power to the church, revealing Himself to His chosen people in times of oppression and persecution to bring them strength and hope amid darkness. When dark clouds of oppression and persecution surround God's people and seem to extinguish them, the risen Saviour as the Sun of Righteousness shines most clear and impressive, revealing the brightest beams of God's glory in the deepest gloom and teaching the most instructive lessons, still entering prisons to reveal Himself to His chosen ones and being with them in the fire at the stake.
That majesty and glory, with head and hair brilliantly white like wool and snow and eyes blazing like fire, is now to be seen by faith on earth, giving a sense of His worth and love. Beholding it calls for firm purpose and obedience instead of weakness and yielding to temptation, for only those who see the Redeemer's glory by faith on earth will see it in its fullness in heaven above, and seeing that glory on earth prepares them to see it fully in heaven. The revelation is a wonderful, dignified, exalted, solemn message, received by John while worked by the Holy Spirit when Christ Himself came from heaven and told him what to write, and to present it with decided emphasis demands all the talents and capabilities God has given. It was ordered to be written in a book and sent to the seven churches, which represent all the churches in the world, for the number seven represents a perfect whole, telling the things which are and the things which shall be hereafter, and it is to be studied carefully and prayerfully, believed, preached, and taught to those unacquainted with truth, with its light not hidden under a bushel.
Its light is for the present, containing the three angels' messages and the description of the angel to come down from heaven with great power to lighten the earth with his glory, with warnings against the wickedness of the last days and against the mark of the beast, which must be read and understood and proclaimed to the world with no uncertain sound to stir the people and warn them. The passage from Revelation 1:10-19 is to be known so that believers may escape the perils of the last days, may know where their dependence lies, may make no gods of men, may worship the Lord God with all heart and mind and soul and strength, and may love their neighbor as themselves, because love to God and love to man uphold all the law and the prophets. Revelation 1:13-18 gives the decided testimony of the True Witness to those living in these last days about the work of overcoming, presented in figures with words of explanation that give what is of greatest importance for the present and reaches from time into eternity.
John in the Spirit saw the glorified Son of man with head and hair brilliantly white like wool and snow, eyes blazing and piercing like a flame of fire, clothed in royal garments of majesty down to the foot with a golden girdle and a countenance bright as the noonday sun. It is Jesus in glorified humanity as a real personal Being, no longer in the poor garments and humiliation of His suffering but in exalted solemn glory as the first and the last who liveth and was dead and is alive forevermore. His fiery eyes search every church and every heart, reading secret thoughts, motives and deeds with nothing hidden or screened from Him, so that the unready dread His gaze while the pure in heart stand with joy in His sufficient grace. This is how He will appear when He comes in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory as conquering King of kings, which Satan will imitate by appearing as a dazzling majestic being claiming to be Christ to deceive those who received not the love of the truth. He is seen walking among the candlesticks which are His churches, holding their destiny and the concerns of the loyal in His charge with tender watchcare, calling all to get ready now through repentance, cleansing from sin, and obedient faith that beholds His glory by faith on earth in order to behold it fully in heaven.
Vision Setting on Patmos
Revelation 1:14 belongs to what John saw when in the Spirit on the Lord's day on Patmos, banished there for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus. The Lord's day is the Sabbath instituted in Eden, precious to John in exile as when among companions in cities and towns, whose promises he repeated and claimed as his own as the sign that God was his. It was heard and seen when a voice behind him spoke, and in that Sabbath vision he saw one like the Son of man in the midst of seven golden candlesticks. Enemies appeared to triumph outwardly, yet God placed him there as if hidden on a desert island, deprived of the society of brethren and cut off by the ocean, so that Christ could visit him with a wonderful view of His glory. Light from the Son of God shone on barren Patmos and made it a heaven to the lonely exile, and the testimony then given is given also to us, so that no man can deprive God's servants of its light.
John was then old and persecuted, more than fifty years after leaning on Christ's bosom, banished for fidelity to his Saviour and for faithfulness in witnessing. Heaven was open before him in unspeakable joy, and Christ came in person from heaven, working by the Holy Spirit, to open to him the future of the church and of the world and what would take place in the last days and at the close of this earth's history. The risen Saviour made His presence known on the holy Sabbath to prepare him to endure hatred and scorn, and in exile John beheld his glorified Redeemer and saw more distinctly than ever before what is to be. In Christ he saw mercy, tenderness, and love blending with holiness, justice, and power, sinners finding a Father of whom their sins had made them afraid, mercy and truth meeting together, and the throne terrible in unbelief becoming in repentance a place of refuge where instead of fleeing from God sinners flee to His arms for protection and pardon.
At a voice as of a trumpet in clear distinct tones declaring Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, John turned to see the voice and saw one like the Son of man in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. He was told to write what he saw in a book and send it to the seven churches, which represent all the churches in the world, for seven represents a perfect whole, concerning things which are and things which shall be hereafter. His message comes from One who has authority, holding the seven stars in His right hand, and must not be turned from flippantly. The description was given not for John alone nor for the seven churches in Asia alone, but through those churches as an inspired message with powerful impression in every age to the close of this earth's history. It was presented with words of explanation giving what is of greatest importance for the present and reaching from time into eternity.
The glory overwhelmed John so that he fell at His feet as dead, until Christ laid His right hand on him and told him not to fear as the first and the last who lives and was dead and is alive forevermore. Christ appeared in the indescribable glory of the holy sanctuary as a glorified divine Being, and this revelation enabled John to endure the sight and carried His message for the churches. His humanity could not endure it, so Jesus had to come and revive and strengthen him to endure it and then give him mysteries to make known and to write to the churches. This shows human beings cannot see unveiled divinity and live but would be struck out of existence, which is why Christ took humanity upon Himself and why God reaches people through human lips rather than by an angel or by unveiled glory, so messages sent by God should not be thrown aside because they come from human lips.
Appearance Described in Verse
His head and hairs were brilliantly white like wool, as white as snow, described as white and curly hair resting upon His shoulders. That whiteness belongs to the risen Christ seen in John's vision, displaying His majesty and glory. His eyes were as a flame of fire, blazing and piercing like fire. They were changed from humiliation to glory, no longer bearing the marks of humiliation seen in His earthly suffering.
He was clothed with a garment down to the foot and girt about the chest with a golden girdle, in garments of royalty, beauty, majesty, and glory unsurpassed by anything mortal eyes have beheld. He no longer wore the poor garments of humanity worn for man's sake, nor the old purple robe and crown of thorns and sorrowful appearance of His humiliation, but heavenly brightness and glory. A crown of glory was upon His brow, with whiteness like snow upon Him. He appeared in glorified humanity and in human form, still bearing the nail marks in His hands and feet. His countenance was bright and glorious like the sun shining in its strength, as brightly as the noonday sun, with as much glory as a human being could behold and live.
His appearance is in striking contrast to His earlier appearance as a suffering, despised man. It displays His majesty, dignity, and exalted solemn glory.
Christ Revealed in Glory
The white hair and fiery eyes belong to Christ as He will appear when He comes in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and they show Him to be a personal being, not an essence. He is a real person with a distinct personality, seen in His glorified form with a bright, glorious countenance like the sun shining in its strength.
John saw one like the Son of man standing in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, revealing Jesus in His glorified form as the first and the last, who liveth and was dead and is alive forevermore, with the keys of hell and of death. The description records the impression made by seeing his glorified Lord on the Isle of Patmos, more than fifty years after John had leaned on His bosom, when banished there for fidelity to his Saviour, Christ came in person to open to him the future of the church and of the world. The glorified person so portrayed is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and the one soon to ride forth conquering and to conquer.
The appearance presents the risen Christ in glory as a glorified divine Being in the indescribable glory of the holy sanctuary and in immortal glory. It is evidence that Christ is risen and alive and gives living power to the church. That revelation enabled John to endure the sight and carried Christ's message for the churches. When dark clouds of oppression and persecution surround God's people and seem to extinguish them, the risen Saviour as the Sun of Righteousness shines most clear and impressive, revealing the brightest beams of God's glory in the deepest gloom and teaching the most instructive lessons. He still enters prisons to reveal Himself to His chosen ones and is with them in the fire at the stake, revealing Himself to His people amid persecution to bring them strength and hope amid darkness.
In exile for faithfulness in witnessing, given special light for the church, John beheld his glorified Redeemer and saw more distinctly than ever before what is to be at the close of this earth's history. In Christ he saw the mercy, tenderness, and love of God blending with His holiness, justice, and power. He saw sinners finding in Him a Father of whom their sins had made them afraid, where mercy and truth met together and righteousness and peace kissed each other. Instead of fleeing from God because of sin, sinners flee to His arms for protection and pardon, and the throne that is terrible in unbelief becomes in repentance a place of refuge.
Searching Eyes of Judgment
His eyes like blazing fire are His piercing, searching gaze upon every congregation and every heart. Nothing is hidden from Him, for He examines thoughts, motives, purposes, worship and actions, weighs what people do, records it, and sees sins that others have not detected or even suspected.
His fiery sight rests upon every person and reads the secret of the soul, discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart. All things are naked and open before Him, no deed of darkness can be screened from His view, and no sin meditated in human minds is unknown to Him. Since He sees iniquity, no one in themselves could stand before that gaze.
At His return those same fiery eyes search His children through and through, exposing their true condition and raising the question of who shall be able to stand. The rejected are filled with dread, terror and fear, growing pale and becoming dark under that exposure. His presence makes all feel solemn fear about standing, while the faithful anxiously ask whether their robes are spotless and whether they are ready.
Those with clean hands and a pure heart can stand, for His own words assure them that His grace is sufficient. That assurance brings joy to those who are ready. His coming searches all creation through and sees every life fully, which means the Judge is examining hearts now. Every person must therefore get ready for judgment, pray for pardon, stand clear before God, be cleansed from every stain of sin before death comes, humble the heart, repent, and come to the Mediator who pleads for sinners so that all sins may be laid upon the Sin-bearer.
Prophecy and Counterfeit Coming
The verse belongs to the revelation of Christ as He will appear when He comes in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. It shows Him as a personal being, not an essence, with head and hairs white like wool, as white as snow, and eyes as a flame of fire. At His return His eyes appear as a flame of fire as He rides forth in glory and majesty, and His countenance shines as brightly as the noonday sun in the glory and power of the conquering King of kings.
It stands in the first three chapters of Revelation that give an earnest warning to prepare to meet the Lord in the clouds of heaven because He comes with power and great glory. Those chapters rebuke indifference to the signs foretold by Christ and give evidence that the end of the world is right upon us.
Satan will imitate this description of the Son of God, appearing as a majestic, dazzling being resembling Christ to deceive people. He has power to clothe himself with that same royalty and majesty seen in Christ's garments of royalty, beauty, majesty, and glory unsurpassed by anything mortal eyes have beheld. He will personate Christ coming the second time, proclaiming himself Christ with soft voice and pleasant words to the Christian world who received not the love of the truth but had pleasure in transgression of the law. They will believe he is Christ and shout that Christ has come the second time and has lifted up his hands to bless them just as He did when He was upon the earth.
That resemblance does not make him Christ, and Scripture exposes the deception. The description is similar to Daniel's vision of the heavenly visitor who came to teach about events in the latter days. The entire revelation given to John was already rehearsed by Moses in the Exodus and in the plagues brought upon Egypt, showing that Scripture is tested by Scripture and there is no contradiction in the Word of God.
Care for Church and Call to Respond
The white-haired, flame-eyed One is the Son of man standing and walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, which are the seven churches, holding their seven stars in His right hand. His message to His people comes from One who has authority and must not be turned from flippantly. He is their Advocate, sending messengers throughout His dominion and seeking to sanctify and prepare His followers for service. The vision was opened before the history of the church for future ages to assure John of the Saviour's interest and care for His people.
How closely heaven is connected with events on earth, and how great is God's care for those loyal to Him, is shown in this picture of Christ with head and hairs white and eyes as a flame of fire. The program of coming events is in the hands of the Lord, and the Majesty of heaven has the destiny of nations as well as the concerns of His church in His own charge, so that God's servants in great emergency are not to trust to themselves, for the world is not without a ruler. The messages to the churches in Revelation 1 with Revelation 2 and Revelation 3 give the history of Satan's effort to bring dissension into the church by subtlety to destroy good accomplished, and the instruction there must be met today.
Though the church is enfeebled and defective, it is the object of Christ's supreme regard, constantly watched over by Him with tender solicitude and strengthened by His Holy Spirit. Members of His church are to let Him impress their minds and work through them to His glory, to heed and obey the messages He gives to His church, to make certain their redemption, and to be among those who meet Him with joy at His coming and not among those who shall wail because of Him. That same Jesus who appeared to John when banished to Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girt about with a golden girdle, is the all-sufficient and all-powerful One whose presence is with believers cut off from the world by the ocean and left alone. He will visit isolated believers, will be found of all who call upon Him, and will manifest to them His love and the love of His Father, honoring their home by the divine presence, as light from the Son of God shone on barren Patmos and made it a heaven to the lonely exile.
When banished as if hidden on a desert island and deprived of the society of his brethren, John was visited by Christ with a wonderful view of His glory to make known what was to come upon the earth in the last days, though enemies appeared to triumph outwardly. The risen Saviour made His presence known to John on the holy Sabbath day to prepare him to endure hatred and scorn for the sake of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus, and the testimony then given is given also to us, so that no man can deprive God's servants of its light and revelation. The appearance proves to believers and unbelievers that Christ is risen and alive and gives living power to the church, revealing Himself to His chosen people in times of oppression and persecution to bring them strength and hope amid darkness. When dark clouds of oppression and persecution surround God's people and seem to extinguish them, the risen Saviour as the Sun of Righteousness shines most clear and impressive, revealing the brightest beams of God's glory in the deepest gloom and teaching the most instructive lessons, still entering prisons to reveal Himself to His chosen ones and being with them in the fire at the stake.
That majesty and glory, with head and hair brilliantly white like wool and snow and eyes blazing like fire, is now to be seen by faith on earth, giving a sense of His worth and love. Beholding it calls for firm purpose and obedience instead of weakness and yielding to temptation, for only those who see the Redeemer's glory by faith on earth will see it in its fullness in heaven above, and seeing that glory on earth prepares them to see it fully in heaven. The revelation is a wonderful, dignified, exalted, solemn message, received by John while worked by the Holy Spirit when Christ Himself came from heaven and told him what to write, and to present it with decided emphasis demands all the talents and capabilities God has given. It was ordered to be written in a book and sent to the seven churches, which represent all the churches in the world, for the number seven represents a perfect whole, telling the things which are and the things which shall be hereafter, and it is to be studied carefully and prayerfully, believed, preached, and taught to those unacquainted with truth, with its light not hidden under a bushel.
Its light is for the present, containing the three angels' messages and the description of the angel to come down from heaven with great power to lighten the earth with his glory, with warnings against the wickedness of the last days and against the mark of the beast, which must be read and understood and proclaimed to the world with no uncertain sound to stir the people and warn them. The passage from Revelation 1:10-19 is to be known so that believers may escape the perils of the last days, may know where their dependence lies, may make no gods of men, may worship the Lord God with all heart and mind and soul and strength, and may love their neighbor as themselves, because love to God and love to man uphold all the law and the prophets. Revelation 1:13-18 gives the decided testimony of the True Witness to those living in these last days about the work of overcoming, presented in figures with words of explanation that give what is of greatest importance for the present and reaches from time into eternity.