Chapter Five /John Beholds the Glorified Jesus

Continue with In the Lord's Day

It is evident that Jesus is now poised to go into action as enthroned King.  He has been appointed as Jehovah's Chief Executioner to carry  out Jehovah's final judgments against this old, wicked system of things and its diabolic god, Satan.  He is also on hand to judge those of his congregation of anointed ones and the great crowd of their associates as well as to judge the world. -Revelation 7:4, 9; Acts 17:31. 

John turns at the sound of the loud voice, and her is what he sees:  "I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me, and having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands."  (Revelation 1:12)  Later, John learns what these seven lampstands symbolize.   But it is the person in the midst o the lampstands that catches his eye.  There was "in the midst of the lampstands someone like a "son of man, clothed with a garment that reached down to the feet, and girded at the breasts with a golden girdle."  (Revelation 1:13)   Jesus, the "son of man," here presents himself before the awestruck witness, John as a magnificent, glowing figure.  He appears in brilliant glory among flaming golden lampstands.  This templelike setting impresses on John the fact that Jesus is present in the role of Jehovah's great High Priest, with judgment powers.  (Hebrews 4:14; 7:21-25)  His long, impressive garment conforms to his priestly office. Like the Jewish high priests of old, he wears a girdle - a golden girdle over his breast where it covers his heart.  This signifies that he will wholeheartedly carry out his divine commission received from Jehovah God. -Exodus 28:8, 30; Hebrews 8:1, 2. 

John's description continues:  "Moreover, his head and his hair  were white as white wool, as snow, and his eyes as a fiery flame."  (Revelation 1:14)  His snow-white hair indicates wisdom due to length of life.   (Compare  Proverbs 16:31)   And his fiery eyes  show that he is sharp, alert, as he searches, tests, or expresses indignation.  Even Jesus' feet catch John's attention:  "And his feet were like fine copper when glowing in a furnace; and his voice was as the sound of many waters."  (Revelation 1:15)  In the vision, Jesus' feet are like copper, glowing bright-properly so for one who walks zealously and with a fine standing in the presence of Jehovah God.  Moreover, while in the Bible divine things are often pictured  by gold, so things human are sometimes represented by copper.  So Jesus' glowing feet like fine copper remind us of how "comely" his feet were when he walked the earth preaching the good news. -Isaiah 5:27; Romans 10:15.  

Indeed, as a perfect human, Jesus had a radiance that was apparent to angels and men.  (John 1:14)  His glorious feet also remind us that he is treading holy ground in Jehovah's organization, in which he is High Priest.   (Compare Exodus 3:5) Further, his voice resounds thunderously like a huge cascading waterfall. It is impressive awe inspiring, as is fitting for the one officially called the Word of God, the one who has come "to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness. " - Acts 17:31; John 1:1.  

Next time: Chapter Five/John Beholds the Glorified Jesus -Conclusion of In the Lord's Day

From the book of Revelation