I would like to look at the first three chapters of Revelation to observe the attitude in which Christ is seen in the midst of the churches in Revelation, as presented by John. Paul could not be the vessel to reveal this aspect of Christ among those assemblies, for Paul unfolds the Son of God as a heavenly Christ, whether as Head of His body the assembly or as High Priest. John, on the contrary, speaks of God come down—a Christ walking upon earth, whether manifested there in grace, as in his Gospel, or in His judicial dealings, by which He substantiates His claims here on earth. Paul is “heavenly” in his testimony; with him it is man gone up on high. John is “divine,” and with him it is more God come down and His manifestation on earth.
Hence John is the instrument taken up to show us Christ in this judicial attitude towards the external body which bears His name. We must carefully distinguish Him as Head of His body, ministering nourishment by joints and bands to His own, and His scrutinizing and judging the external church as a corporate witness on earth. John is here watching over that which Paul had set up and telling us what Christ will do with it.
Sent into exile by the Roman emperor, he was, nevertheless, in the full enjoyment of his Christian privilege—“in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.” We must bear in mind that the Book of Revelation has especially in view Christ’s claims upon the earth, and thus John’s face is with the mind of the Spirit towards the introduction of the kingdom. But before the Spirit gives the visions which point to this end, John is recalled by a voice behind him, and he turns about to see the vision. He sees the Lord in this character and learns what He was about to do with the responsible body here below.
The Character of the Lord
“I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned I saw seven golden candlesticks.” They are described as of gold, because set up from a divine source at the first. “In the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Rev. 1:12-1812And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 17And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:12‑18)).
Here you find Christ’s aspect toward the assemblies as John presents Him—His personal and judicial character, as Son of Man, and yet Ancient of Days—judging and discriminating among the candlesticks. You do not find His relative characters, such as High Priest or Head of His body, the assembly; that is more the Pauline way of presenting Him.
The Son of Man
As “Son of Man,” He is judge of all, and as such you find Him here. “He hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of Man” (John 5:2727And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. (John 5:27)). He is “clothed with a garment down to the foot” (not “laid aside” as for His gracious service of love and washing His people’s feet; John 13) and “girt about the paps with a golden girdle.” His heart and affections are not seen flowing out to His church—His bride—but girded up with a garment of righteousness, not grace.
In Daniel 7, the “Ancient of Days” is described as Christ is here, so the Son of Man is the Ancient of Days as we know from that prophecy (Dan. 7:9,13-14,229I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. (Daniel 7:9)
13I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13‑14)
22Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. (Daniel 7:22)). “His eyes as a flame of fire”; this is His intense personal scrutiny which reaches the soul. When Christ’s eye is turned upon us and our conscience is not at rest, we cannot stand His gaze. He holds all subordinate power—the stars—in His right hand of power. His voice is heard in majesty, and He judges by the Word of God—the sharp, two-edged sword—while His countenance is as the sun shines in its strength, the symbol of supreme authority. I pass over the details, desiring only to present the general thought as to the aspect in which He is here seen.
Jesus as Judge
When John saw Him, he “fell at his feet as dead.” It was the same disciple whom Jesus loved and who leaned on His breast at supper in his own familiar place, accepted in the grace of the Lord.Here all is changed. This terrible aspect of Jesus as judge causes him to fall at His feet as dead. He is reassured by those words, “Fear not”; He was the living One who had died, and He held in His own hand the keys of death and of hades; He had never given them up. “Hades gates” could not prevail against the Son of the living God; Christ had the keys of all! He had never given them to Peter, nor to any. He gave “the keys of the kingdom of the heavens” to Peter, never the keys of death and hades.
Now He sends seven messages to seven assemblies in Asia through John. There were many others in those provinces, but these are chosen as presenting, in their state at that time, what will serve the Spirit of God to give us, as in a lengthened out picture, the history of the profession of Christ’s name on earth and its responsibility, with His thoughts and judgment of it from the start to the finish.
F. G. Patterson (adapted)