Correspondence: Captivity Captive; Meaning of Symbols in Rev. 1:13-16

From: Young Christian: Volume 30, 1940

• 1 min. read • grade level: 9

Question: What does “captivity captive” mean? (Eph. 4:8⁸Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Ephesians 4:8)).

Answer: It means the Lord, by His Mighty work of atonement, has met every claim of God’s throne, and was victorious over every enemy (Col. 1:13¹³Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Colossians 1:13)), annulling him (Satan) that held us captive, and delivering us from our captivity to sin and death and Satan’s power in which we were held as children of men.

Question: What do the symbols mean used in Revelation 1:13-16¹³And 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. (Revelation 1:13‑16)?

Answer: The seven candlesticks made of gold, represent the seven churches mentioned in verse 11.

The Son of Man is the Lord as Judge—to Him all judgment is committed (John 5:22,27²²For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: (John 5:22)
²⁷And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. (John 5:27); Acts 17:31³¹Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)).

“Clothed with a garment down to the foot,” is priestly discrimination (Lev. 13:2²When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests: (Leviticus 13:2); also Luke 17:14¹⁴And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. (Luke 17:14)).

“Girt about the breast with a golden girdle”—His affections can only flow out in divine righteousness: the breast, the place of affection; the gold, divine righteousness.

“His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow,” this is the Ancient of Days, “the Great I Am” (Dan. 7:13,22¹³I 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. (Daniel 7:13)
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 were as a flame of fire,” from which nothing can be hid, searching out and uncovering all sin and iniquity.

“His feet like unto fine brass as if they burned in a furnace”—His ability to judge everything according to divine righteousness.

“His voice as the sound of many waters”—irresistible power and majesty.

“He had in His right hand seven stars”—the authority belongs to Him. The stars are subordinate authority.

“Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword”—He judges by the Word of God.

“His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength,” supreme power and authority.

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