◄ What Does Revelation 1:15 Mean? ►

The most astonishing description of the Lord Jesus Christ is given in this first chapter of Revelation. Having appeared as the suffering Servant Who was sent by the Father to expiate sin, once and for all, through the sacrificial offering of Himself on the Cross, He is revealed in the book of Revelation as the risen, ascended, glorified Son of the most High God.

He is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End Who has become the First-fruit from the dead and the Federal Head of a new Creation. He is the Faithful Witness Who has been uniquely appointed King of kings and Ruler of the ends of the earth. He is the Man Whom God has ordained to Judge the world in righteousness, justice, and truth.

It is the apostle John who bears witness of this most staggering vision of Christ. It came while he was incarcerated on the Isle of Patmos for his faith. Our heavenly Lord was clad in judicial robes of righteousness and the sight of Him was so majestic and awe-inspiring that it caused this faithful disciple to fall at His feet as if he were dead.

John gives the most disconcerting description of the Lord Jesus, from the top of His head to the soles of His feet, each aspect of His appearance speaking of His might, majesty, dominion, glory, and power. His white hair pictured His dignified office as the Ancient of Days and evidenced His wisdom, knowledge, discernment, and judgement. His flaming eyes spoke of His supernatural understanding, His infallible insight, inescapable scrutiny, and inexorable power.

In verse 15 we read: "His feet were like burnished bronze... when made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters." His voice spoke of righteous judgement, impending justice, and immense authority. And while the robes He wore designated His authority as God's appointed Judge of the living and the dead, His feet, which were like burnished bronze, emphasised His strong, enduring authority as the supreme Judge before Whom every knee will one day bow.

Jesus is the Word made flesh, and throughout His earthly ministry His humanity was the important focus of the Gospel writings. John had spent three precious years walking and talking with the Lord. But the startling vision he received on Patmos was very different from the gentle Carpenter from Nazareth Who knelt before him in that upper room to wash his dirty feet, or Who had called him to "follow Me" on the banks of the Galilee.

In these last days, God is speaking through His Son, and the book of Revelation is the full and final unveiling of the Lord Jesus Christ; the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe; the risen, glorified, and highly exalted Son of the True and Living God. 

All judgement has been given into His hands, and in the first few chapters of Revelation, Christ is extending a warning to Christians in this age of grace, to ensure that our consciences are right with the Lord, that we wake up and return to our first love, eschew every kind of evil, hold fast to His Word of truth, and that we listen to all that the Holy Spirit says to the churches.

The bronze serpent raised up by Moses in the wilderness typifies the Lord Jesus Who was made sin for us and took the terrible punishment for our sin on the Cross. We will never be judged for our sin, because Christ took the punishment on our behalf. However, every one of us will stand before the risen, ascended, glorified Son of the most High God to be judged for our works, whether they are good or evil.

May we earnestly contend for the faith, knowing the day is fast approaching when all these things will come to pass.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the revelation of Jesus Christ which You gave to your servant John to show us all that must come to pass in the not too distant future. Thank You that Christ took the terrible punishment for my sin and that I have been clothed in His righteousness, by faith in His death and Resurrection. I pray that my life would be a faithful and true witness of Your goodness and grace to me and that I will hear Him say well done, good and faithful servant. May I eschew every kind of evil, hold fast to His Word of truth, and listen carefully to all that the Holy Spirit says to the churches, for Your greater honour and glory. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.