When embarking on a study of the Glorious Second Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ what better place in the Bible to go than to the one book devoted exclusively to that topic; the Book of Revelation. Like most prophetical books of the Bible, Revelation is shrouded in mystery, and it has confused scholars for centuries. The late Dr. Scofield author of the Scofield Reference Bible said almost one-hundred years ago, “Doubtless, much which is designedly obscure to us will be clear to those for whom it was written as the time approaches” (LaHaye 15). Many modern day scholars believe that time is fast approaching. And while we have no idea exactly how close we are, one thing is certain, we are a whole lot closer than Scofield was.
So as we embark on this study there are three rules of Biblical interpretation we should bear in mind.
- Follow the golden rule of interpretation: When the plain sense of the Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense. This rule developed by the late Dr. David L. Cooper basically means we take the words of the Bible literally, unless the context suggests a symbolic interpretation. We have the hundreds of other prophecies in the Bible that came to pass literally as they were described as evidence this rule is a sound method of study.
- Locate the scene of activity. In many ways the book of Revelation is one giant holy yo-yo. We are constantly yanked up and down between heaven and earth until Heaven and Earth become one in the eternal state. Knowing where the action is taking place will better help your understanding.
- With the exception of Chapters 12 and 17, the Book of Revelation unfolds chronologically. Both the language and the events of this book suggest that Revelation takes place in time order. Basically Revelation is a blow by blow description of the events to come.
A Glorious Christ:
Up until this point the participants of the Bible had experienced Christ only in his humble human form (With the very brief exception of the Transfiguration). Even after his resurrection it is evident that most of his holy glory was still veiled. However, in John’s Revelation we get our first glimpse of humanities savior in all His heavenly glory. While exiled to the island of Patmos in A.D. 95 John, the last livingApostle, had a spectacular vision of Jesus Christ. Chapter 1 verses 9-11 set the scene.
I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.
Now I don’t know about you, but if I heard a voice behind me with the powerful tone and clarity of a trumpet I would be whipping around and most likely falling to my knees. John at least had the presence of mind to look at the one who had spoken, and what a blessing that he did.
Try putting yourself in John’s place, or better yet imagine the moment you first arrive in heaven. Now the classic, albeit not entirely biblical, belief is that Saint Peter greets you at the pearly gates. I much prefer to believe it will be Jesus the Christ who will greet me. No disrespect to the Apostle Peter, but I would much rather be greeted by someone I know than a stranger. In any case, no matter what the glories of heaven may be I say with a fair amount of confidence that I will be completely focused on Christ at that moment.
John, however, perhaps for our benefit and the benefit of his writing was granted a moment to observe his surroundings before locking in on the most important Man in the universe. The first things he notices are seven golden lampstands, and there in the middle of the lampstands is One like the Son of Man! I have never seen Christ, and while I have no doubt I will recognize Him when the time comes, I am going to need some heavenly instinct to tell me this is the Christ. Much the same way that with prayer and proper Bible study we can recognize false teachers. John, however, had known Jesus personally. Though several decades had passed since he had seen him physically Jesus was not a man to be easily forgotten. So when this glorious heavenly man appeared before him recognition instantly set in. Christ did not look exactly as before, thus the term like the Son of Man, but enough remained the same for John to recognize his old friend and Savior.
Prior to this as mentioned, Jesus had only been seen in his humbled state. Now he had all the glory deserving of the eternal King of Israel. He is dressed in a long garment that went down to his feet, and girded about the chest with a golden band (v. 13). This type of apparel indicates that the glorified Christ will be dressed like a high priest. (See Exodus 28:4) Leave it to God to have every detail perfectly right. Our eternal High Priest who makes intercession for us before God is dressed exactly as he should be, in garments described to Moses thousands of years ago.
His head and hair were white like wool, as white a snow; and His eyes a flame of fire (v. 14). When Jesus left this world he was in his early thirties by human standards, so it is unlikely that his white hair and head had anything to do with his age (although literally He is older than anyone in the universe). Rather the white of his body represents his purity and holiness. It also sets him apart as the Ancient of Days described in Daniel 7:9:
I watched till thrones were put in place,
And the Ancient of Days was seated;
His garment was white as snow,
And the hair of His head was like pure
Wool
His throne was a fiery flame,
Its wheels a burning fire;
(Radmacher 1431)
Can there be any doubt that Jesus is the eternal God of the Universe?
Christ’s fiery eyes indicate his righteousness as well as his judgment on anything unholy. The Greek construction was literally that Christ’s eyes shot fire, indicating his indignation over some unrighteousness (LaHaye 38). Verse 15 describes Christ’s feet like fine brass, refined in a furnace. This is perhaps another symbol of judgment reminiscent of the brazen altar in the Tabernacle, where sin was judged (LaHaye 39).
“…and His voice as the sound of many waters.” End Times scholar Dr. Tim LaHaye perhaps described this best when he compared Christ’s voice to the thundering waters of Niagara Falls. At the edge of the falls with the literally millions of tons of water beating against each other all other sounds are drowned out. Even shouting at the top of our lungs we could never come close to drowning out the voice of Christ. In today’s world it is easy enough to ignore God’s still small voice, but at Christ’s Second Coming the time for still and small will be over. At that time His voice will sound with a volume no one will be able to ignore.
“He had in His right hand seven stars, out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.” In verse 20 Christ Himself interpreted the meaning of the seven stars. They are the angels of the seven churches. The sharp two-edged sword here is not likely a literal sword. Because the seven stars were symbolic it is likely this part of the passage will follow suit. Besides that Hebrews 4:12 describes the Word of God as a sharp two-edged sword. Since the sword described here comes from Christ mouth it is likely it is the Word of God-the Word of Truth-by which He will slay all His enemies. Finally his countenance, also translated face, shone like the sun. There is no need for interpretation here. This is the Christ, Son the Living God, shining in all His glory! Amen! (LaHaye 40)
Finally after this divinely permitted moment of observation John is hit with the full impact of who he is standing before, and he falls down as if dead. I can imagine John cowering and whimpering terrified in the presence of the most powerful being in the Universe. Honestly, I can’t say I would be anymore brave. In fact I’d probably be worse off. John at least had an earthly relationship with Christ. This was His old friend. He was the disciple whom Christ loved, who had laid his head on Christ’s chest in the upper room. Yet here we see him struck to near death at the realization of the glory of his Lord.
Jesus, of course, knew exactly what to do, as he does in every situation. He made physical contact. I can’t help but imagine what that must have felt like. Did the power of Christ surge through John like some holy electricity? Did Christ’s touch slow the no doubt incredible pounding of John’s heart? Did John get even the slightest bit of courage from the loving hand of his Savior? We don’t know. Needless to say, Christ had a job for John to do, and it was time for Him to get back to his feet.
Christ’s instructions were as follows in verses17 – 20 of Chapter 1:
Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
And thus John begins his final epistle and the final book of the Bible. His letters to the Seven Asian Churches set the stage for the final drama of History. The countdown to the Rapture has begun.
