Biblion Bible Commentary
Read the introduction to Revelation · About this commentary
One Like a Son of Man
Revelation 1:12-16
12 I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Having turned, I saw seven golden lamp stands. · WEB
The first vision is Christ among the lampstands, robed as priest, described in Daniel's borrowed glories, holding the stars.
I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Having turned, I saw seven golden lamp stands. And among the lamp stands was one like a son of man.
The book's first vision is not of thrones or beasts but of Christ among lampstands — and the furniture identifies the room. The seven-branched lampstand stood in the sanctuary's first apartment, the holy place Exodus 25:31; here the lamps are seven separate stands, and verse 20 will name them: the churches. The sanctuary's light-bearing furniture, walked among by its priest — the first of the temple-stations from which every movement of this book launches, and the truth it pictures is the one a scattered, pressured church most doubts: he is among them, not observing from a distance.
The figure is one like a son of man — Daniel's title for the cloud-rider Daniel 7:13 — and his dress is priestly: a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash — the long robe and sash of the sanctuary's ministry Exodus 28:4. The book's opening portrait is Christ as priest on duty, tending lamps: trimming, supplying, knowing each wick — which is exactly what the seven letters will turn out to be.
Then the description, and nearly every clause is borrowed glory. Head and hair white as white wool, like snow — the Ancient of Days' own description Daniel 7:9, the eternal one's whiteness worn by the son of man: the book's high claim made by wardrobe. Eyes like a flame of fire — nothing hidden from the gaze that will say, seven times, I know Revelation 2:2. Feet like burnished brass, as if refined in a furnace — the glowing metal of Daniel's visitant Daniel 10:6, feet that have stood in the fire. A voice like the voice of many waters — the sound Ezekiel heard when the glory came Ezekiel 43:2: oceanic, drowning every lesser voice in Asia.
He had seven stars in his right hand — the churches' angels Revelation 1:20, held in the hand of power; whatever happens to the lampstands, their messengers are gripped. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword — his one weapon in this book, and it is a word Revelation 19:15; he conquers by speaking. And his face was like the sun shining at its brightest — the face the mountain three had once seen unveiled, now blazing at full strength on a prisoner who had leaned on his breast at supper.
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