A Country Preacher’s Commentary on The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

By Leighton W Vary, Jr

John, the beloved disciple, while in exile, was given a vision of the seven years of tribulation before the return of Jesus Christ to rule the world with a “Rod of Iron.” This vision is both wonderful and terrible, it will be the final battle between good and evil.
In the first chapters, the resurrected Christ is reveled to John, speaking of blessings, warnings, and judgment. Letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor have commendations, condemnations, warnings, and promises, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
John is called to heaven and sees God. Escorted by many creatures John is shown the world during the seven year period called The Tribulation. John sees the judgments of God upon this old world in three series of seven judgments each, The Seal Judgments, The Trumpet Judgments, and The Vial Judgments. Each group of Seven becoming more severe.
However, God and Christ are still available to give Salvation “To Who So Ever Will.” Through out this book, we are reminded, “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leighton W Vary, Jr
• Release date: May 8, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463927861

Book preview

Introduction

While I was in Bible College, I attend the class on the books of Daniel and Revelation. Shortly after I graduated, my pastor asked me to teach our adult class these books. That was in 1985. Then I was accepted as pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Julesburg, Colorado. It was in 1994 that I first brought a series of messages on The Revelation to our church. I have since started the series again. It seemed good to me to write and consolidate all the work I have done into one commentary.

This is a very precious book, filled with the things that will happen at the end of this dispensation. So, why take revelation seriously? I want you; gentle reader, to know that I do take The Revelation seriously and I do take it literally.

The Revelation is nearly 2,000 years old. Many different people, with many different mindsets, and many different doctrinal positions, have expounded upon it many times. I am a simple small-town preacher with a little book learning, and I do not claim to be original in this commentary. But as I begin, I must confess that I have studied material in my Preachers Sermon and Outline Bible, my Schofield Reference Bible, my Ryrie Study Bible, my college class notes on the book of Daniel and Revelation given by Dr. Dennis Wretlind, while at Southwestern Conservative Baptist Bible College, and my favorite authors: Harry Ironsides, J. Vernon McGee, John Macarthur, and so many others. I may have taken thoughts, ideas, and even direct quotes while in this endeavor. However, I cannot make accurate attributions, as they are lost in time. My sincere apologies to anyone and everyone that I may have plagiarized, it was never intended as theft. I simply wanted to put together as complete a commentary as I could.

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, was born at the time that Judah was ruled by the Romans. At the time of the Greek Empire, the Jews asked Rome for help. The reason was that the Greek King had persecuted the Jews, desecrated the temple, and murdered faithful followers of Jehovah. The Romans were their liberators, at first. Then, as Rome grew in strength and influence, they began to require tribute. As the power of the Roman Emperor grew, he wanted more and more power, power over the very lives of people. At the time of Christ's birth, Rome was interested in tribute and taxes, money and political power. As time progressed, the Romans introduced Emperor worship, the greatest intrusion into the lives of the Roman subjects. There was one major religious group that refused to bow down to Caesar, those who worshipped the God of the Jews; this included Christians. In 70 AD, the temple at Jerusalem was destroyed and the people scattered. This effectively ended the organized opposition of the Jews to Emperor worship.

But Christians didn't need the temple. They gathered together in homes and other existing places to fellowship and worship. At the time of the writing of The Revelation, Domitian was emperor. It was he who had John exiled to Patmos. Under Domitian, there was very severe persecution of Christians. The Jews also created a great deal of trouble for the Christians. Those whom Christ called the Synagogue of Satan, were Jews who were not Jews; they were faithless Jews that brought unjust accusations against the church. They pointed fingers and told tales in attempts to destroy the church.

Because of this severe persecution, The Revelation was written to a persecuted church to give them hope. There is a group who believe that the book of The Revelation was never intended to be taken literally. After all, how could any right-thinking Christian possibly believe that a loving God would put His creation through anything as horrible as the Tribulation as revealed in this book? They would say, This only describes what is now going on at the spiritual level. The Revelation is highly symbolic, and for the most part incomprehensible, therefore The Revelation was never intended to be taken literally. What I have just been through is the rationalizations of those who would disregard the message of The Revelation.

First, let's realize that some of the statements made in our introduction are true; the church was under heavy persecution. We shall go through the messages to the seven churches; each church typifies a specific character. To some, The Revelation must have been a comfort and encouragement, to others, it must have been an irritant, and to still others, it must have been of no consequence. The Synagogue of Satan was doing everything it could to destroy the church. The legions of the Roman Emperor were trying to systematically root out all Christians and give them over as Lion food, high protein Lion Chow, main ingredient, Christians.

I want to reassure you that I take The Revelation very seriously, and literally.

The Revelation is highly symbolic, but it can be understood. Reading Revelation 10:1-4, here a voice instructs John to seal up something.

Revelation 10:1-4

And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: {2} And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, {3} And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. {4} And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

As we can see, the instruction to seal up something means to keep it secret. God did not intend for us to have the words of the seven thunders, it might be interesting to hear those words one day; but, for now, we are not given that privilege. Let’s read Daniel 8:26, Daniel had a vision concerning the end times, much of the vision was symbolic, and Daniel was given some of the interpretation then the angel tells Daniel.

Daniel 8:26

And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

The angel told Daniel to Seal or Shut Up the vision; it was not to be understood; God intended that Daniel's vision remain a mystery until He gave the key of interpretation to another. Read Daniel 12:4, again, Daniel is having his vision explained, and the angel says to seal or shut up the vision to the time of the end.

Daniel 12:4

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

The symbolism of the prophecy of Daniel was intended to hide the true meaning of Daniel's vision. But this is in direct contrast with the instructions given John in Revelation 22:10.

Revelation 22:10

And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

Revelation 1:19

Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

Jesus begins by telling John to write about what was happening at that time. John had been the pastor of the church at Ephesus and has intimate knowledge of the things happening in Asia; evidence in John's Epistles is that John traveled extensively to the various churches in the Middle East. The things that were happening then are recorded in Christ's message to the seven churches.

There were also parts of John's vision which were contemporary to his time, the vision of the 24 elders around the throne, the angels praising God and the lamb, even the souls of martyrs in heaven, and the events which lead up to John's vision, the exile to Patmos and the vision of Christ. All these things were contemporary, what is now. We have no reason to discount any portion of these things. Look again at Revelation 1:19.

Revelation 1:19

Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

John was instructed to write down what will take place later. In the Greek New Testament, the words used are very specific; the word which the English translated as will is a word used extensively to indicate something must happen because it is divinely decreed. We should expand our verse to read, Write, what is divinely decreed to come to pass after this. What God has ordained will happen.

Now in Revelation 4:1, we have a word that denotes necessity.

Revelation 4:1

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.

Christ has just completed the dictation of the letters to the seven churches and now, He calls John to heaven to see what must take place after this. The word translated must have as a normal definition, it is necessary denoting some compulsion, and so we might expand this verse to read, Come up here, and I will show you what must of necessity take place after this. In Revelation 1:19 and 4:1, Jesus is saying in as forceful a manner as possible, John, write down these things because they are divinely decreed and will of necessity happen at some point in the future of the world. John is very careful in his narrative to differentiate between events in heaven and events that occur on the earth.

Read Revelation 4:2, here John describes, as best he can, what he sees in heaven.

Revelation 4:2-5

And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. {3} And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. {4} And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. {5} And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

We could go on with John's vision; but the point is well served in the phrase, and there before me was a throne in heaven.

Now read Revelation 6:1-8.

Revelation 6:1-8

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. {2} And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. {3} And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. {4} And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. {5} And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. {6} And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. {7} And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. {8} And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

We know these as the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. And it is evident by John's words in verse 4; Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. And verse 8, They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. It is obvious that these four horsemen will ride on the earth. It is also undeniable that the horsemen are symbolic, but the events they represent will happen on the earth. This should cause us to ask whether this is a real or spiritual event. The first horseman is the conquering prince of the revived Roman Empire-many call him the Antichrist. The second horseman is war. The third horseman is famine. The fourth horseman is death and hell. John sees these things on the earth-they will be real, necessary, divinely decreed.

The end is near, read again Daniel 8:16, Notice that Daniel is told to seal up the vision because it concerns the distant future

Daniel 8:26

And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

Now, in Revelation 22:10, John is told that the time is near.

Revelation 22:10

And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

God's timetable is not our timetable. Daniel had 70 weeks of years given for the people; Daniel could look forward to specific events happening at specific times. And as far as Daniel knew the end time was going to be 490 years from the time of the going forth of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. Now, In Daniel 9:24-26, this prophecy is given.

Daniel 9:24-26

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. {25} Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. {26} And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

The decree went out to rebuild the city walls in 445 BC. The Jewish people used a lunar calendar, the Jewish year was 360 days long and so, the prophetic year is 360 days long. At the end of the 69th week of years, 483 lunar years, from the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem in 445 BC, we have Christ's triumphal entry.

But, now, after the cutting off of the anointed one, there is nothing left on the prophetic calendar until the beginning of Daniel's 70th week, the beginning of the end. The reason the Spirit tells John that the end is near is because the very next item on God's prophetic calendar is the taking up of the Holy Spirit, the rapture of the church, and the pouring out of the wrath of God.

This book is filled with symbols; but, intended for us to understand it. To interpret The Revelation, we let Scripture interpret Scripture, read Revelation 12:1. Most of the symbols are very clearly defined in other passages of Scripture.

Revelation 12:1

And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

Genesis 37:9-10

And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. {10} And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, what is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

The sun was Jacob or Israel; the moon was Joseph's mother; the stars were the brothers. In other words, this is a symbol for Israel. There are many events recorded in The Revelation that have not happened yet. If we are to believe the words of Christ to John, then we have little to no choice but to believe that these events will happen.

To summarize, many people refuse to take The Revelation seriously; these people try to spiritualize it, they argue that John was only trying to bolster the churches; they say that God would never really bring down His wrath upon the whole world. The God that I worship will do everything that He has promised, Jesus told John, these things are divinely decreed, these things must, of necessity, come to pass. God is a loving God, but He is also a righteous God. He has given the LAW; He has promised the consequences of disobedience. In the past, He drowned out the whole world, except eight people. He took out Sodom and Gomorrah. He ordered the annihilation of entire races. He had poured out His wrath on people before, and He will do it again.

Only this next time, the whole world will know that He is God and that Christ is His Messiah. Read Revelation 21:5.

Revelation 21:5

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Jesus now tells John, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. Again, read Revelation 22:6.

Revelation 22:6

And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

These words are trustworthy and true, and the angels also testify to the reality of these future events, the things that must, of necessity, take place soon.

Today, we are well over 2000 years closer to these events taking place. We are very near the final hour read Revelation 22:16-21, here is the testimony of our own dear Lord and Savior.

Revelation 22:16-21

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. {17} And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. {18} For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: {19} And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. {20} He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. {21} The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Read Timothy 3:16 and 17, where Paul writes to the young pastor.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: {17} That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Then in Revelation 1:3

Revelation 1:3

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

There is an extraordinary blessing promised for those who read and heed the book of The Revelation. It does not matter how we interpret the details; God has promised that blessing.

Paul has told us that all Scripture is God-breathed and that all Scripture is profitable for; teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the person of God might be perfect and thoroughly equipped for all good works. How can we possibly take The Revelation any way but seriously?

All Biblical References are taken from the King James Version.

Chapter 1, Section 1

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Let’s begin by reading Revelation 1 verses 1-4.

Revelation 1:1-4

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: {2}Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. {3} Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. {4} John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

John, the beloved Apostle, is the human author of this Revelation. Now, you might note that in the Old King James this book is called The Revelation of John. In my New International Version, it is titled The Revelation to John. But my New King James Version has got it right; there the title is The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

In Revelation 1:11 and 19 John is commanded to write the things he is seeing.

Revelation 1:11

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Revelation 1:19

Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

These things were important enough for the Lord to reveal them to God’s people 2,000 years ago. Important enough for God to have them included in His Bible chronicled for us today, and the promises we see in The Revelation of Jesus Christ are precious enough for us to take serious note of what the Spirit of God has revealed.

Before we begin, I want to start with several Scripture verses, the words of Jesus just to set the stage, Matthew 24:36-39

Matthew 24:36-39

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. {37} But as the days of Noe (Noah) were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. {38} For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, {39} And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Notice no one knows the day or the hours of Christ’s return, only the Father knows. The word day means the time from dawn to sunset; it can also mean a particular day, in our thinking it might be applied to Christmas day, or perhaps Tuesday. The word hour means just that an hour, 60 minutes or as shown on a sundial, an hour, it can also mean a particular hour, perhaps what is often referred to as the witching hour, or the appointed hour, such as a doctor’s appointment at 10 am. No one knows but the Father the day or hour of Christ’s return.

Acts 1:6-7 gives us an even further idea along these lines.

Acts 1:6-7

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? {7} And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

The word times in this context means a general time frame or a particular time, daddy always goes to work at 6 o’clock and comes home at 5:30 in the evening. The word season means the season, winter, spring, summer, fall or something like the Christmas season.

And so, we see that Jesus tells us in these two passages that only God the Father knows the precise time, day, season and hour of Christ’s return.

Now, if you will read Matthew 24:42-44 we will see two things of which we should take note.

Matthew 24:42-44

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. {43} But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. {44} Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

We are told that Christ’s return will be at a time we do not expect at an hour we do not know, but we are admonished to be watchful. Before the Second coming of the Lord Jesus to reign comes a terrible time called the tribulation, seven years of woe.

Read Revelation 6:17.

Revelation 6:17

For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

The tribulation is a time of significant happenings, natural disasters like the earthquakes, snow and ice storms, floods, uprisings, wars, and the threat of war, and changes among the major players in the war against Israel.

Be watchful, remember Paul’s words in Romans 13:11.

Romans 13:11

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Now, I cannot and will not even try to set a date for Christ’s return, but, going back to Revelation 1 let us see who Christ is and we begin with Revelation 1:4-8.

Revelation 1:4-8

John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; {5}And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, {6} And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. {7} Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. {8} I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

John begins his description with these words, Him who is and who was and who is to come. He who is, present tense, existing today, right now, He who was, past tense, having existed from before the very beginning of time. John wrote of Jesus in his gospel chapter one and verse 1.

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

At the time of the beginning of time, Jesus, the Son of God, already existed. The implication is that Jesus existed with God, God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit, for eternity past, He who was, and He who is to come, Jesus, the Son of God, who will exist in the eternity yet to come. This idea of one who has always been and always will be given a great deal of credence to the promise in the latter part of Hebrews 13:5.

Hebrews 13:5

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Jesus the eternal Son of God is the subject of our discussion, now, there are many things to consider in The Revelation passage we began with, but I want to get on to the description of Jesus in the passage yet to come, let us read Revelation 1:12-13, here we have the Description of the Eternal Christ.

Revelation 1:12-13

And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; {13} And 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.

To begin, we see Jesus in the midst of seven golden lampstands, and we are told in Revelation 1:20 just what the vision of the golden lampstands means.

Revelation 1:20

The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

The golden lampstands are the seven churches of the next two chapters of The Revelation, but they are named early in the first chapter, Revelation 1:11

Revelation 1:11

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Many theologians equate the character of each of these seven churches to various church ages. That is, the general characters of the church during various ages are described as the churches here in The Revelation. Other theologians equate the character of individual churches throughout the centuries, that is any church and every church can be equated with one of the seven listed and described here. Other theologians say that the descriptions fit various individual Christians. When we come to that, we will explore these ideas.

Notice that here in this first chapter of The Revelation the Savior is standing in the midst of the lampstands. He is central to the churches; He is surrounded by the churches, but, for now, remember Jesus is the head of the church, the foundation of the church, the reason for the church, in fact, Christ is everything to the church. Later in Revelation 3:20 we will see that He will be outside the church.

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Going back to Revelation 1:13, we will see Jesus as John begins to describe Him. One like the Son of Man.

Revelation 1:13

And 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.

Here we have a translation of the Greek text which might tend to lead us astray, One like unto THE son of man. The definite article THE is not there is the Greek, not that THE is wrong, but an alternative reading might well be, one like a son of man. In other words, this apparition might have looked human, and this is a definite possibility, as we know that Jesus ascended into heaven in His earthly body. The translators probably placed the definite article THE in this text because they knew John was seeing Jesus.

What John saw was The Son of Man, Jesus Christ, in this context, the emphasis is on the humanity of the Savior. The one who was dead, but is now alive, and is personally bringing an important message to the churches by John, the beloved Apostle.

Going back to verse 13, we see that Savior’s attire, the robe, and girdle.

Revelation 1:13

And 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.

A Garment down to the Feet, the Holy Garments of the High Priest are extensively described in Exodus, but the description is long and involved, suffice it to say that the High Priest’s robe reached down to the feet. Some believe that the garment is Christ’s High Priestly robe; it is also the robe of righteousness; in this case, the perfect, beautiful righteousness of Christ Himself.

Let’s read two passages, Psalm 110:4 and Hebrews 5:6, here we see Christ as High Priest.

Psalms 110:4

The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5:6

As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

The Golden Band Around His Chest, it has little to distinguish it precisely. However, many pictures show a wide golden band around Jesus' chest. Some believe that this is much like the golden chain worn by kings and governors; this seems to be a depiction of Christ in His office as King of Kings. So, in this passage we see Jesus Christ as a man, the Son of Man, as the High Priest, after the order of Melchizedek, and as the King of Kings.

Now, let's continue in John’s description, Revelation 1:14, His white hair and fiery eyes.

Revelation 1:14

His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

The white head and hair are like the description given in Daniel 7:9. In this Daniel passage, we have a description of the Ancient of Days.

Daniel 7:9

I 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.

The Ancient of Days is God, we have in Daniel, God on His throne, white hair and white garments, and we have in The Revelation, Jesus Christ described in like manner. Then, in Proverbs 16:31 we have a statement concerning the gray, silver or white hair.

Proverbs 16:31

The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

So, Christian, don’t be ashamed of your gray, silver, or white hair. Now, the eyes like a flame of fire. Again, in Daniel 10:6, we have the description of an angelic massager with eyes of fire.

Daniel 10:6

His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

Ryrie’s note concerning the eyes of fire says, Piercing and penetrating in holiness, all seeing and all knowing, seeing the things done in secret and darkness. Now going to Revelation 1:15, we see