“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, ‘Fear not; I am the first and the last.'” Revelation 1:17
When Jesus was accomplishing His ministry on earth, He said many things about Himself. One of the phrases He used was the following: “…for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matt. 11:29) There is no doubt that one reason for which He presented Himself in this manner was to make sure to those who were in need, the suffering, the down-trodden, and poor, those who were outcasts and weak, even tired of life, that He was not only knowledgeable as to their need, but perfectly and wholly accessible to each one of them to meet that need. The vision that He gave to the people was intended to produce in their hearts and minds, a response to lay aside every hesitation and hindrance, then to come to Him for their soul’s need.
In the Old Testament, when Joshua recounts his meeting with the “…man with the drawn sword,” we find that there is another vision of Christ. This time it is of the “Captain of the host of the Lord.” (Joshua 5:14) This portrayal of Christ as Captain, Soldier-warrior, and Conqueror, is given to Joshua to strengthen his faith to believe God for the battles, and confrontations with a hardened enemy, that he will soon meet. It is a vision given to create the attitude of a victorious soldier, one which the people will soon need for the conflict. The vision is given in this way so that there will be a specific response of faith, and obedience.
When we get to the book of the Revelation, we are confronted with another vision, one that is essential for the church in John, the Apostle’s Day, and our own. We find that the book was given by God to John, “…to shew His servants things which must shortly come to pass.” (1:1) The book is specifically written to the seven churches “which are in Asia,” covering a time that “…was, and which is, and which is to come.” The application and purpose of the book is found in the Lord’s words: “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.” (1:3) In the opening pages of Revelation we find a vision of Christ that is unlike any that we see in the gospels. There is a glimpse or two in the Old Testament of Him in HIs glory, as was the case in Daniel’s writings, but never one so specifically designed and committed to the church to see and grasp as that which John saw. To this disciple, whom by his own admission, that Jesus loved, there was given a vision of Christ for the church of Pentecost and those succeeding that church until this day, that was intended to create faith, a faith that will trust the Risen, Victorious Christ, in the difficult times of the last days.
In the vision that John was given, the Lord makes very clear that the seven churches of Asia are respositories of “golden, holy, fresh, anointing oil.” That oil is the Spirit of Christ, that unction of God given to every believer. It is the seal given by God, as a testimony not only of the believer belonging to Christ, but of the completeness in Christ that the believer possesses for every response of faith. The expression and manifestation of that Spirit is Light, the Light of the Life of Christ, which every believer has been entrusted with.
The vision of the glorified Christ, whose hair was white as snow, whose feet looked like fine brass burned in a furnace, whose voice was like the sound of many waters, had a sharp sword which went out of His mouth, His countenance being as the sun shineth in its strength. This vision is given that Christ’s servants should trust Him daily as the ever-present Sovereign, Almighty, and Holy God.
Dear Father, Open our eyes to see Christ glorified. In Jesus’ name, Amen.