Beauty

Revelation 1:12-15
Revelation 19:7-9
Daniel 10:2-6
John 3:13-15

Studying (or even simply reading!) the book of Revelation can be daunting. In parts it seems scary; in other parts, fantastical. However, once we dig into the symbolism, it becomes less daunting and actually encouraging and affirming. 

Shall we journey together? 

John, one of Jesus’ closest disciples and a founder of the early Church, was given the visions described in Revelation while in exile on the island of Patmos. John experienced a unique and dear relationship with Jesus Christ when He walked the earth; John understood and embraced Jesus’ divinity as the Messiah and Son of God. 

The Lord instructed John to write what he hears and sees of the revelations of Jesus Christ. This is a book of letters, written to specific churches of the time. However, there’s much we can learn from these letters! If we read carefully, we might see bits and pieces of ourselves reflected in his words. . . Ouch.

To deeply understand Revelation, the last book of the New Testament, we must first explore the Old Testament. For example, we can find many connections between the book of Daniel and Revelation. In many ways, Revelation echoes and builds upon the themes mentioned in Daniel. 

Daniel, a prophet who spoke to God’s people while they were in exile in Babylon, described Jesus like this:

“I continued watching in the night visions, 
and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Daniel 7:13) 

“I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of gold from Uphaz around his waist.” (Daniel 10:5)  

Isaiah, a prophet who declared God’s messages to the people of Judah prior to their exile, also mentions Jesus in a similar way:

“Righteousness will be a belt around his hips,
faithfulness will be a belt around his waist.” (Isaiah 11:5) 

With those images in mind, let’s consider how Jesus is revealed in Revelation. In Revelation 1:4-6 we see a coming King. He takes His place among seven lampstands, “like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe and with a golden sash around his waist.” (Revelation 1:13)

The lampstands were immediately recognizable to John’s original readers, as lampstands were an integral part of the tabernacle, and later the temple, where God’s Spirit resided. In Revelation, the lampstands represent the churches to whom the letters were written. 

In John’s vision, the Son of Man is dressed in a robe of linen. 

According to Levitical law, the high priest was to be dressed in garments of holy linen when he went before the Lord. (Leviticus 16:3-5) Jesus’ appearance in similar dress both emphasizes his holiness and purity, and reiterates His role as great high priest: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who passed through the heavens–Jesus the Son of God–let us hold fast to our confession.” (Hebrews 4:14) 

Additionally, the golden sash teaches us Jesus is a righteous and faithful judge. We’ve already examined Isaiah 11:5; Jesus’ own words in Matthew 25:31-46 outline how He will one day judge all people. 

Psalm 96:13 reiterates,
“[F]or he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the earth with righteousness
And all the peoples with his faithfulness.”

The sash’s golden color may symbolize the divinity of “a great God, a great king above all gods.” (Psalm 95:3)

Finally, John’s referral to Jesus as the Son of Man would have immediately recalled Daniel’s prophecies to the minds of his original Jewish audience. Furthermore, Jesus referred to Himself this way several times:

“No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up a snake in the wilderness [Numbers 21:4-9], so the Son of Man must be lifted up so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:13-14)  

During Jesus’ earthly lifetime, the people of Israel were desperately awaiting a Messiah to rescue them from Roman oppression. They expected a conquering king; when Jesus came as the Son of Man, a humble servant who lovingly sacrificed Himself to bring rescue from sin and death, they refused to recognize Him as their Messiah. 

Shortly before His death, Jesus was on trial before the religious authorities. 

“The high priest said to him, ‘I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.’ 

‘You have said it,’ Jesus told him. ‘But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’” (Matthew 26:63-64)

As Jesus’ own words promise, the King is coming, for all who believe. His linen robes and golden sash will also adorn the Bridegroom as He comes for His bride (you and me, and all who follow Jesus). 

When we repent, turn away from our sin, and follow Jesus, we become the Bride of Christ and can eagerly await the day we see the Son of Man coming in glory! 

“Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns!
Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory,
because the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has prepared herself.”
(Revelation 19:6-7)