The Unveiling of Jesus Christ.       

                                  `The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to Him...`   (Rev. 1:1)  

                Revelation – from the Greek Word `apocalypse,` meaning `to unveil.`

 

There has never been any monuments erected in honor of great personalities throughout the centuries that is comparable to the magnificence of this unveiling of Jesus Christ & the magnitude of His triumph.

 

What inexpressible pleasure God the Father enjoyed when unveiling His Son`s true character &  credentials, for the purpose of showing to His bond servants the regal nature of His Well Beloved. This unveiling of Christ`s Deity was given to John, the Apostle. He was to write it down for the Body of Christ down through the centuries.

 

 

 

       Christ the Head of the Body.

The Apostle John was a prisoner on the island of Patmos for his belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As he was waiting on the Lord, He hears a loud voice behind him, as of a trumpet, telling him to write what he sees & hears in a book. 

 

John then turns & sees a vision of the one who spoke to him. It is the glorified Lord Jesus Christ. His appearance is like the sun shining in full strength. How awesome that would be to behold!

                              `Then I turned to see the voice that spoke to me....

                                                One like the Son of Man,`

                      `His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.`(Rev. 1: 12& 16)

 

The glory of Christ shone forth like the colours of light, revealing His character & abilities in a resplendent aura.  John was overcome & fell at Christ`s feet as dead. But the Lord laid His hand on John & reassured him that He was `alive forevermore,` & now overseeing the Body of Christ.

 

The Lord then explains that the `golden lampstands` John sees, are the `called out ones,` the Body of Christ. He is shown in their midst, the preeminent position, as their Head. It is God the Father who called Christ to this position.

                     

The wonderful description of the Lord Jesus Christ, is divided into three groups of 3 –

 

• Christ`s Character, His Counsel & His Authority.

 

 

 

Christ`s Character.                                                                                                       

 

                                         `…one like the Son of Man,

                                 clothed with a garment down to the feet

                            and girded about the chest with a golden band.` (Rev. 1: 13)

        

As this first vision of the Lord Jesus Christ unfolds we see Him as the Royal High Priest.

He is like the Son of Man, indicative of the lowliest humility of our Saviour, yet He has obtained the highest honours in heaven and earth.

 

The long garment is as the priests wore, symbolic of holiness, yet Christ`s very character is holy and without spot. And the golden girdle was worn by the High Priest to indicate his high office and authority, but Christ, the eternal High Priest, ever lives to intercede, giving eternal blessings.  

 

Christ`s Counsel.                                              

 

                         ` His head & His hair were white like wool, as white as snow,

                                                    & His eyes like a flame of fire;                        

                             His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace,`  (Rev. 1: 14 & 15)

 

The whiteness of His head and hair symbolise the maturity of His understanding and the perfection of His intellectual knowledge. The eyes are another essential factor for discernment, if judgment is to be absolutely righteous. Christ`s vision penetrates every realm and sphere, and scans the innermost thoughts of every mind & heart.

 

The symbolic picture of the `feet,` refer to the uprightness of all Christ`s dealings. He is perfectly just, never misjudges, miscalculates or misunderstands any case in question. He rewards every worthy achievement and recognises the sacrificial suffering of His people.

                                                                                 

Christ`s Authority

                                                                

                                      `His voice as the sound of many waters;

                                          He had in His right hand seven stars,

                             out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword,` (Rev. 1: 15 & 16)

 

In this amazing vision of the Lord Jesus we are shown His great authority in relation to the Body of Christ. We are told of His majestic voice, the powerful sceptre in His right hand and the awesome judgments that come forth.

 

The Lord speaks to many peoples on various subjects, `the sound of many waters.` (Rev. 17: 15) He combines His sovereign commands and counsel with His heartfelt comfort as He delivers His message in authority.

 

Then we see the prevailing might of His right hand which supremely oversees His Church, the Body of Christ. The stars are symbols of administrative authority in spiritual things, and all such power Christ oversees and maintains. 

 

Finally the execution of judgment or of justification is by His powerful word. With it He smites & by it He saves. The searching sight of His light operates through the `Sword of the Spirit.` No invention of man or of demon can evade the force of its thrust

 

                        `and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.`  (Rev. 1: 16)

 

Here we come to the awesome sight of the Lord Jesus in His unspeakable glory. There can be no night where the Shekinah of His glowing countenance shines forth. The sun overlays all forms in the terrestrial while the light of His face adorns every life with the many diverse graces of His goodness.