Revelation 1:13-20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:17

And when I saw him ,.... The glorious person here described, who was just behind him, and of whom he had a full view, being so near him: I fell at his feet as dead ; through consternation and fear, the sight was so amazing and terrible; the appearance of a divine person in any degree of majesty and glory, has had some considerable effect upon men, even upon the best of men; but John seems to be more affected with it than any, as the vision was the more grand and illustrious: Manoah was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:18

I am he that liveth ,.... As the eternal God, who has life in himself, originally, essentially, and inderivatively, and is the fountain and author of life to others; and who ever lived as the Mediator and Redeemer, and still does, and ever will, yea, even when he was dead as man: and was dead ; he died the death of the cross, for the sins of his people, in due time, and but once; and it was but a short time he was held under the power of death, and will never die any more: and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:19

Write the things which thou hast seen ,.... The Alexandrian copy and some others, and the Complutensian edition, read, "write therefore the things", &c.; meaning what he had now seen, the vision of one like to the son of man, amidst the golden candlesticks, with seven stars in his right hand, and as above described; this was what he had seen Revelation 1:12 ; for it does not refer to what he had seen of Christ in the days of his flesh, but to what he had now seen in this representation... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 1:20

The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand ,.... The sense is, that John was to write the mystery of these stars, or the mystical sense of them: and the seven golden candlesticks ; the mystery, or mysterious sense of them also; for the words are in a continued connection with Revelation 1:19 , and have respect to the following interpretation of them, and to the epistles in the following chapter, which are mystical, and prophetical of the state of the churches in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:13

Like unto the Son of man - This seems a reference to Daniel 7:13 . This was our blessed Lord himself, Revelation 1:18 . Clothed with a garment down to the foot - This is a description of the high priest, in his sacerdotal robes. See these described at large in the notes on Exodus 28:4 , etc., Jesus is our high priest, even in heaven. He is still discharging the sacerdotal functions before the throne of God. Golden girdle - The emblem both of regal and sacerdotal dignity. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:14

His head and his hairs were white like wool - This was not only an emblem of his antiquity, but it was the evidence of his glory; for the whiteness or splendor of his head and hair doubtless proceeded from the rays of light and glory which encircled his head, and darted from it in all directions. The splendor around the head was termed by the Romans nimbus, and by us a glory; and was represented round the heads of gods, deified persons, and saints. It is used in the same way through almost... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:15

His feet like unto fine brass - An emblem of his stability and permanence, brass being considered the most durable of all metallic substances or compounds. The original word, χαλκολιβανον , means the famous aurichalcum , or factitious metal, which, according to Suidas, was ειδος ηλεκτρου, τιμιωτερον χρυσου , "a kind of amber, more precious than gold." It seems to have been a composition of gold, silver, and brass, and the same with the Corinthian brass, so highly famed and valued;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:16

In his right hand seven stars - The stars are afterwards interpreted as representing the seven angels, messengers, or bishops of the seven Churches. Their being in the right hand of Christ shows that they are under his special care and most powerful protection. See below. Out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword - This is no doubt intended to point out the judgments about to be pronounced by Christ against the rebellious Jews and persecuting Romans; God's judgments were just now... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:17

I fell at his feet as dead - The appearance of the glory of the Lord had then same effect upon Ezekiel, Ezekiel 1:28 ; : and the appearance of Gabriel had the same effect on Daniel, Daniel 8:17 . The terrible splendor of such majesty was more than the apostle could bear, and he fell down deprived of his senses, but was soon enabled to behold the vision by a communication of strength from our Lord's right hand. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 1:18

I am he that liveth, and was dead - I am Jesus the Savior, who, though the fountain of life, have died for mankind; and being raised from the dead I shall die no more, the great sacrifice being consummated. And have the keys of death and the grave, so that I can destroy the living and raise the dead. The key here signifies the power and authority over life, death, and the grave. This is also a rabbinical form of speech. In the Jerusalem Targum, on Genesis 30:22 , are these words: "There... read more

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