mystery = secret symbol. See App-193 . stars. Greek. aster, occurs fourteen times in Rev. ( App-10 ) in. Greek. epi. are = represent, or signify. the. Omit. angels. App-120 . Revelation 1:2 . which . . . sawest. The texts omit. the. Omit. read more
And his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire.This description of the white hair is a "deliberate reminiscence of Daniel 7:9, where it belongs to the Ancient of Days."[47] This application to Jesus Christ of the attributes of deity is a recurring phenomenon in Revelation. There are also a number of other reflections of the Book of Daniel, not only in this passage, but throughout the book.His eyes were a flame of fire ... This indicates... read more
And his feet like unto burnished brass, as it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters."The sense is that the feet of Jesus resembled gold-bronze, not as this is when it is cold, but as it appears when it is glowing in the intense heat of a furnace. Where such feet tread, they utterly blast and instantly turn to ashes everything they touch, or even approach.[48]Here again, we have a figure that is utterly incompatible with the priestly function of our blessed... read more
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.Two-edged sword ... A most unlikely symbol of any priestly function. As Wallace said:This sword stands for divine justice, and means that Jesus Christ was, and is now, the executor of righteous judgment and justice.[49]Sun shining in his strength ... Here is a reflection of the imagery of Malachi regarding the "sun of righteousness" that... read more
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last, and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.I fell at his feet ... Paul fell at the feet of Jesus revealed to him as a supernatural person (Acts 26:14); and the phenomenon occurs frequently throughout the Bible, especially in connection with receiving visions. See Ezekiel 1:28; Daniel 8:17;... read more
Write therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall come to pass hereafter.This is John's commission to write the vision for the benefit of the seven churches, and for all generations. Of course, the three things mentioned which John was to write have often been understood as an outline of the book, the things which he saw referring to Revelation 1, the things which are pertaining to Revelation 2 and Revelation 3, and the things that shall be... read more
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 are seven churches.Seven stars are the angels of the seven churches ... All kinds of efforts have been made to identify these "angels" of the seven churches as the ruling bishop, the pastor, the chief elder, or other human representative of the church; but such a view cannot be otherwise than incorrect. As Plummer... read more
Revelation 1:13. One like unto the Son of man, clothed, &c.— The clothing here mentioned, is something like the Jewish high-priest's; and Christ is described much in the same manner as the divine appearance in Daniel's vision; Daniel 7:9. The girdles were a kind of sash, which went over the neck like a tippet, were crossed on the breast, and then went round the lower part of it two or three times, like a modern circingle, and from hence they fell down almost to the feet. They were sometimes... read more
Revelation 1:14. His head and his hairs were white like wool,— The hairs of his head, &c. The word Λευκος, which we translate white, properly signifies "of great lustre." Thus ch. Revelation 20:11. I saw a great white throne, that is, "a throne with glorious lustre." This being an appearance of the Shechinah, is to be considered, as that always was, a representation of the divine Presence, Majesty, and Glory. Therefore the glory in which the Shechinah appeared in ancient prophecy, is very... read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 1:19
Write. The texts add "therefore". hast seen = sawest, as Revelation 1:2 . the . . . are = what thoy are, i.e. what they signify. and = even. shall be = are about to happen. hereafter. Literally after (Greek. meta.) these things (Greek. tauta) . Hebrew idiom; compare Genesis 22:1 . First of ten occurrences in Rev. read more