And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
On Patmos John was shown the glorified Son of Man standing among the seven golden candlesticks, His feet glowing like brass refined and heated in a furnace and His voice powerful, full, musical and clear as the sound of many waters. He was utterly changed from His humiliation in poor garments and crowned with thorns to majesty in heavenly brightness, yet still bearing the nail marks in His hands and feet as His glory. He is the mighty Redeemer who holds the seven stars and walks among the churches, watching over His enfeebled yet beloved people with tender solicitude and strengthening them by His Spirit. The same personal, glorified Being will come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, His feet as fire and fine brass and His voice as many instruments, to raise the sleeping saints and transform the living. That voice as many waters is also God's delivering voice from settled glory, rolling through the earth like thunder to shake heaven and earth and announce the day and hour of coming and the everlasting covenant, understood and glorifying the living 144,000 while the wicked mistake it for thunder and earthquake.
Vision Setting on Patmos
The verse belongs to John's vision of One like the Son of Man standing in glory in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girt with a golden girdle. No longer in the poor garments worn for humanity's sake, He stands in glory and brightness with feet like fine brass burned in a furnace and voice as the sound of many waters. The appearance was given while John was in the Spirit on the Lord's day on Patmos. That Lord's day is the Sabbath instituted in Eden, precious to John on Patmos and claimed by him with its promises as the sign that God sanctifies His people.
John was banished to Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ and for fidelity to his Saviour. It was more than half a century after he had leaned on His bosom, and in his old age and persecution heaven was opened before him in unspeakable joy. Outwardly his enemies triumphed, but God's hand was moving unseen, placing His faithful servant hidden on a desert island cut off from his brethren where the risen Saviour visited him on the holy Sabbath day with a wonderful view of His glory and great light. Those who held the messenger understanding saw in the gleaming feet like fine brass heated in a furnace and the powerful voice like many waters the heavenly messenger who visited John on Patmos while banished for faithfully witnessing to God. Though John had traveled with Jesus and rested on His bosom, he must also see Him glorified on Patmos, making known what was to come upon the earth, and the testimony then given is given also to those whom God would have search the Scriptures to know what will be in the last days.
Christ came in person from heaven by the Holy Spirit to open to John the future of the church and the world. He met him to reveal events of the last days and God's counsel for future ages, revealing Himself amid the indescribable glory of the heavenly sanctuary in glorified humanity. The vision was special light for the church and showed more distinctly than ever before what will be at the close of this earth's history. The One seen is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who is soon to ride forth conquering and to conquer.
The revelation is a wonderful, dignified, exalted, solemn message that Christ Himself told John to write in a book and send to the seven churches in Asia. It includes the message to Ephesus from the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the candlesticks, speaking and warning with authority. It is to be presented with decided emphasis demanding all the talents and capabilities God has given to man, with John working by the Holy Spirit as Christ Himself came from heaven to tell him what to write. The voice heard with feet like fine brass and voice as the sound of many waters is the same voice heard behind John as of a trumpet saying I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. Its first word to John was Fear not, and it is the same voice that spoke through pale and quivering lips from the cross, Son, behold thy mother.
The description and words were given not for John alone nor for the churches alone, but through those churches as an inspired message for the people to make its powerful impression in every age to the close of this earth's history. The verse stands in Revelation 1:10-19 and in the description in Revelation 1:12-16 and as part of Revelation 1:13-18. It stands in the first three chapters of Revelation, which belong together as messages to the churches giving the history of Satan's effort to bring dissension into the church, which must be met today.
Feet and Voice Described
His feet glow like fine brass refined and heated in a furnace, burned bright in the fire, and in that burning brightness is seen His glorified, majestic, powerful appearance in glorified humanity standing in the midst of the seven candlesticks, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girt with a golden girdle, with authority over the churches. His feet are also seen with the appearance of fire, and that fiery appearance marks His glory as He comes on the cloud, descending wrapped in flames. That same fiery coming brings the resurrection of the sleeping saints and the transformation of the living.
His voice is as the sound of many waters, powerful and full, immense and musical, rushing waters speaking in clear distinct tones. Its power and clarity overwhelm in the vision, portraying His transformed majesty. He is utterly changed from His humiliation as John had known Him on earth, no longer in the poor garments He wore for humanity's sake, no longer in an old purple robe and crowned with thorns as the suffering humbled Jesus, but in glory and brightness clothed in a garment of heavenly brightness.
John was permitted to behold his Lord clothed in glory beyond what a human being could endure, still bearing the nail marks in His hands and feet as His glory. With the feet and voice belong the white hair, the fiery eyes, the seven stars, the two-edged sword, the sunlike countenance, and His declaration as the First and the Last who liveth and was dead and is alive forevermore with the keys of death. The glory was so great that John's humanity could not endure it and he fell at His feet as dead, as a dead man, until Jesus laid His right hand upon him to revive him and strengthen him so he could receive the message given to make known to the churches.
The feet like polished brass and the voice like many waters resemble the appearance of the Son of God to Daniel, identifying the one who appeared to Daniel as Christ. He was accompanied by another heavenly messenger to teach about events in the latter days. The voice as the sound of many waters shows the Creator's rule over nature, for the voice of the Creator is heard in the waters. The sea's furious waves illustrate the wrath of an offended God and the infinite power that restrains the deep within appointed limits, while human beings are frail and foolish when they boast of their wisdom and strength or oppose Him.
Redeemer's Care for Church
The feet like fine brass burned in a furnace and the voice as the sound of many waters belong to the mighty Redeemer to whom believers belong by creation and by redemption, who loves them with fullness of love and assurance, who will never cast out anyone who comes to Him, and who alone gives rest and satisfies soul-hunger. In that glorified Christ are seen the mercy, tenderness, and love of God blending with His holiness, justice, and power, so that sinners find in Him a Father though sin made them afraid, mercy and truth meet together and righteousness and peace kiss each other in Him, and the throne terrible in unbelief becomes a place of refuge in repentance where sinners flee to His arms for protection and pardon instead of fleeing from God because of sin. He is the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, which symbolize the seven churches, speaking and warning with authority over them, sending His message to Ephesus and to His people and giving the decided testimony about overcoming to those living in the last days. Every church has a guardian angel to minister to that special church.
He revealed Himself to John as He is in order to address the churches, and even though the church is enfeebled and defective, it is the object of His supreme regard, constantly watched over by Him with tender solicitude and strengthened by His Holy Spirit. The vision was God's assurance to John of the Saviour's interest and care for His people before opening to him the history of the church for future ages, so that while shown the last great struggles of the church with earthly powers he was also permitted to behold the final victory and deliverance of the faithful. It shows how closely heaven is connected with events taking place on earth and how great is God's care for those who are loyal to Him, that the world is not without a ruler, that the program of coming events is in the Lord's hands, and that the Majesty of heaven has the destiny of nations as well as the concerns of His church in His own charge.
The appearance proves that Christ is risen and gives the church living power, assuring God's people that He reveals Himself to them and is with His chosen people amid oppression and persecution, even in prisons and at the stake when they are burned, with His glory shining most clearly in the deepest gloom. That glory is now dimly seen, His preciousness little realized and His love imperfectly experienced, calling for prayer to be shown His glory by faith on earth, for only those who see the Redeemer's glory by faith here will see it in its fullness in heaven above.
Return in Glory Foretold
The verse describes the Son of Man as a personal being with real personality who will appear when He comes in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. His feet like fine brass glowing as if burned in a furnace and His voice like the sound of many waters are features of that revealed appearance in glory, together with a countenance like the sun shining in its strength. The description in Revelation 1:12-16 calls for study of the book of Revelation to understand what will be in the last days.
At His return His feet appear like fire and like fine brass as He descends on the glorious cloud wrapped in flames to conquer, while the earth trembles before Him. His voice in that scene of glorious return sounds like many waters and like many musical instruments, showing His majesty. He sits on a great white cloud drawing nearer the earth, wearing crowns on His head with white curly hair lying on His shoulders. He holds a sharp sickle in His right hand and a silver trumpet in His left, with eyes as a flame of fire searching His children through and through.
His coming brings the resurrection of the sleeping saints and the transformation of the living. He comes crowned with glory in judgment, clothed in a robe whiter than snow, with King of kings and Lord of lords written on His vesture. In this coming He searches all creation through.
The glorious revelation to John on Patmos was itself His second advent after His first advent as an infant at Bethlehem. The light then revealed to His servant John is for the present time, containing the three angels' messages, the description of the angel that comes down from heaven with great power to lighten the earth with his glory, and warnings against the wickedness of the last days and against the mark of the beast. These are not only to be read and understood but to be proclaimed to the world with no uncertain sound to warn the world and stir the people.
The majestic, dazzling appearance of the Son of God in the verse, with feet like glowing fine brass and voice like many waters, is the pattern Satan will imitate when he appears as a false Christ in one last desperate effort to overcome the faithful, trying to persuade people that Christ has come. Satan has power to clothe himself with that same royalty of royal garments, beauty, majesty and glory as Christ will appear at His second coming, and will use it when he cannot sweep in the whole world. He will appear to the Christian world who received not the love of the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness, which is transgression of the law, as Christ coming the second time. He will proclaim himself Christ as a beautiful majestic being with glory unsurpassed by anything mortal eyes had yet beheld, speaking with soft and subdued pleasant voice and lifting up his hands to bless as Christ did when upon the earth, and he will be believed to be Christ and welcomed with shouts of victory that Christ has come.
Delivering Voice of God
The likeness of a voice to many rushing waters belongs to the voice of God speaking from a clear place of settled glory. That voice shakes the heavens and the earth, sounding with overwhelming power amid the upheaval of nature in the time of trouble in the last days. Its words roll through the earth like loud thunder as He speaks the day and hour of Jesus' coming and gives His people the everlasting covenant. At the deliverance of His people the same voice announces, It is done.
The living saints listen to that announcement, recognize and understand it, and are glorified by it. They number 144,000 who understand the declaration of the day and hour. The wicked cannot understand the voice nor look upon the glory resting on the saints, mistaking it for thunder and an earthquake.
Warning and Response Required
The first three chapters give an earnest warning to prepare to meet the Lord in the clouds of heaven, for He comes with power and great glory. They confront indifference to the signs He foretold and give evidence that the end of the world is right upon us. The vision of Revelation 1:10-19 is to be known to show how to escape the perils of the last days and where to place dependence.
It teaches making no gods of men, but worshiping the Lord God with all heart and mind and soul and strength, and loving the neighbor as self. Love to God and love to man are the two great principles on which hang all the law and the prophets. As members of His church, people should allow Him to impress their minds and to work through them to His glory, and should heed the messages He addresses to the church.
By obeying them they make certain their redemption, so they will meet Him with joy at His coming and not be among those who shall wail because of Him. The verse calls for study of the book of Revelation and for searching the Scriptures to know what will be in the last days of this earth's history. His coming calls everyone to get ready for judgment, to pray for pardon of sin, and to be cleansed from every stain of sin.
Believers must cling to the glorified Christ in firm confidence, without turning from His promises to human beings for help and without speaking doubt of Him. In great emergency God's servants are not to trust to themselves, for the world is not without a ruler and the program of coming events is in the Lord's hands. God does not forget or cast off those who put their trust in Him, but permits trials to assail them so that by constancy and obedience they are spiritually enriched. Their example strengthens others, and they are led closer to Christ to lay burdens at His feet and receive His peace.
On Patmos John was shown the glorified Son of Man standing among the seven golden candlesticks, His feet glowing like brass refined and heated in a furnace and His voice powerful, full, musical and clear as the sound of many waters. He was utterly changed from His humiliation in poor garments and crowned with thorns to majesty in heavenly brightness, yet still bearing the nail marks in His hands and feet as His glory. He is the mighty Redeemer who holds the seven stars and walks among the churches, watching over His enfeebled yet beloved people with tender solicitude and strengthening them by His Spirit. The same personal, glorified Being will come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, His feet as fire and fine brass and His voice as many instruments, to raise the sleeping saints and transform the living. That voice as many waters is also God's delivering voice from settled glory, rolling through the earth like thunder to shake heaven and earth and announce the day and hour of coming and the everlasting covenant, understood and glorifying the living 144,000 while the wicked mistake it for thunder and earthquake.
Vision Setting on Patmos
The verse belongs to John's vision of One like the Son of Man standing in glory in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girt with a golden girdle. No longer in the poor garments worn for humanity's sake, He stands in glory and brightness with feet like fine brass burned in a furnace and voice as the sound of many waters. The appearance was given while John was in the Spirit on the Lord's day on Patmos. That Lord's day is the Sabbath instituted in Eden, precious to John on Patmos and claimed by him with its promises as the sign that God sanctifies His people.
John was banished to Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ and for fidelity to his Saviour. It was more than half a century after he had leaned on His bosom, and in his old age and persecution heaven was opened before him in unspeakable joy. Outwardly his enemies triumphed, but God's hand was moving unseen, placing His faithful servant hidden on a desert island cut off from his brethren where the risen Saviour visited him on the holy Sabbath day with a wonderful view of His glory and great light. Those who held the messenger understanding saw in the gleaming feet like fine brass heated in a furnace and the powerful voice like many waters the heavenly messenger who visited John on Patmos while banished for faithfully witnessing to God. Though John had traveled with Jesus and rested on His bosom, he must also see Him glorified on Patmos, making known what was to come upon the earth, and the testimony then given is given also to those whom God would have search the Scriptures to know what will be in the last days.
Christ came in person from heaven by the Holy Spirit to open to John the future of the church and the world. He met him to reveal events of the last days and God's counsel for future ages, revealing Himself amid the indescribable glory of the heavenly sanctuary in glorified humanity. The vision was special light for the church and showed more distinctly than ever before what will be at the close of this earth's history. The One seen is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who is soon to ride forth conquering and to conquer.
The revelation is a wonderful, dignified, exalted, solemn message that Christ Himself told John to write in a book and send to the seven churches in Asia. It includes the message to Ephesus from the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the candlesticks, speaking and warning with authority. It is to be presented with decided emphasis demanding all the talents and capabilities God has given to man, with John working by the Holy Spirit as Christ Himself came from heaven to tell him what to write. The voice heard with feet like fine brass and voice as the sound of many waters is the same voice heard behind John as of a trumpet saying I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. Its first word to John was Fear not, and it is the same voice that spoke through pale and quivering lips from the cross, Son, behold thy mother.
The description and words were given not for John alone nor for the churches alone, but through those churches as an inspired message for the people to make its powerful impression in every age to the close of this earth's history. The verse stands in Revelation 1:10-19 and in the description in Revelation 1:12-16 and as part of Revelation 1:13-18. It stands in the first three chapters of Revelation, which belong together as messages to the churches giving the history of Satan's effort to bring dissension into the church, which must be met today.
Feet and Voice Described
His feet glow like fine brass refined and heated in a furnace, burned bright in the fire, and in that burning brightness is seen His glorified, majestic, powerful appearance in glorified humanity standing in the midst of the seven candlesticks, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girt with a golden girdle, with authority over the churches. His feet are also seen with the appearance of fire, and that fiery appearance marks His glory as He comes on the cloud, descending wrapped in flames. That same fiery coming brings the resurrection of the sleeping saints and the transformation of the living.
His voice is as the sound of many waters, powerful and full, immense and musical, rushing waters speaking in clear distinct tones. Its power and clarity overwhelm in the vision, portraying His transformed majesty. He is utterly changed from His humiliation as John had known Him on earth, no longer in the poor garments He wore for humanity's sake, no longer in an old purple robe and crowned with thorns as the suffering humbled Jesus, but in glory and brightness clothed in a garment of heavenly brightness.
John was permitted to behold his Lord clothed in glory beyond what a human being could endure, still bearing the nail marks in His hands and feet as His glory. With the feet and voice belong the white hair, the fiery eyes, the seven stars, the two-edged sword, the sunlike countenance, and His declaration as the First and the Last who liveth and was dead and is alive forevermore with the keys of death. The glory was so great that John's humanity could not endure it and he fell at His feet as dead, as a dead man, until Jesus laid His right hand upon him to revive him and strengthen him so he could receive the message given to make known to the churches.
The feet like polished brass and the voice like many waters resemble the appearance of the Son of God to Daniel, identifying the one who appeared to Daniel as Christ. He was accompanied by another heavenly messenger to teach about events in the latter days. The voice as the sound of many waters shows the Creator's rule over nature, for the voice of the Creator is heard in the waters. The sea's furious waves illustrate the wrath of an offended God and the infinite power that restrains the deep within appointed limits, while human beings are frail and foolish when they boast of their wisdom and strength or oppose Him.
Redeemer's Care for Church
The feet like fine brass burned in a furnace and the voice as the sound of many waters belong to the mighty Redeemer to whom believers belong by creation and by redemption, who loves them with fullness of love and assurance, who will never cast out anyone who comes to Him, and who alone gives rest and satisfies soul-hunger. In that glorified Christ are seen the mercy, tenderness, and love of God blending with His holiness, justice, and power, so that sinners find in Him a Father though sin made them afraid, mercy and truth meet together and righteousness and peace kiss each other in Him, and the throne terrible in unbelief becomes a place of refuge in repentance where sinners flee to His arms for protection and pardon instead of fleeing from God because of sin. He is the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, which symbolize the seven churches, speaking and warning with authority over them, sending His message to Ephesus and to His people and giving the decided testimony about overcoming to those living in the last days. Every church has a guardian angel to minister to that special church.
He revealed Himself to John as He is in order to address the churches, and even though the church is enfeebled and defective, it is the object of His supreme regard, constantly watched over by Him with tender solicitude and strengthened by His Holy Spirit. The vision was God's assurance to John of the Saviour's interest and care for His people before opening to him the history of the church for future ages, so that while shown the last great struggles of the church with earthly powers he was also permitted to behold the final victory and deliverance of the faithful. It shows how closely heaven is connected with events taking place on earth and how great is God's care for those who are loyal to Him, that the world is not without a ruler, that the program of coming events is in the Lord's hands, and that the Majesty of heaven has the destiny of nations as well as the concerns of His church in His own charge.
The appearance proves that Christ is risen and gives the church living power, assuring God's people that He reveals Himself to them and is with His chosen people amid oppression and persecution, even in prisons and at the stake when they are burned, with His glory shining most clearly in the deepest gloom. That glory is now dimly seen, His preciousness little realized and His love imperfectly experienced, calling for prayer to be shown His glory by faith on earth, for only those who see the Redeemer's glory by faith here will see it in its fullness in heaven above.
Return in Glory Foretold
The verse describes the Son of Man as a personal being with real personality who will appear when He comes in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. His feet like fine brass glowing as if burned in a furnace and His voice like the sound of many waters are features of that revealed appearance in glory, together with a countenance like the sun shining in its strength. The description in Revelation 1:12-16 calls for study of the book of Revelation to understand what will be in the last days.
At His return His feet appear like fire and like fine brass as He descends on the glorious cloud wrapped in flames to conquer, while the earth trembles before Him. His voice in that scene of glorious return sounds like many waters and like many musical instruments, showing His majesty. He sits on a great white cloud drawing nearer the earth, wearing crowns on His head with white curly hair lying on His shoulders. He holds a sharp sickle in His right hand and a silver trumpet in His left, with eyes as a flame of fire searching His children through and through.
His coming brings the resurrection of the sleeping saints and the transformation of the living. He comes crowned with glory in judgment, clothed in a robe whiter than snow, with King of kings and Lord of lords written on His vesture. In this coming He searches all creation through.
The glorious revelation to John on Patmos was itself His second advent after His first advent as an infant at Bethlehem. The light then revealed to His servant John is for the present time, containing the three angels' messages, the description of the angel that comes down from heaven with great power to lighten the earth with his glory, and warnings against the wickedness of the last days and against the mark of the beast. These are not only to be read and understood but to be proclaimed to the world with no uncertain sound to warn the world and stir the people.
The majestic, dazzling appearance of the Son of God in the verse, with feet like glowing fine brass and voice like many waters, is the pattern Satan will imitate when he appears as a false Christ in one last desperate effort to overcome the faithful, trying to persuade people that Christ has come. Satan has power to clothe himself with that same royalty of royal garments, beauty, majesty and glory as Christ will appear at His second coming, and will use it when he cannot sweep in the whole world. He will appear to the Christian world who received not the love of the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness, which is transgression of the law, as Christ coming the second time. He will proclaim himself Christ as a beautiful majestic being with glory unsurpassed by anything mortal eyes had yet beheld, speaking with soft and subdued pleasant voice and lifting up his hands to bless as Christ did when upon the earth, and he will be believed to be Christ and welcomed with shouts of victory that Christ has come.
Delivering Voice of God
The likeness of a voice to many rushing waters belongs to the voice of God speaking from a clear place of settled glory. That voice shakes the heavens and the earth, sounding with overwhelming power amid the upheaval of nature in the time of trouble in the last days. Its words roll through the earth like loud thunder as He speaks the day and hour of Jesus' coming and gives His people the everlasting covenant. At the deliverance of His people the same voice announces, It is done.
The living saints listen to that announcement, recognize and understand it, and are glorified by it. They number 144,000 who understand the declaration of the day and hour. The wicked cannot understand the voice nor look upon the glory resting on the saints, mistaking it for thunder and an earthquake.
Warning and Response Required
The first three chapters give an earnest warning to prepare to meet the Lord in the clouds of heaven, for He comes with power and great glory. They confront indifference to the signs He foretold and give evidence that the end of the world is right upon us. The vision of Revelation 1:10-19 is to be known to show how to escape the perils of the last days and where to place dependence.
It teaches making no gods of men, but worshiping the Lord God with all heart and mind and soul and strength, and loving the neighbor as self. Love to God and love to man are the two great principles on which hang all the law and the prophets. As members of His church, people should allow Him to impress their minds and to work through them to His glory, and should heed the messages He addresses to the church.
By obeying them they make certain their redemption, so they will meet Him with joy at His coming and not be among those who shall wail because of Him. The verse calls for study of the book of Revelation and for searching the Scriptures to know what will be in the last days of this earth's history. His coming calls everyone to get ready for judgment, to pray for pardon of sin, and to be cleansed from every stain of sin.
Believers must cling to the glorified Christ in firm confidence, without turning from His promises to human beings for help and without speaking doubt of Him. In great emergency God's servants are not to trust to themselves, for the world is not without a ruler and the program of coming events is in the Lord's hands. God does not forget or cast off those who put their trust in Him, but permits trials to assail them so that by constancy and obedience they are spiritually enriched. Their example strengthens others, and they are led closer to Christ to lay burdens at His feet and receive His peace.