And I turned to see the voice That is, to see him whose voice it was; and being turned, I saw It seems the vision presented itself gradually. First, he heard a voice, and upon looking behind him he saw the golden candlesticks, and then, in the midst of the candlesticks, which were placed in a circle, he saw one like the Son of man That is, one in a human form. As a man, likewise, our Lord doubtless appears in heaven; though not exactly in this symbolical manner, wherein he presents himself as the Head of his church. He next observed that our Lord was clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt with a golden girdle Such the Jewish high-priests wore. But both of them are here marks of royal dignity likewise; girt about at the breast He that is on a journey girds his loins. Girding the breast was an emblem of solemn rest. It seems that the apostle, having seen all this, looked up to behold the face of our Lord, but was beat back by the appearance of his flaming eyes, which occasioned his more particularly observing his feet. Receiving strength to raise his eyes again, he saw the stars in his right hand, and the sword coming out of his mouth: but upon beholding the brightness of his glorious countenance, (which probably was much increased since the first glance the apostle had of it,) he fell at his feet as dead. During the time that St. John was discovering these several particulars, our Lord seems to have been speaking. And doubtless even his voice, at the very first, bespoke the God; though not so insupportably as his glorious appearance. His head and his hairs That is, the hairs of his head, not his whole head; were white as white wool Like the Ancient of Days, represented in Daniel's vision, chap. Revelation 7:9. Wool is commonly supposed to be an emblem of eternity; as snow Betokening his spotless purity; and his eyes as a flame of fire Piercing through all things: a token of his omniscience. And his feet like fine brass Denoting his stability and strength; as if they burned in a furnace As if, having been melted and refined, they were still red hot; and his voice To the comfort of his friends, and the terror of his enemies; as the voice of many waters Roaring aloud, and bearing down all before them. And he had in his right hand seven stars In token of his favour and powerful protection. And out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword Signifying his justice and righteous anger, continually pointed against his enemies as a sword: sharp, to stab; two-edged, to hew. And his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength Without any mist or cloud.
Related Commentaries of Revelation 1:12
Revelation 1:12-16
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.