rtf1ansiansicpg1252deff0deflang1033fonttblf0fnilfcharset0 Georgia;f1fnilfprq2fcharset0 Padua; colortbl ;red0green128blue0; viewkind4uc1pardf0fs24 par b The Glory Of The Son Of Man.b0 par par cf11ulbf1fs22 Rev_1:13-16cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24. par par There stand the seven golden lamps in their heavenly brightness! There stand the seven Churches of the Gentiles as represented by these lamps! par par But they do not stand alone. One is seen in the midst of them whom the apostle recognized. He is 'like unto the Son of man,' that is, He is the very Son of man Himself. It is He who said, 'Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them' (cf11ulbf1fs22 Mat_18:20cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24); and again, 'Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world' (or 'age'; cf11ulbf1fs22 Mat_28:20cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). He 'walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks (cf11ulbf1fs22 Rev_2:1cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). He is 'the Son of man'u8212?He whom Daniel knew by that name (cf11ulbf1fs22 Dan_7:13cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24, cf11ulbf1fs22 Dan_10:5cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24, cf11ulbf1fs22 Dan_10:16cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24); and whom John also knew by it (cf11ulbf1fs22 Joh_1:51cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24, cf11ulbf1fs22 Joh_3:13cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). True son of man, in His connection with the Churches; for it is as the Son of man that He walks in the midst of these golden lamps. par par b I. His CLOTHING.b0 He is clothed with the long robe, and He girt round the bosom with a belt of gold (cf11ulbf1fs22 Isa_6:1cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24; cf11ulbf1fs22 Eze_10:2cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24; cf11ulbf1fs22 Dan_10:5cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). The ROBE reaching to the feet was the robe of kings and priestsu8212?and this Son of man is both. It is the Melchizedek dress, the priestly-royal robe; for glory, and for beauty, and for majesty. His BELT is not that of the waist or loins, like warriors, or the servant's. It is for adorningu8212?it is the symbol of dignityu8212?it belongs to priest and princeu8212?it suits the crown and the throne on which the Son of man is seated in regal glory, yet as a ministering Priest in the Holy Place, attending to the service there, caring for the vessels of ministry, and especially trimming the lamps, or keeping their fine gold ever bright and shining. par par b II. His HEAD and HAIR.b0 His head as a whole, with its hair, was 'white like white wool (this is the literal rendering), like snow.' Or it may be simply 'the hair of His head were WHITE.' Here is purity, intense purity, and magnificent majesty, the same figure used concerning the 'Ancient of days' (cf11ulbf1fs22 Dan_7:9cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24), as if here also, as in other replaces (cf11ulbf1fs22 Dan_7:4cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24) and (cf11ulbf1fs22 Dan_7:8cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24), the designation and description of Father and Son were interchangeable; absolute and divine perfection being ascribed equally to both. It is by wool and snow that the sinner's cleansing is described (cf11ulbf1fs22 Isa_1:18cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24), as if to show how complete that cleansing is, and how complete the transformation is from scarlet to snow, from crimson to wool; scarlet and crimson representing the extremity of human defilement and guilt, snow and wool the perfection of divine purity. par par We are 'made perfect through the loveliness which He puts upon us' (cf11ulbf1fs22 Eze_16:14cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). In the Song of Solomon we read, 'His head is as the most fine gold; His locks are bushy and black as a raven,' as if describing the perfection of earthly beautyu8212?in our text they are said to be 'white as wool and snow,' as if describing the perfection of heavenly purity and glory. par par b III. His EYES.b0 They were as a flame of fire; piercing, burning, searching. They are like the eyes mentioned in Ezekiel, as connected with divine glory (cf11ulbf1fs22 Eze_1:18cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). 'The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good' (cf11ulbf1fs22 Pro_15:3cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). 'The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth' (cf11ulbf1fs22 2Ch_16:9cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). 'All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom they have to do' (cf11ulbf1fs22 Heb_4:13cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). He 'searches the heart and tries the thoughts.' All-penetrating and all-searching eyes are those here ascribed to Christu8212?eyes which not only look at us, but look through usu8212?eyes of heavenly flame! When He comes to judge and make war, it is said, 'His eyes are as a flame of fire' (cf11ulbf1fs22 Rev_14:12cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). Such are the eyes which wept at the grave of Lazarus; which wept over Jerusalem; which were turned on Peter when he went out and wept bitterly. par par b IV. His FEET.b0 They were 'like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace.' In Ezekiel (cf11ulbf1fs22 Eze_10:1-3cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24) the person seen had an 'appearance like the appearance of brass.' Molten brass is said to be especially bright and lustrous. His feet are like the rest of His body, altogether pure and perfect; brilliant to the eye, and repellent of all stain or evil; like glowing brass when the fire has burned out all its dross and brought out all its beauty. Even when He treads the wine-press, and tramples the wicked in His wrath, His feet take on no spot; and as He walks among the seven golden candlesticks, this purity and splendor shine out all around, rebuking sin, showing the true standard of divine perfection, and saying, 'Be holy, for I am holy.' par par b V. His VOICE.b0 'As the sound of many waters.' These may be the waters of the sea (the waves of which were now dashing at the apostle's feet), or of the cataract, or of the rolling riveru8212?loud and overawing, heard afar off above the din of the world. When He speaks, the world shall hear. The trumpet, the thunder, the noise of many watersu8212?these are the symbols made use of to describe His heavenly voiceu8212?that same voice which said, 'Come unto me, and I will give you rest.' The voice which uttered here the gracious words of loving invitation, that voice will, in the day of His appearing and His kingdom, say, 'Come, you blessed ones,' and 'depart, you cursed ones.' par par b VI. His RIGHT HAND.b0 This is the hand that grasps the sword and scepter; it is the place of POWER and AUTHORITY. It is often made mention of in the Psalms as suchu8212?'Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand' (cf11ulbf1fs22 Psa_89:13cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). There, in that almighty hand, are you seven stars, or seven angels; for 'He makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.' par par b VII. His MOUTH.b0 This is the place of utterance the place from which goes forth the voice which is as the sound of many waters. From this comes the voice of mercy; from this comes also the voice of judgmentu8212?'Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword,' the sword with which He executes righteous judgment; for as He spoke, and all things were made, so He speaks, and the stroke of judgment falls. Thus we read in Hosea (cf11ulbf1fs22 Hos_6:5cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24)u8212?'Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth.' par par b VIII. His COUNTENANCE.b0 That is, His whole faceu8212?His visage. It is said that on the holy mount 'His face did shine as the sun' (cf11ulbf1fs22 Mat_17:2cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24); and we read that 'His face was as the appearance of lighting' (cf11ulbf1fs22 Dan_10:6cf0ulnoneb0f0fs24). So here 'His countenance was as the sun shines in his strength.' Infinite brightness, divine glory, irradiating, penetrating, revealing, is in His faceu8212?that face which once was covered with blood on the cross, and pale in death. par par Such is the excellence of the Lord Jesus Christ. All divine and all human perfections are in Him. 'In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.' In Him are the unsearchable riches. He is 'the king in His beauty!' He is 'fairer than the children of men!' par par Thus excellent is the Church's Head, and He is Head over all things to the Church. He is, moreover, 'Prince of the kings of the earth;' and all allegiance from earth as well as heaven, from nations as well as Churches, from kings as well as saintsu8212?is due to Him! All crowns are His, all scepters, all thrones! Heaven is now full of His glory, and before long earth shall be the same!