Gazing Upon the Glory of Christ: What John’s Revelation Vision Teaches Us
In Revelation chapter 1, the apostle John is exiled to the island of Patmos when he receives a heavenly vision like none other. The Lord Jesus Christ appears to him in all His splendor and glory. Though John knew Jesus intimately as His disciple, this glimpse of the glorified Christ left him utterly shaken.
The vision begins with Jesus standing among the seven golden lampstands, representing the seven churches mentioned in chapters 1-3. I love the visual of the churches as lampstands, shining God’s light in a dark world.
John saw one like a son of man, a term that signifies His humanity and deity, clothed in a robe reaching to His feet, with a golden sash across His chest. Jesus is ready to conquer the world but will do so in style. He is our high priest and King of kings, the coming Judge and the Ruler of the heavens and earth.
The color of Jesus’ hair is described as white and glowing like a blazing light. John describes it as white as wool and snow, symbolizing its purity, holiness, and eternality.
His eyes were like a flame of fire. In Daniel’s vision, they were like “blazing torches” able to pierce through all things, seeing even into the darkest shadows of our souls. Nothing can be hidden from His gaze. No one will escape.
The vision emphasizes that God’s judgment goes beyond outward behavior to our secret thoughts and motives, leaving no room to justify our misdeeds. We cannot blame others or the systems in place. Yet, as devastating as His return will be for those who take their stand against Him, His eyes blaze with all-seeing love, protection, and care for His own.
The vision emphasizes that God’s judgment goes beyond outward behavior to our secret thoughts and motives, leaving no room to justify our misdeeds. We cannot blame others or the systems in place.
Jesus’ feet glow like bronze orange hot. The imagery makes Him both grand and very tangible. But bronze primarily correlates to judgment. The bronze altar in the temple was related to sacrifice for sin and divine judgment on it.
His resounding voice signifies His authority and power. His voice is like the sound of many waters—think Niagara Falls. When Jesus speaks, all of creation listens. His voice thunders with truth, justice, and righteousness.
And from His mouth comes a sharp two-edged sword, symbolizing His and His Word’s power and authority to judge and make war. It’s hard to argue against someone with glowing white hair, eyes of fire, a voice like Niagara Falls, a mouth as a sharp sword, and whose face radiates a power greater than the sun itself.
It’s hard to argue against someone with glowing white hair, eyes of fire, a voice like Niagara Falls, a mouth as a sharp sword, and whose face radiates a power greater than the sun itself.
Through biblical imagery, we see Jesus differently from the gospels. His face is radiant “like the sun shining in all its strength,” His eyes, as flames of fire peering into the soul, evoke a sense of terror, awe, and worship and shatter any notion of judgment as lax, tolerant, or open to debate.
Better than anyone living at that time, John knew Jesus, saw Him, ate with Him, walked with Him, and loved Him. Yet the sight of Jesus in His glory shook him to the core. John fell at His feet “as a dead man.” Even though Jesus reassured him not to fear, this vision makes it clear that the Babe of Bethlehem is also the returning Judge and eternal King.
This vision makes it clear that the Babe of Bethlehem is also the returning Judge and eternal King.
When we see Him in His glory, we, too, will be awestruck and overwhelmed. Our breath will be taken away. But do not fear! The same humble, compassionate, forgiving Savior who defended His disciples, ate with Zacchaeus, protected the women busted in adultery, forgave sins, and gave His life for us has risen. He is eternal, and He holds the keys, the power, and authority over life and death, sin and the grave, heaven and hell.
If your faith can envision what Jesus reveals, He’s unlike anything we’ve seen. If Jesus is boring to you, if your God is too small, if the cross is awesome but you know there’s more, let this vision challenge your perspective and change your worldview. Let it confront any worldview that discounts God, Jesus, the church, sin, grace, judgment, holiness, salvation, and eternity. Seeing Jesus, His face shining, eyes blazing, feet burnishing—and allow Him to reintroduce fear and mystery, like He did, John.
If Jesus is boring to you, if your God is too small, if the cross is awesome but you know there’s more, let this vision challenge your perspective and change your worldview.
Whether or not we can see this now through Scripture, we shall see Jesus in His glory, and we shall be overwhelmed. Let this vision strengthen our faith that the One who suffered for our sins now reigns victorious over all. The same Jesus who loved and forgave also holds the keys of death and Hades. He alone is worthy of all worship, honor, and praise.