Revelation 1:12-13: And I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
Καὶ ἐπέστρεψα βλέπειν τὴν φωνὴν ἥτις ἐλάλει μετʼ ἐμοῦ, καὶ ἐπιστρέψας εἶδον ἑπτὰ λυχνίας χρυσᾶς καὶ ἐν μέσῳ τῶν λυχνιῶν ὅμοιον υἱὸν ἀνθρώπου ἐνδεδυμένον ποδήρη καὶ περιεζωσμένον πρὸς τοῖς μαστοῖς ζώνην χρυσᾶν.
John sees the voice because this was a vision. He sees seven lampstands which represent the seven churches to which this letter is written (see verse 20). The primary object of his vision is the being who stands in the midst of the lampstands described as “one like a son of man.” He is human in form. This could also refer back to Jesus’ designation of himself recorded in the Gospels which reflects back on Daniel’s visions and possibly Ezekiel. The next four verses describe this being. The first hint of who this is with the description, “son of man.” He clothing recalls the glory of what is to follow. It is significant that he is standing in the middle of the lampstands. He is in the midst of the churches and knows what is happening. Lamps should give out light (Matthew 5: 14-16). Since they surround the son of man, they should reveal him to those on the outside of the circle. The symbolism of this book becomes evident right away at the introduction. There will be many descriptions that are difficult if not impossible to interpreter. Rather than try to understand every small detail, I hope to grasp the broader implications of what they mean. This verse draws my focus to Jesus as one who identifies with us. The Incarnate One has become the Exalted One in these verses. There are two thoughts to balance: the churches of Asia minor, with all their challenges, doubts, failures, sins, and fears, and the exalted Jesus who stands in their midst to either judge or rescue them from their situations. The universal truth of this is that we are like the churches, which are made up of people like us. We will be confronted with the exalted Jesus and will have to make a decision of what to do with him.
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