Revelation 1:16: 16and having in his right hand seven stars and a sharp two-edged sword coming out of his mouth, and his face as the sun shines in its power.
John’s description of Jesus continues. Verse 20 informs us that the seven stars represent the seven angels of the seven churches. The number seven in the Bible, stretching back to the seven days of creation and especially in Revelation, represents perfection and wholeness. These seven churches were in the protective hand of Jesus. The right hand represented power and authority. The recipients of this book could be assured that Jesus would see them through any challenges and persecution they faced because he is Lord of all.
The two-edged sword had twice the power and ability to both defend and advance in battle. A soldier could swing and cut from any direction. Being sharp made such a weapon extremely dangerous. No one except a brave fool would come against such a weapon. This sword was coming out of the special person’s mouth. This description has background in Isaiah 49:2 and is mentioned also in Revelation 2:12, 16, and 19:15, 21. The image describes how Jesus will pronounce both salvation for the faithful and judgment upon the rebellious. Jesus has the power of divine judgment that cuts to the heart of the matter.
Finally, John noticed how the figure’s face was brighter than even the sun. The sun was the brightest light for ancient people. No humans with good vision can look at the sun for long without damaging their eyesight. In the Bible, light represents purity, holiness, and God’s presence. God exists in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16). This part of the vision is a powerful description of the divinity of Jesus, and it prepares for the awesome claims that will appear throughout this book that should lead one to fall down in worship and humility before him.