END OF TIME PROPHECIES 020

"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. His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; and His feet like unto fine brass as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters. And He had in His right hand seven stars; and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword; and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength".   Revelation 1v13-17.

What John saw was glorified humanity, destined for universal dominion.   There now follows a nine fold description of the One whom John had only known before as the babe of Bethlehem,  the peasant preacher from Nazareth, and the rejected Christ.   Now He is no longer in humiliation, but in exaltation, in supreme splendour.   The opening observation "clothed with a garment down to the foot" gives us a clue as to the meaning of "the vision."   A full length robe was only worn by dignitaries such as kings, priests, prophets, and judges.   The context must decide to which of these it refers.   A reading of the details of the vision, and also of the rest of the book of Revelation, makes it clear that what is in view is Christ as the judge of all the earth.

We focus firstly on the trend of the book.
In chapters 2 - 3 He is the Judge of the church.
In chapters 4 - 16  He is the Judge of the whole earth.
In chapters 17 - 18  He is the Judge of the spurious Babylonian system of religion and commerce.
In chapter 19  He is the Judge of all world rulers.
In chapter 20  He is the Judge of Satan and his demons.
In chapter 20 again He is the Judge of all during the millennial kingdom.
Again in chapter 20  He is the Judge of all the unregenerate dead.

When we read the book of Revelation from that viewpoint, the whole story with its solemn imagery begins to make sense.  There now follows nine details of the One who will bring everyone into judgement at the end of time.  

• His dignity- the dignity of His office.     "Clothed with a garment down to the foot."
• His equity-  the righteousness of His judgements.     "Girt about the paps with a golden girdle."
• His purity-  the impeccability of His character.    " His head and His hairs were white as wool, as white as snow."
• His perspicacity-the searing perception of His vision.     " Eyes like a flame of fire."
• His victory- the all conquering subjugation of His power.     "His feet as fine brass as if they burned in a furnace."
• His authority-the awesome noise of His voice silencing all others.     "His voice as the sound of many waters."
• His sovereignty-His sovereignty control over all light bearers   "In His right hand He holds the seven stars."
• His intensity-the sharp edge of His tongue, countermanding all human arguments.     "Out of His mouth went a two-edged sword."
• His majesty-the majesty of His presence, eclipsing all lesser lights.     "His countenance was as the sun shines in his strength."

Each of the above need to be expounded in turn, but, together they present a picture of  supreme and perfect judgement.   Unfathomable knowledge, with unlimited experience, and absolute power all combine in the One who is to be the Judge of all the earth.   Jesus Christ is Lord; He is the Judge with absolute authority, who cannot be gainsaid, who cannot be deceived, before whom there is no appeal, and whose judgements are perfect and final.