“I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand, he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance” (Revelation 1:12-16).
Jesus’ Eyes
Jesus’ eyes were described as being like fire. Imagine looking at someone with blazing eyes of fire. It would probably send chills down most people's spines, but John had no reason to fear. Throughout the Bible, we see one of the signs of fire as being a sign of judgment for the wicked. The Bible says: “Know right now that the Lord your God, who is crossing over before you, is an all-consuming fire! He will wipe them out! He will subdue them before you! Then you will take possession of their land, eliminating them quickly, exactly as the Lord told you” (Deuteronomy 9:3). In this particular text, God was like a devouring fire that was going to destroy Israel’s enemies. Once again, Jesus describes fire as being punishment for the wicked, along with the devil and his angels in the book of Matthew. The Bible says: “Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). To see Jesus’ eyes as described by John and Daniel is to see judgment upon all who fail to acknowledge Him and follow the ways of the Lord. God sees everything, and there is nothing that will go unjudged. The Bible says: “For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14). Nevertheless, we are to welcome the fire that reigns down from the Holy Spirit into the hearts and minds of His followers.
Jesus’ Skin
Jesus was also described as having skin that looked like bronze. Now, many people take this scripture to mean that Jesus was black, brown, or a man of color. Yet, there is much more to this text than melonated skin. One of the offerings that God accepted for the construction of the tabernacle during Moses’ day was bronze. God wanted to live among His chosen people and required certain materials as a freewill offering to construct His house. The Bible says: “These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze” (Exodus 25:3).
Moses used bronze, but it was due to the sins the Children of Israel had committed this time. The Bible says: “Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!” So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!” (Numbers 21:4-9).
The Bronze was used to heal the Children of Israel from their physical ailments as well as the spiritual sins they committed against God. Jesus became the offering, which God accepted for the sins of mankind. Just as the children of Israel had to look upon the bronze snake to receive their healing by faith, we, too, have to look upon Jesus to receive healing and forgiveness of sin. For Jesus is the Balm that heals, delivers, and sets us free from anything that ails us in the spirit and natural.
Jesus’ Voice
John described Jesus’ voice as rushing water, and Daniel described it as a multitude. In the Bible, water often represented people, and this is why John and Daniel’s descriptions can be used interchangeably. However, Jesus also describes himself as the living water where all who drink will never thirst. The Bible says: “The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water” (John 4:9-10). From the mouth of Jesus comes what we need to spiritually sustain our hearts, minds, and souls. We cannot do it on our own, but total reliance has to be on Christ and His saving power. This sound of water is an invitation to every nation regardless of race, color, or creed. The Bible says: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). The rushing water is the constant, nonstop flow of grace and salvation by which we are saved.
