Revelation 1:12-17; Fear Not
Revelation 1:12-17 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 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. 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
When John saw the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ upon His throne in heaven, there was no strength left in him. He fell at his feet as dead. Did he not recognize his Lord? His Master, the One whose bosom he once laid? The sight of the exalted Christ, described as the Son of man, overwhelmed him. John was there at the Mount of Transfiguration. He was not unacquainted with the blessings of beholding the glory of Christ in His fullness.
This was Peter’s testimony of their glorious encounter – 2 Peter 1:16-18 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
Were there flashbacks in his mind of that first encounter with his Master? Luke 5:10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. Those words set the path for John’s future which culminates to this moment when he met again his Lord in this heavenly vision.
Like Peter who was reminded of the Lord’s glory in his last words to the church, John has the unique blessing to behold the Lord’s glory in the latter days of his life. And again, our Lord said to him, “Fear not”. Jesus reminded John Who He is – “I am the first and the last, I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” The reality of eternal life, the heavenly reality, the resurrection life, was gloriously visible before God’s servant. He must have reminded of his time with the Lord after His resurrection. The power of the resurrection, the redemption plan of God, was a clear sight before him. Thank God for helping us see that our life with Christ will be worth it all. Amen.