Rev 1:13-20 | TNotes | STEP | 1:13 the Son of Man (or a son of man. ): Son of Man is a title Jesus used for himself (see Dan 7:13 ; Matt 8:20 ; 9:6 ; 16:13 ; Mark 2:28 ; 9:9 ; 14:41 ; John 1:51 ; 3:13 ; 5:27 ). • The long robe and gold sash give Christ an authoritative appearance (see Rev 19:13-16 ; Dan 10:5 ). The robe was a priestly garment symbolizing purity and holiness.

1:13 ^a the Son of Man (or a son of man.): Son of Man is a title Jesus used for himself (see Dan 7:13 ^b; Matt 8:20 ^c; 9:6 ^d; 16:13 ^e; Mark 2:28 ^f; 9:9 ^g; 14:41 ^h; John 1:51 ⁱ; 3:13 ^j; 5:27 ^k).

• The long robe and gold sash give Christ an authoritative appearance (see Rev 19:13-16 ^l; Dan 10:5 ^m). The robe was a priestly garment symbolizing purity and holiness.
1:14 ⁿ White hair represents wisdom and maturity; this vision reflects Daniel’s vision of the Ancient One (Dan 7:9 ^o).

• His eyes ... like flames of fire pierce through pretense; the One who knows everything will judge everyone (see Dan 10:6 ^p; Heb 4:13 ^q).
1:15 ^r Refined or hardened bronze in the feet implies stability, firmness, and security (cp. Dan 10:6 ^s).

• The thundering voice suggests God’s power—when he speaks, he will be heard (cp. Ezek 43:2 ^t).
1:16 ^u The seven stars represent the complete church. The church is secure in the right hand (i.e., in the acceptance and blessing) of the Son of Man.

• The sharp ... sword coming from his mouth is his effective message and his judgment (see 19:15 ^v; Gen 3:24 ^w; Eph 6:17 ^x; Heb 4:12 ^y). Jesus proclaims both grace and judgment, but here the emphasis is that he carries out judgment (see Rev 2:12 ^z, 16 ^aa; 19:15 ^ab, 21 ^ac; cp. Isa 11:4 ^ad).
1:17 ^ae When I saw him, I fell ... dead: Terror and a dead faint, if not death itself (see Exod 33:20 ^af), frequently result when someone sees God (see Isa 6:1-5 ^ag; Matt 28:4 ^ah). The Lord graciously responds by the touch of his right hand (cp. Matt 25:34 ^ai) and the words “Don’t be afraid!” (cp. Luke 1:13 ^aj), indicating both grace and acceptance.

• I am: The phrase identifies Jesus as God (see study note on Rev 1:8).
1:18 ^ak the living one: Because the Son of Man (1:13 ^al) has conquered death, he holds the keys of death and controls the outcome of our greatest fear (see 20:14 ^am; Heb 2:14-15 ^an). Jesus has complete authority to provide hope in a hostile world.

• the grave: Greek Hades. See study note on Rev 6:7-8.
1:19 ^ao Write: In the vision, God gives instructions for what John is to do on his behalf (see Isa 6:9-10 ^ap). This vision’s purpose is to help the church (Rev 1:20 ^aq) understand the present and the future from God’s perspective.
1:20 ^ar John is to record what he sees because Revelation is an instructive word for the churches.

• The angels (or messengers; Greek angelos) of the seven churches could be (1) the guardian angels of these churches (cp. Matt 18:10 ^as; Acts 12:15 ^at); (2) the leading officials of the churches (cp. Matt 11:10 ^au, where “messenger” is angelos); or (3) a personification of the ethos of the church. The best understanding is probably a combination of 1 and 3.