Act 7:56, Rev 1:13, 14:14 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 56. I see the heavens opened . A figurative expression, denoting that he was permitted to see into heaven, or to see what was there, sd if the firmament was divided, and the eye was permitted to penetrate the eternal world. Comp. . (h) "heavens opened" (i) "the Son of man"

Acts 7:56

Verse 56. I see the heavens opened. A figurative expression, denoting that he was permitted to see into heaven, or to see what was there, sd if the firmament was divided, and the eye was permitted to penetrate the eternal world. Comp. Eze 1:1.

(h) "heavens opened" Eze 1:1 (i) "the Son of man" Dan 7:13

Revelation of John 1:13

Verse 13. And in the midst of the seven candlesticks. Standing among them, so as to be encircled within them. This shows that the representation could not have been like that of the vision of Zechariah, (Zech 4:2) where the prophet sees "a candlestick all of gold with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon." In the vision as it appeared to John, there was not one lamp-bearer with seven lamps or branches, but there were seven lamp-bearers so arranged that one in the likeness of the Son of man could stand in the midst of them.

One like unto the Son of man. This was evidently the Lord Jesus Christ himself, elsewhere so often called "the Son of man." That it was the Saviour himself is apparent from Rev 1:18. The expression rendered "like unto the Son of man," should have been "like unto a son of man;" that is, like a man--a human being, or in a human form. The reasons for so interpreting it are

(a) that the Greek is without the article; and

(b) that, as it is rendered in our version, it seems to make the writer say that he was like himself--since the expression "the Son of man" is in the New Testament but another name for the Lord Jesus. The phrase is often applied to him in the New Testament, and always, except in three instances, (Acts 7:56, Rev 1:13, 14:14) by the Saviour himself, evidently to denote his warm interest in man, or his relationship to man; to signify that he was a man, and wished to designate himself eminently as such. Mt 8:20. In the use of this phrase in the New Testament, there is probably an allusion to Dan 7:13. The idea would seem to be, that he whom he saw resembled "the Son of man"--the Lord Jesus as he had seen him in the days of his flesh--though it would appear that he did not know that it was he until he was informed of it, Rev 1:18. Indeed, the costume in which he appeared was so unlike that in which John had been accustomed to see the Lord Jesus in the days of his flesh, that it cannot be well supposed that he would at once recognise him as the same.

Clothed with a garment down to the foot. A robe reaching down to the feet, or to the ankles, yet so as to leave the feet themselves visible. The allusion here, doubtless, is to a long, loose, flowing robe, such as was worn by kings. Compare Barnes Notes on Isa 6:1.

And girt about the paps. About the breast. It was common, and is still in the East, to wear a girdle to confine the robe, as well as to form a beautiful ornament. This was commonly worn about the middle of the person, or "the loins;" but it would seem also that it was sometimes worn around the breast. Mt 5:38-41.

With a golden girdle. Either wholly made of gold, or more probably richly ornamented with gold. This would naturally suggest the idea of one of rank--probably one of princely rank. The raiment here assumed was not that of a priest, but that of a king. It was very far from being that in which the Redeemer appeared when he dwelt upon the earth, and was rather designed to denote his royal state as he is exalted in heaven. He is not indeed represented with a crown and sceptre here, and perhaps the leading idea is that of one of exalted rank; of unusual dignity; of one fitted to inspire awe and respect. In other circumstances, in this book, this same Redeemer is represented as wearing a crown, and going forth to conquest. See Rev 19:12-16. Here the representation seems to have been designed to impress the mind with a sense of the greatness and glory of the personage who thus suddenly made his appearance.

(i) "one like" Eze 1:26-28, Dan 7:9,13, 10:5,6

Revelation of John 14:14

Verse 14. And I looked. Rev 14:1. His attention is arrested by a new vision. The Son of man himself comes forth to close the scene, and to wind up the affairs of the world. This, too, is of the nature of an episode, and the design is the same as the previous visions--to support the mind in the prospect of the trials that the church was to experience, by the assurance that it would be finally triumphant, and that every enemy would be destroyed.

And behold a white cloud. Bright, splendid, dazzling--appropriate to be the seat of the Son of God. Compare Mt 17:5; Rev 1:7. See also Mt 24:30, 26:64, Lk 20:27, Acts 1:9 1Thes 4:17, Rev 10:1.

And upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man. Compare Rev 1:13; Dan 7:13. It is probable that there is here a designed reference to the passage in Daniel (Dan 7:13). The meaning is, that one appeared on the cloud in a human form, whom John at once recognised as he to whom the appellation of "the Son of man" peculiarly belonged--the Lord Jesus. The meaning of that term had not been fixed in the time of Daniel, (Dan 7:13;) subsequently it was appropriated by the Saviour, and was the favourite term by which he chose to speak of himself, Mt 8:20, 9:6, 10:23, 11:19, 12:8,32,40, et al.

Having on his head a golden crown. Appropriate to him as king. It was mainly in virtue of his kingly power and office that the work was to be done which John is now about to describe.

And in his hand a sharp sickle. The word sickle here--δρεπανον-- means a crooked knife or scythe for gathering the harvest, or vintage, by cutting off the clusters of grapes. See Rev 14:17. The image of a harvest is often employed in the New Testament to describe moral subjects, Mt 9:37-38, 13:30,39, Mk 4:29 Lk 10:2, Jn 4:35. Here the reference is to the consummation of all things, when the great harvest of the world will be reaped, and when all the enemies of the church will be cut off--for that is the grand idea which is kept before the mind in this chapter. In various forms, and by various images, that idea had already been presented to the mind, but here it is introduced in a grand closing image, as if the grain of the harvest-field were gathered in-- illustrating the reception of the righteous into the kingdom--and the fruit of the vineyard were thrown into the wine-press, representing the manner in which the wicked would be crushed, Rev 14:19-20.

(a) "like unto the Son" Eze 1:26, Dan 7:13