Revelation 1.12-20. 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like the son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
This is the fifth installment in a series of posts titled One Like The Son Of Man. It’s a brief study of Jesus’ appearance to John, on the island of Patmos, as recorded in Revelation 1. We’re taking a look at each symbolic description of Christ John gives us and considering it’s meaning.
This post is dedicated to the study of the first half of verse 15.
his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace
I believe “his feet” allegorically represents his ways, i.e. his counsels, methods, appointments, and proceedings. “As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” Psalm 18.30
The ways of The Lord are perfect and they shine so bright that they seem to be like a beautiful metal glowing intensely in the midst of a furnace. Anyone who has ever looked upon the dazzling brilliancy of metal in a furnace, can form an idea of the image presented here.
In the midst of the fires of this world, the trials, temptations, attacks from the enemy, despite all these things, God’s counsel – that will stand !
“But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” Psalm 33.11
“Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ Isaiah 46.8-10
God is sovereign and His purposes shall be accomplished.
In closing, I’d like to leave you with one of my very favorite quotes from C.S. Lewis. While reading this, please keep in mind “the feet” of Jesus, his ways, and how they came shining into this world, all the wonderful things Jesus did, is doing, and will do someday. God’s ways are perfect, they are true, and they are good. Let’s keep our eyes on The Lord and trust in Him with all our hearts ! Cling to his promises ! He will bring it to pass !
C.S. Lewis said “I think all Christians would agree with me if I said that though Christianity seems at first to be all about morality, all about duties and rules and guilt and virtue, yet it leads you on, out of all that, into something beyond. One has a glimpse of a country where they do not talk of those things, except perhaps as a joke. Everyone there is filled full with what we should call goodness as a mirror is filled with light. But they do not call it goodness. They do not call it anything. They are not thinking of it. They are too busy looking at the source from which it comes. But this is near the stage where the road passes over the rim of our world. No one’s eyes can see very far beyond that: lots of people’s eyes can see further than mine”.
In His Service – Junior Reid
Junior Reid 