“ On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 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. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.” . . .
“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:10-15, 17-18 NIV
Lord God,
Revelation, I find is a very difficult book to read and to understand. And many great scholars treat it in a different way. Visionary, futuristic, codes for the future, some already happened? I do not pretend to know. Some passages seem easier to understand and some I take in faith and await for revelation for myself. What I do see is You God, and Your Son and mankind. And sin and battle and finally the final victory. Of that I have no doubt.
At the very beginning, John sees One like the son of man. Jesus but now risen to trinity and with You. Beautiful descriptive words for something hardly describable. A golden sash over a long robe. A sign of of kingship, priesthood, authority and purity. White hair reminding us of Daniel 7:9 and You, the Ancient of Days. and eyes of blazing fire. Who could look into them except through Jesus? Feet that walked through death itself and will trample down HIs enemies. A voice like the voice of many waters. The same as Your voice which Ezekiel heard when he saw a vision of the Temple in Ezekiel 43:2.
John saw Jesus and understood His divinity and equality with You. And in verse 17 we read that John was so overcome he fell down as if dead. But You answered as You do on so many occasions to those who love You, with, “Do not be afraid”. We too must remember to see Your Son as who He truly is together with You and Your Holy Spirit. Not just a great man, a gentle man, a loving man but as You are, almighty victorious and worthy of all our praise, all the time.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Wednesday 31st December 2025
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
thy justice like mountains high soaring above
thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
To all life thou givest, to both great and small;
in all life thou livest, the true life of all;
we blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
and wither and perish but naught changeth thee.
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all praise we would render, O help us to see
’tis only the splendour of light hideth thee.
Lyrics: Walter C Smith