The Jews knew God's words to Moses: there shall no man see me, and live. (Exodus 33:20) But they did not understand the difference between seeing the Son and seeing the Father. So whenever they saw the Son of God, they thought they would die. For example: Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face. And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. (Judges 6:22,23) Of course when Jesus was on earth many saw his face and Peter, James and John also saw Him: transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun. (Matt 17:2)
The appearance of the glory of the Son of God is described in more detail than that of the Father as, in this dispensation, we know the Father through the Son.
The Son of God appeared to Daniel before the incarnation and to John after, and His appearance is the same. They both wrote what they saw.
Daniel writes: I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz. (Daniel 10:5) John also writes that Christ was: clothed with a garment down to the foot, and that He had the appearance: like unto the Son of man. (Rev 1:13) So Christ has not the nature of angels or seraphim, but rather that like a man, although far more glorious. Daniel writes: his body also was like the beryl. (Dan 10:6) Beryl has a variety of colours among which are gold and white. I prefer to believe that Christ was golden.
Daniel writes of: his face as the appearance of lightning (Dan 10:6) and John that: his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. (Rev 1:16) This is the glory that will illuminate the New Jerusalem, our future home, where: are many mansions, where Christ went: to prepare a place for us. (John 14:2) And so: the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. (Rev 21:23)
Christ was: girt about the paps with a golden girdle. (Rev 1:13) Some say this speaks of Christ’s high priestly role but I disagree. Although Jesus possesses other degrees of glory, the glory shown here to John speaks of judgement, almost as a warrior. In Rev 15:6 we read of: seven angels who: came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen. These angels also had: their breasts girded with golden girdles. So I believe that the gold speaks of the righteousness and perfection of God’s judgement, gold being the most glorious of all the metals.
Daniel wrote of: his eyes as lamps of fire (Dan 10:6) and John also writes similarly in Rev 1:14. Out of the eyes of the Lord Jesus proceed flames of fire several feet. Torches of fire light up the darkness, and so this symbolises that Christ can see all the hidden works of darkness.
Daniel writes of: his arms and feet like in colour to polished brass. (Dan 10:6) A more modern translation translates as bronze rather than brass. John gives additional information saying: his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace. (Rev 2:15) Thus there is a radiance about His feet illuminating the surrounding air and His feet are flaming. I have heard it said that brass speaks of judgement. The evils of this world, being judged in our minds, have no more sway over us. No defilement could adhere to Jesus; whatever touched his feet was purified by fire.
His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow (Rev 1:14) Presumably the Lord’s hair was white like wool and His head as white as snow. White hair, a sign of age, speaks of the wisdom of experience, as: The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness. (Pr 16:31) The Lord Jesus has seen all history from the vantage of His Father. He is the true and faithful witness. He also did take upon Himself the likeness of man to experience our trials and tribulations for thirty-three years.
The Lord Jesus’ head as white as snow speaks of purity as: clean and white . . . fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (Rev 19:8) The Lord Jesus: did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. (1 Peter 2:22,23) He was: holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners. (Heb 7:26)
Out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword. (Rev 1:16) This is not speaking of the word of God, but rather of judgement to the heathen. It is written of the antichrist’s armies: the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth. (Rev 19:21) Christ need only speak the word and they are slain. And so: with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. (Isaiah 11:4)
John hears the Lord’s: voice as the sound of many waters. (Rev 1:15) Although to a Christian, Christ’s word is a word of revelation, a word of comfort, a word of life, to the demons it is only a word of authority and: all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28,29) Christ told John: I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Rev 1:18)
The voice of the Lord is powerful as: it shaketh the wilderness of Kadeth. (Psalm 29:4,8) The voice of the Lord is accurate as it: divideth the flames of fire. (Psalm 29:7) The voice of the Lord brings life as it: maketh the hinds to calve. (Psalm 29:9) Perhaps these operations are that of the Father’s voice rather that that of the Son. Nevertheless, their operations would be similar in kind, only differing in degree.
He had in his right hand seven stars. (Rev 1:16) and: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. (Rev 1:20) That the angels are now at Jesus command reminds us of His words to His disciples after He was risen from the dead, when He said: All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (Matt 28:18) This is comforting to know, because if we are His servants and disciples, He promises: lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. (Matt 28:20) There are many more angels among us than we know, and we see them every day without recognising them. It is my belief that all ten million angels are sent to earth for a time in a weakened human body, like Jesus was, to learn obedience and to champion the cause of the saints, who without them, would be unable to overcome their foes. During this walk they do not remember that they are angels.
John saw Christ: in the midst of the seven candlesticks (Rev 1:13) and: the seven candlesticks . . . are the seven churches. (Rev 1:20) So Jesus presences Himself in the midst of each church. We do not need to use crosses and images to lift ourselves to heaven because He will presence Himself with us if we are obedient.
The apostle John saw a different aspect of Jesus’ glory a little later when he: beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns. (Rev 5:6)
The four beasts are the cherubim which surround the throne. This can be gleaned from their similarity of their appearance in Rev 4:7,8 to that of cherubim in Ezek 1:6-10,10:20. The difference in the number of faces may perhaps be explained by the aspect of John’s view and that he was writing what he saw. Cherubim are magnificent creatures: their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright; and out of the fire went forth lightning. (Ezek 1:13) Yet they were not the centre of attention in heaven. They merely surrounded the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was the focus at this time.
The Lord Jesus appears as: a Lamb as it had been slain. (Rev 5:6) Whilst Christ is healed and transformed to a glorified supernatural body, He still retains the nail prints in His hands and feet, and the spear wound in His side. In this respect His appearance for eternity is similar to that when He appeared to His disciples in the upper room soon after His resurrection, but before His full transformation.
Thomas had said: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. (John 20:25) Eight days later: Jesus . . . stood in the midst . . . Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless but believing. (John 20:26,27)
The Lord’s appearance in heaven will be a constant reminder of the love of God for us. This doesn’t mean that earthly infirmities are continued in heaven. But it does mean that our work and suffering are not forgotten. We shall be reminded that we are in heaven by the grace of God, because of Jesus’ work of atonement, and because of His High Priestly work of prayer to God on our behalf that God would be merciful to us.
The Lord had: seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. (Rev 5:6) This speaks of the Holy Spirit of the Father, which the Father offers to the Son, to further his work upon the earth, and multiply the work of Jesus' Holy Spirit a thousand fold or more. This is necessary as Jesus said: My Father is greater than I. (John 14:28)
The Lamb had seven horns. Horns symbolise power. The Psalmist said: in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. (Psalm 89:17,18) Seven speaks of perfection, so the seven horns of the Lamb speak of His perfect power and kingship over all the earth. Jesus Christ is the eternal King. Over this earth He shall reign for a thousand years (Rev 20:4). And with His Father He shall reign over the renewed earth forever as: the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him. (Rev 22:3)