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 a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash round 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.
There are two points to be noted particularly in this first vision given to John. The first is that no matter what extremity of tribulation and pressure comes upon the people of God, the living Christ stands in the midst of it with them whether they realise it or not. Has He not promised, 'I will never leave thee nor forsake thee'? What John is taught here is that independent of any consciousness or sense of His presence, and indeed even in the teeth of the most realistic impressions that deny it, He is there. One is reminded of the words of the hymn, 'Workman of God' (C.H. 520), which are indeed an apt commentary on this point, stressing as they do that 'God is on the field when He is most invisible'. Secondly, and even more important, is the impression of great magnitude that is conveyed in the words that describe the Christ Who appeared to John, with eyes like flame of fire and voice as the sound of many waters. Above all else this is the conception of Christ that the Church needs in time of pressure and tribulation. There are occasions, certainly when we think of the compassion of Christ, the gentleness and tenderness of the Saviour, but we must beware even then, true as these insights are, of denuding Him of His true majesty and greatness. We need to remember that it is true majesty that can speak with infinite tenderness, and that it takes real greatness to be sensitively gentle with the weary and heavy-laden. What John needed, however, surrounded as he was by the barren rocks of Patmos and the cruel jailors, and the wide sea cutting him off from fellowship with all the saints he loved, and with the arrogant might of Rome frowning upon him, was the sight of majesty and glory, and this is what was given him that day. We see the point of such a Christ saying 'Fear not'! Who could fear with such a glorious Lord standing with us?