eyes like flames of fire
I recently read through the book of Daniel and also part of Revelation. I noticed the description of Jesus in Revelations 1:13-16 sounds a lot like a passage in Daniel 10. Notice how Jesus is described in Revelations
"I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands was one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His breast with a golden girdle, And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like flames of fire; and His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace; and His voice was like the sound of many waters." Rev 1:12b-15
Now, compared that with what is said in Daniel 10:6 "His body was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches; his arms and feet llike the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult."
And it is interesting that Daniel and John's reactions when they saw this appearance was much the same. They fell at his feet. John adds "like a dead man." Revelations 1:16. Seeing such a vision scared them to death! This is far from the meek and mild Jesus of the New Testament gospels. This is a Jesus with power and glory and power. There was a couple of things that struck me about this vision and Jesus appearance.
One is that Jesus is timeless. The Bible describes you and me as shadows. We are here for a season and gone, like water vapor or smoke. Jesus appeared much the same even though several hundred years separate the two passages. His strength didn't diminish nor did he get tired. He had a great and awesome appearance in Daniel and also to John. This is because Jesus is timeless. He created time and stands above it and is not mastered by it. Jesus would declare this by saying that he is the Alph and Omega, the one who is, who was and who is to come; the Almighty." Rev 1:8
The other thing that struck me about this passage is that Jesus had eyes like fire. I think this has to do with the piercing, pentrating gaze of our Lord. That there is nothing hidden from his eyes. That there is no thought that alludes him. That he sees all things and nothing is a mystery to him. When the Pharisees and scribes were reasoning about Jesus in Luke 5:21 they said "Who can forgive sins but God alone." Jesus response was "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?" In other words, he knew the thoughts of their mind and where their hearts were. The same is true today. There is nothing hidden from his eyes. Wonder what it would be like if we lived as though Jesus was always watching us?
The third thing was his voice. The sound of the Lord's voice is described like the rush of many waters. It had a deep, abiding power and authority to it. This is the same voice that said "Let there be light" and there was light. It is a voice of power and authority. We sometimes pray and act as though God cannot truly answer our prayers. Maybe it is because of vision of who Jesus is is still on the humble carpenter rather than the risen Lord?
"I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands was one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His breast with a golden girdle, And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like flames of fire; and His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace; and His voice was like the sound of many waters." Rev 1:12b-15
Now, compared that with what is said in Daniel 10:6 "His body was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches; his arms and feet llike the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult."
And it is interesting that Daniel and John's reactions when they saw this appearance was much the same. They fell at his feet. John adds "like a dead man." Revelations 1:16. Seeing such a vision scared them to death! This is far from the meek and mild Jesus of the New Testament gospels. This is a Jesus with power and glory and power. There was a couple of things that struck me about this vision and Jesus appearance.
One is that Jesus is timeless. The Bible describes you and me as shadows. We are here for a season and gone, like water vapor or smoke. Jesus appeared much the same even though several hundred years separate the two passages. His strength didn't diminish nor did he get tired. He had a great and awesome appearance in Daniel and also to John. This is because Jesus is timeless. He created time and stands above it and is not mastered by it. Jesus would declare this by saying that he is the Alph and Omega, the one who is, who was and who is to come; the Almighty." Rev 1:8
The other thing that struck me about this passage is that Jesus had eyes like fire. I think this has to do with the piercing, pentrating gaze of our Lord. That there is nothing hidden from his eyes. That there is no thought that alludes him. That he sees all things and nothing is a mystery to him. When the Pharisees and scribes were reasoning about Jesus in Luke 5:21 they said "Who can forgive sins but God alone." Jesus response was "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?" In other words, he knew the thoughts of their mind and where their hearts were. The same is true today. There is nothing hidden from his eyes. Wonder what it would be like if we lived as though Jesus was always watching us?
The third thing was his voice. The sound of the Lord's voice is described like the rush of many waters. It had a deep, abiding power and authority to it. This is the same voice that said "Let there be light" and there was light. It is a voice of power and authority. We sometimes pray and act as though God cannot truly answer our prayers. Maybe it is because of vision of who Jesus is is still on the humble carpenter rather than the risen Lord?
