The Old has Gone. The New has Come.

The Son of Man passage beginning at Revelation 1:12 provides an interesting parallel to the New Creation. Jesus looks like a new creation, and royalty. He’s clothed in a robe, with a golden sash. He is like a son of man (born of us), yet bears the attributes of God (white as white wool, like snow. And eyes like a flame of fire).

Jesus walks among (literally in the middle of) seven golden lampstands. The end of this Revelation passage tells us the seven lampstands represent the seven churches of Revelation. Remember also, Jesus stands in the middle (of the fire), in the 10 Commandments Story

Many Waters

His feet are like burnished brass refined in a furnace, which suggests Jesus walks through fire: either the gates of hell, the tribulation of the cross, the fire of God the Father, or all of these things.

His voice is like the voice of many waters, which introduces a new concept: symbols. The book of Revelation is almost entirely based on symbols. Zerah.com keeps track of symbols and their meaning, as they are revealed in other parallels or other revelations.

His voice is like a great multitude or a crowd of people which sounds like a roaring river or a waterfall. Listen to the sound in a large room packed full of people. That’s what this sounds like. The many waters are the voices of us, those reconciled to God and who have received the ministry of reconciliation. His voice within us. Our voice within him.

Spirit of God

Jesus holds seven stars in his right hand (fitting, as he sits at the right hand of God). The seven stars, another symbol, are the seven spirits of God, which he offers us. The two-edged sword that comes from his mouth is the word of God.

The seven spirits and the word of God are something we can receive, which become part of us and dwell within us.

Like the Sun

His face is like the sun at its brightest, which either represents the glory of God, his holiness, the power of revelation or all these things. The one for whom we are ambassadors shines like the sun. Perhaps he shines within us.

The angel who descends from heaven and rolls away the stone looks like the sun in the resurrection scene. Jesus looks like the sun in the story of the transfiguration. He also looks like this in the book of Daniel. Those are examples and parallels for another story.

Made New

When John, the writer of Revelation sees him, he fell at his feet like a dead man. Jesus became dead in order that we might become alive. He touches John with his right hand, which holds the seven spirits of God, and says he is alive forever more. Jesus also possesses the keys of Death and Hades, which I assume he holds in his hand. Therefore, the keys are the Spirit of God.

It doesn’t show this happening here, but in the Daniel parallel, Daniel receives strength when he is touched by Christ. The woman in the story of Jairus touches Jesus’ cloak and is healed immediately. This appears to be the word of God, power of God and Spirit of God entering into him and her, respectively. Literally, he and she are made new, right then and there, in Christ.

Write the Things

Jesus issues a command. Write the things which you have seen and the things which are, and the things that will happen hereafter. This suggests the book of Revelation has three fulfillments. First, the things which we have “seen.” These have been fulfilled in Christ. Christ died, he rose again, he reigns. It’s done.

The things which “are,” seem to be happening now. The tribulation of life we walk through. Our story in Christ. The things that “will become” suggests a final fulfillment, which other passages describe as the “great and terrible day of the Lord.”

Since the bible appears to be written in loops, this construct makes sense. Things have already happened, the same things are happening now, and the things will happen again. Sounds like a loop to me. All of this is happening at the time and day in which God listens to us and helps us.

Revelation

The final part of the Son of Man parallel reveals the symbolism and the mystery. The seven stars are the angels or spirits of the seven churches. The seven lampstands are the seven churches. That’s us.

Clearly, Christ has become a new creation. He is, therefore, the new heaven and the new earth which Revelations describes. His teaching flows, like a river, which fills us, like many waters. It (and he) dwells within us, renews us, and leads us. All of this is happening right now.

Mystery Revealed

I think it’s important to point out how amazing it is the words of the bible work together this way. When Paul wrote the letter of 2 Corinthians, and the new creation passage, he did not have the book of Revelation. It did not yet exist. When John recorded the book of Revelation, I doubt he thought about his words aligning with the writing of Paul.

I doubt any of the writers of the bible knew the words they were writing contained structure. That their words would align with other words, so clearly and so intricately, to reveal deeper things.

I believe we are seeing something not seen before. Not seen by Paul, not seen by John, nor any other biblical writer. We’re seeing the power of Revelation at work, which begins at the acceptable time, and the day of salvation. Now is the time. Now is the day.

Fulfillment

The Son of Man passage describes the fulfillment of the New Creation in Christ. Another fascinating Revelation passage describes the fulfillment in us.

Click on the “Before the Throne” link, or the right arrow, to look at the last part.