The Lord's Prayer
Son of Man
Pray like this: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Having turned, I saw seven golden lamp stands. And among the lamp stands was one like a son of man, clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and his hair were white as white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire.
Let your Kingdom come.
His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters.
Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
He had seven stars in his right hand.
Give us today our daily bread.
Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am the first and the last, I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever. Amen.
Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
I have the keys of Death and of Hades. Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter.
For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’
The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamp stands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven assemblies. The seven lamp stands are seven assemblies.
Thy Kingdom Come: Son of Man
- June 21, 2023
- | Jim Tallman
Thy Kingdom Come: Son of Man
- June 21, 2023
- | Jim Tallman
Symbolism
Unlike the two previous examples, this next passage describing the Son of Man in Revelation 1:12-20 does not have obvious points of connection. Instead, it’s rich in symbolism. Let’s look at four symbols and three mirrors in these two passages.
Holiness
The Lord’s prayer says, “may your name be kept holy,” or “hallowed be thy name.”
Jesus’ head and hair are white as white wool, like snow. Together, these two passages suggest that white is a symbol of holiness. Other revelations point out that Jesus is clothed in a white robe. He is clothed in holiness.
The elders in the book of Revelation also wear white robes. They are clothed in holiness, made possible by Christ.
Many Waters
His feet are like burnished brass. And, his voice is like the voice of many waters. Think of the sound of a roaring waterfall. It’s like the voices of a great crowd of people in a large hall.
The many waters are the people who are the Kingdom.
This would seem to make sense from the earlier passage, which says that Jesus has made us to be a Kingdom. Like a great crowd, a roaring waterfall. Thy Kingdom come.
Seven Stars
Jesus holds seven stars in his right hand. The end of this passage reveals what the seven stars represent: the angels of the seven churches, also described as the seven Spirits of God.
The parallel to the Lord’s prayer suggests that God’s will is to give us his Spirit, which Jesus holds in his right hand.
Two-Edged Sword
The Son of Man Revelation says “out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword.” The revelation itself suggests the meaning in that it flows from the mouth of Jesus.
The sword of his mouth is the Word of God.
The prayer says, “Give us today our daily bread.” The daily bread is the Word of God, or Jesus himself. The prayer asks, give us a piece of yourself. Or, perhaps, a taste of your kingdom.
Symbols are everywhere in the bible. Using parallels, one passage reveals the meaning of another’s symbol. With this in mind, let’s look at three mirrors.
Mirror #1: Right Hand
John sees Jesus and falls at his feet like a dead man. Jesus touches him with his right hand. He says, “Don’t be afraid. I am the first and the last, I was dead and behold, I am alive forever and ever. Amen.”
This is a mirror to the “right hand” above in which Jesus holds the seven stars.
The parallel suggests two things. First, the seven stars (seven spirits of God) are the source of eternal life. God’s will is to offer this to us.
Second, the power to “forgive us our debts” also lie in Jesus’ right hand, through his Spirit, which he offers to us.
Mirror #2: Burnished Brass
Earlier in the passage, it says “His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace.” This too appears to be a mirror to words below which reveal the symbolism.
Jesus has the keys of Death and Hades. His feet look like glowing metal because he’s walked through the gates of Hell. It connects directly to the Lord’s prayer: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Jesus can deliver us because he has the keys to hell itself.
Mirror #3: Church of Revelation
The Son of Man passage began with Jesus walking among the seven golden lampstands. The passage ends revealing the symbolism. The seven lamp stands are the seven assemblies.
The Lord’s prayer ends with an acknowledgment, “For yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever. Amen.”
This seems to reveal two things. First, the seven assemblies are the Kingdom.
In this, Jesus begins to reveal the mysteries of the symbolism. It suggests that part of the power of Christ is to reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom. This is not a future thing; it is happening now. He has made us to be a Kingdom. The revelation was given to him to share with us.
Great Multitudes
I’ve shared three consecutive Revelation passages from Revelation 1, and compared them to the Lord’s prayer. Next, let’s compare three more consecutive passages, from Revelation 7. They show the fulfillment of Christ’s Kingdom promise. Click the right arrow, or the “Great Multitudes” link below.
To explore these passages directly, click this button:
