Messiah Now
November 30, 2021; revised February 14, 2024
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We most often picture Yeshua (Jesus) as He walked on the earth in human form as recorded in the historical narratives of the Gospels of the New Testament, because His glory was revealed to us in this way (John 1:14). He became one of us! But how does He appear now as He intercedes for us? Although His splendor is beyond description and human comprehension, the Scripture gives us a glimpse into His eternal majesty with visions given in glorious, apocalyptic language that symbolizes His greatness, beauty, and sacrifice.
These visions are found in the books of the prophets Daniel, Ezekiel, and John. We may not think of the Apostle John as a prophet, but in Revelation 10:8-11, he is commissioned as Ezekiel was to prophesy (see Ezekiel 2:8-3:3).
I have color-coded and merged these visions so you can see their similarity. The similarity of these visions is amazing considering they were seen by Daniel and Ezekiel about 600 years before John saw them! You may want to read the surrounding context of these visions.
The Color Legend
Purple – Revelation 1:12-16 – The vision given to John.
Crimson – Revelation 19:12-16 – The vision given to John.
Brown – Daniel 7:9-10 – The vision given to Daniel in in the night visions.
Blue – Daniel 10:2-6 – The vision given to Daniel by the bank of the river Tigris.
Green – Ezekiel 1:26-28 – The vision given to Ezekiel by the river Chebar while among the exiles.
The Combined Vision
- Above the expanse was something like a throne of lapis lazuli with a man high up on it.
One like a son of man. His name is called The Word of God. - Clothed in a robe reaching to the feet. He is clothed with a robe dipped[i] in blood. And on His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
His vesture was like white snow. Dressed in linen. - Girded across His chest with a golden sash. His waist was girded with a belt of pure gold of Uphaz.
- His head and hair were white like white wool, like snow. On His head are many diadems.
The hair of His head like pure wool. - He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.[ii]
- His eyes are a flame of fire. His eyes were like a flame of fire. His eyes were like flaming torches.
- His body was like beryl [tarshish, mostly likely yellow jasper]. From His loins and upward something like glowing metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from His loins and downward I saw something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him. Like the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.
- His feet were like burnished bronze when it has been made to glow in a furnace. His arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze. In His right hand He held seven stars.
- His voice was like the sound of many waters. The sound of his words like the sound of a roaring.
- Out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.[iii]
- His face was like the sun shining in its strength. His face had the appearance of lightning.
- The armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
- His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were burning fire. A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him. Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, and the books were opened.
Immortal, Invisible – a hymn by Walter C. Smith, 1867
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, Victorious, Thy great Name we praise!
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.
To all life Thou givest, to both great and small;
in all life Thou livest the true life of all;
we blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
and wither and perish but naught changeth Thee.
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all praise we would render, O help us to see
’tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.
[i] The original Greek word for dipped is bapto meaning whelm, immerse, cover fully. Yeshua’s robe described in Revelation 19 is totally red. It is significant that it is red as He wars against His enemy, because His sacrifice sealed our victory over sin and deliverance from the enemy. His weapon was His suffering. All authority has been given to Yeshua. (Matthew 28:18)
[ii] Someday we will see something about our Lover and Bridegroom that we have never known – a description so wonderful! He acts out of this Name toward us. We have called Him by many names, but not this one. It is like all the colors we will see in heaven that we have never seen before! Our King holds more splendor than we can behold. But soon, we will have new eyes when we see Him face to face!
[iii] For more on the mouth/sword connection in Scripture, please see The Master Marksman at ShaleFragments.com.
Shale Fragments™ - devotionals by Beth Ann Phifer is a division of Flower Girl Greetings, LLC. ©2020, All Rights Reserved.
Blessings and love in Him,
Beth Ann