The Revelation Revealed, Chapter 1 · Verse 14-15
Verſe 14. His head and hairs were white, as white wool, and as ſnow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire.
Verſe 15. And his feet like unto fine braſs, burning as in a Furnace, and his voice as the ſound of many waters.
This appearance, or likeneſs of the Son of man, is farther deſcribed, to have his head and hairs white as wool, and as ſnow; and the Ancient of days in Dan. 7.9. is ever under the ſame figures deſcribed; white hairs, and white head, ſhows gravity, age, and antiquity, worthy of all due reverence: according to that of the Poet, Magna fuit quadam capitis reverentia Cani.
From this deſcription, Note, That Chriſt as the Son of God, is of the ſame antiquity with the Father, even one and the ſame co-eternal God, bleſſed for ever: For God who is called the Ancient of days in that viſion of Daniel 7.9. manifeſted himſelf in the like appearance, as he doth here unto Iohn, in the likeneſs of the Son of man; therefore is one and the ſame God, having the ſame incommunicable properties with the Ancient of days.
He is here farther deſcribed to have eyes as a flame of fire, and feet like unto fine braſs, burning as in a furnace. foreign, Eyes like a flame of fire, ſignifies either their piercing nature, in ſearching into the ſecrets of the heart; or of wrath and indignation, to terrifie his impenitent enemies: and indeed, Chriſt is here from head to feet, preſented in a fiery colour; his eyes were as a flame of fire, his feet like unto fine braſs, as if they burned in a furnace. Hence Note.
Obſerv. 2. That when Chriſt is about executing acts of power and judgement againſt Kingdoms or Churches, he is moſt terrible in his appearance.
When he goes about to call to an account the ſeven Aſian Churches, he is very intenſe about it, and all of a fiery colour: ſparkling in the eyes like fire, does ſignifie much anger and indignation; feet of burning braſs, ſpeed and execution: Chriſt is here preſented in that fine poſture; he is brought in, Rev. 10.1. with his face ſhining as the Sun, and his feet as pillars of fire, whereupon preſently followed terrible thunders, and dreadful judgements. So in chap. 2. v. 18. he is preſented with eyes like fire, and feet like braſs, and forthwith goes on with a charge againſt the Church of Thyatira. So in Rev. 19.10, 11, 12. he is ſaid to have his eyes like a flame of fire, and his veſture dipt in blood, and preſently goes on in executing great wrath againſt his adverſaries. The dreadfulneſs of this fiery Judge, when he comes in wrath, will better appear, if we conſider that of the Prophet Malachi 3.2, 3. Who ſhall abide the day of his coming? and who ſhall ſtand when he appears? for he is like a Refiners fire. A Refiners fire is the hotteſt, moſt terrible, and moſt conſuming. How terrible he is towards Babylon, both literal and myſtical, conſider Jer. 51.25. and Rev. 18.8, 9, &c. I am againſt thee, oh deſtroying mountain (ſpeaking of Babylon) which deſtroyeſt all the earth; I will ſtretch out my hand upon thee, and rowl thee down from the Rock, and will make thee a burnt mountain. This was fully executed on old Babylon in the letter. And how ſevere is Chriſt againſt Babylon in the myſterie! in Rev. 18.8. Her plagues ſhall come at one day, death, and ſorrow, and famine, and ſhe ſhall be burnt with fire; for ſtrong is the Lord God which will condemn her. Peruſe the chapter throughout. When Chriſt goes forth on his red horſe, to execute judgement, and to take peace from the earth, neither Kings, nor Captains, nor the mighty ones of the earth, ſhall be able to ſtand againſt this mighty one: They ſhall call for the mountains to fall upon them, to hide them from the face of him that ſitteth upon the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. And Paul tells us 2 Theſ. 1.8. of the dreadfulneſs of this Judge, who ſhould come in flames of fire; to what end, to deſtroy Antichriſt, the ſon of perdition, with the brightneſs of his coming: only conſider once more Rev. 19.12, 13, &c. When Chriſt goeth forth to make war in righteouſneſs, his eyes were like a flame of fire, and was clothed in a garment dipt in blood, and out of his mouth proceeded a ſharp ſword, that with it he ſhould ſmite the heathen; for he ſhall rule them with a rod of iron, for he it is that treadeth the wine-preſs of the fierceneſs and wrath of almighty God. All this doth clearly inform, that Chriſt hath another name, a ſtrange name, that none knoweth but himſelf, Rev. 19.12. that is, another nature and diſpoſition to appear in, then of a Lamb: No man ever thought, that have only conſidered Chriſt in the ſtate of his humiliation, that he had that Lion-like diſpoſition in him: All Chriſt's adverſaries ſhall one day know, that he is as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, whoſe voice ſhall be terrible unto them, as well as a Rock of defence and ſafeguard to all his choſen ones; and as ſure as he hath already acted the Lamb-like part in his ſufferings here on earth, and now doth the ſame in his Mediators office in heaven, ſo he ſhall one day come with power and glory, to rule the Nations of the earth, that would not have him for their Lord and King, even with a Scepter of power and judgement, and with a rod of iron. And to ſet forth the dreadfulneſs of this Judge the more, he comes with a Lion-like voice, roaring, as the ſound of many waters. Hence Note,
Obſerv. 2. That when Chriſt comes to judge his enemies, he is not only dreadful in his looks, and outward appearance, but he is dreadful all over, even in his words alſo. In verſe 10. his voice was as of a Trumpet, loud, and terrible; here, like the ſound of many waters, very terrible to his enemies, but rouzing, converting, and ſaving to his faithful ones.