The Names of Jesus - Elmer Towns

THE SON OF MAN
More than any other book in the New Testament, the book of Revelation draws from the
Old Testament, particularly from the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. Much of the
first three chapters of the Revelation describes a vision of the resurrected and glorified Jesus and
His message to seven churches. In this context, John uses many names and titles, but now John
introduces Him as “one like unto the Son of man” (1:13). Most conservative commentators agree
that this is a reference to the One Daniel called “the Son of man” (Daniel 7:13), who received
“dominion, and glory, and a kingdom” from the Ancient of Days (verse 14).
When John turned to see the voice that spoke to him, the first things he observed were
seven golden candlesticks. These candlesticks were probably not the kind which decorate homes
but, rather, the candlesticks used in Jewish worship. They stood about five feet, five inches tall
and weighed about one hundred ten pounds each. They branched out on top to hold several
candles; thus, many lights produced the one light of the candlestick. Jesus explains that these
candlesticks represent seven local churches in Asia (1:20). It is interesting to note that Jesus was
“in the midst of the seven candlesticks-that is, an equal distance from each of them. He was as
close to the church in delinquency as He was to the church in revival. Why? Because the whole
church is His body.
John pictured Jesus Christ here in the garment of the priest. The vivid description of
Christ, as He stood glorified and transfigured before the apostle, tends to emphasize His role as a
judge. His head and hair were “white like wool, as white as snow” (1:14), a symbol of His purity.
“His eyes were as a flame of fire” (1:14)-that is, they burned through the one whom they saw to
discern accurately the nature of man. His feet were compared to “fine brass, as if they burned in
a furnace” (1:15). Throughout the Scripture, brass, or more correctly bronze, is offered as a
symbol of judgment. His voice is here compared to “the sound of many waters” (1:15),
emphasizing His authority. “Out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword” (1:16), a symbol
of the Word of God in its discerning power (cf. Hebrews 4:12). There was a brilliance about his
entire countenance “as the sun shineth in his strength” (1:16).
There in the presence of the glorified, transfigured Christ John fell prostrate to the
ground. Like the Old Testament prophets, John was learning experientially that if you really
want to do something for God, it begins in the presence of Jesus Christ. Greatness always begins
in the presence of God, not at a seminary or Bible college.
This vision of Christ was significant in every detail-from the seven epistles from Jesus to
the seven churches in chapters two and three. Each name Jesus used to identify Himself
represented His ability to meet the particular need of each church. As we have studied the names
of Jesus together, I trust you too have already discovered that whatever your need today, Jesus
can meet that need.
The first of the seven churches which Christ addressed was the church at Ephesus. This
was a commendable church in many respects, but it had begun to wander from its first love. The
church needed leadership which would boldly direct the church back to the place from which
they had fallen. To that church, Jesus identified Himself as “He that holdeth the seven stars in his
right hand” (2:1). Earlier John had been told that the stars were the angels or messengers-that is,
the pastors of the churches (Revelation 1:20). The senior pastor of the church at Ephesus needed