Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like ka son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and this face was like the sun shining in full strength. (Revelation 1:12-16 ESV).
Here John gives us a glimpse of Jesus after he had risen and ascended to heaven. Words failed John in describing the full scope of what he saw and experienced. What we can understand from these descriptions is that meeting Jesus face to face was not like any other encounter John had ever had. He saw Jesus in the splendor of his divine glory and power. John says that Jesus’ face was “like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” We get the picture. One does not look at a noonday sun without being overwhelmed by its power!
What is surprising about John’s description is where he saw Jesus standing. When John turned to “see the voice,” the first thing he saw was not Jesus. What caught his attention was seven golden lampstands. Later in the story, these lampstands are identified as seven churches that John had worked with as a pastor. It was in the context of familiar church communities that John saw Jesus in the fullness of his glory.
This truth cannot be overlooked. This is where we ought to see Jesus best today. We should be able to easily find him in the mix of his church communities in the many villages, towns, and cities of our global landscape. Unfortunately, many churches today have degenerated into little more than exclusive social clubs. Churches have taken up the message of culture rather than that of Scripture. The gospel has been so disguised as to be lost in the noise and clutter of our day. If we are to ever really see change it will only come as a result of the sharing of the Gospel of Christ!