NOTICE FIRST THE SUGGESTIVE REPRESENTATION OF CHRIST GIVEN TO US IN VERSE ONE. "I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire." Here the Lord Jesus appears in the form of an angel. "I saw another mighty angel." There is really nothing at all unusual about this. Our Savior constantly appeared to his children in the Old Testament as the Angel of the Lord. Those angelic appearances recorded in the Old Testament Scriptures were preincarnate manifestations of Christ to his chosen. When Paul was in the storm at sea, he said, "There stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve" (Acts 27:23). Paul did not belong to, and did not serve any ordinary angel. But he belonged to and served this Angel of God, for this Angel is himself the Son of God, our Savior. And frequently in the Book of Revelation, the Lord Jesus reveals himself in angelic form. In chapter eight, verse three, he appeared as the Angel of Intercession. And, here he again appears as an Angel. To the wicked and unbelieving, he is the Angel of Judgment. But on behalf of his covenant people, he is seen as the Angel of Providence. The word "angel," remember, simply means "messenger." And Christ, as the Mediator between God and men, is God's Messenger to men. Isaiah calls him "the angel of God's presence" by whom we are saved (Isa. 63:9). And Malachi describes him as "the Messenger (or Angel) of the covenant" in whom we delight (Mal. 3:1). He is the Messenger sent by God to reveal his will, accomplish his purpose, and redeem his people.
Here, John sees him as "a mighty Angel." Our Lord Jesus Christ is the mighty God, our Savior, the mighty Mediator, and the mighty King. He is able to protect, defend, and save his own. Chapter 9 describes the terrible woe that must come upon the earth. Then, Christ, the mighty Angel, appears. This appearance seems to say, "Let not your heart be troubled. The ark of God is safe." This mighty Angel is Christ our Savior, who sovereignly rules all things.
Next, we are told that John saw Christ, as a mighty Angel "come down from heaven." This does not refer to our Lord's incarnation, or to his coming down to judge the world in the last day. These words refer to our Lord's appearance in providence to protect, defend, and comfort his people. Though the Lord Jesus is in heaven, seated upon the throne of glory, he has not forsaken his church. His body has been taken from us, but not his heart. Christ is always with his people. As often as we need him, he comes to us in special grace, revealing his presence and power to us (Dan. 3:25).
When Christ appeared to John, he was "clothed with a cloud." Remember, John has just seen days of terrible spiritual darkness, apostasy, and false religion which devour men's souls as locusts devour vegetation (9:3-4). In such times, the Lord Jesus hides himself from men. They cannot see his glory. It is as though he has hidden himself in a cloud. They know his name, but not his power. They know the facts of his death, burial, and resurrection, but not the accomplishments of his redemptive work. They know that Christ is in heaven, but know nothing of the majesty of his heavenly throne. They know that he makes intercession, but know nothing of the efficacy of his intercession. They know that Jesus saves, but not how he saves. They know the words "redeeming blood, saving grace, and matchless love." But they know nothing of the blood's atonement, grace's power, or love's immutability. This world is in a fog in so far as the things of Christ are concerned. If you see the glory of his Person and the efficacy of his saving grace, you have great reason to pause and give thanks. "Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." (See Matthew 11:25-27).
The eye of faith sees in Christ what others cannot see. The believer clearly sees the glory of his Person and of his work. "Blessed are your eyes, for they see." The eye of faith sees the Lord Jesus as John saw him. "A rainbow is upon his head, and his face is as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire." There is a rainbow upon his head. The rainbow is a token of the everlasting covenant of grace (Gen. 9:15-16; Isa. 54:7-10). In chapter four, verse three, we saw this rainbow of the covenant encircling the throne of God. Here we see it upon the Savior's brow. The rainbow with all its splendrous colors, represents all the promises and blessings of God in the covenant. It is an emblem of mercy, peace, and reconciliation with God. The rainbow tells us of the security of the world until God has fulfilled every promise of the covenant and saved all his elect. Here we see that rainbow of the covenant upon our Savior's head as he comes down to visit his afflicted people.
Try to get the meaning of the picture. That rainbow upon our Redeemer's head tells us that the covenant of grace is fulfilled in him and by him. He is ever mindful of his covenant. Even in the worst of times, our dear Savior rules this world according to the stipulations of the covenant. He will not allow his people to be overwhelmed by the flood of antichrist's religion. The gates of hell shall not prevail against his church. The Messenger of the covenant appears to bring us peace, to let us know that better days are coming. Soon we shall have times of refreshing, either from the presence of the Lord or in the presence of the Lord. No matter how dark the storms of life may be, if you can see that rainbow upon that head, your heart will find peace and satisfaction (II Sam. 23:5).
Next, our Savior's face is "as it were the sun." This is how the disciples saw him on the mount of transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-8). This expression speaks of the purity and glory of Christ, both as God and as man. Being God, Jesus Christ our Savior is the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of his Person. He lived as a man in this world in perfect righteousness. In all things, he was and is, holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. And the God-man in heaven is clothed with all the ineffable glory of the eternal God, for he is God. As God, he is light (I John 1:5). As the Mediator between God and men, he imparts the light of grace and glory to the sons of men.
His feet are "as pillars of fire." Our Lord's feet are like fire. In all his ways of providence, he is a consuming fire to his enemies. He will destroy them in a moment, like raging fire consumes dried grass. But he is a wall of fire about his church to defend and protect us. His feet are also pillars, unshaken, immovable pillars to uphold all who trust him. Lean upon him. Christ is a mighty Savior. All his ways of grace, providence, mercy, and judgment are righteous altogether. He is too wise to err and too good to do wrong. His throne, his work, and his purposes are both righteous and sure. His feet are "as pillars of fire."
IN VERSE TWO, JOHN GIVES US A PICTURE OF THE SOVEREIGN RULE OF CHRIST. "And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot was on the earth." There is nothing in all the world more comforting and cheering to the hearts of God's elect than the knowledge of our Savior's sovereign rule of the universe. This rule of the world is the reward which was given to Christ by his Father for his obedience as our Mediator. As God the Son, he always had the right to rule the world, because he created the world. But as the man Christ Jesus, our Lord was given the reigns of universal monarchy. Because of the death he accomplished at Jerusalem, by which he redeemed and justified all his elect, the triune God has turned the world over to the sovereign rule of the Man Christ Jesus (Isa. 53:10-12; John 17:2). The God-man who loved us and gave himself for us rules the universe! What thought could be more delightful? This is how John saw him:
"He had in his hand a little book open." This little book is the same book which he took from the right hand of him that sat upon the throne (5:1). We never read that he laid this book down, or gave it to someone else. This book is the book of God's eternal purpose of predestination. It is "a little book," because now most of the things written in the book have been accomplished. It is "a little book open," because Christ, the Lion of Judah, the Lamb that was slain, has prevailed to open the book.
All the purposes of God are fulfilled in Christ and by Christ. He reveals the will of God. And he accomplishes the will of God. Only Christ opens the book of God's secret decrees. This little book open is "in his hand." Our dear Savior holds the book of God's purpose and grace in his hand. He took the book in old eternity, in the covenant of grace. Everything he has done, is doing, or shall hereafter do, is done exactly according to that which is written in the book. Do you see him? The book of God's purpose is yet in his hand.
"And he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth." What does this tell us? It simply tells us that Jesus Christ our Lord rules the world. The government of the universe is upon the shoulders of Immanuel! Be sure you get the picture. It will do your heart good. The Lord Jesus Christ, your loved and loving Redeemer, stands as sovereign Monarch over the entire world. All things are put under his feet. His right foot is upon the sea. His left foot is upon the earth. He stands as triumphant Victor and reigning King over all the power of the world. And he holds the book of God's eternal decree in his hand. Christ rules all the inhabitants of the world, (angels, demons, men, and animals), and all the events of the world, upon every continent, on every island, and in the depths of the sea, according to that which is written in the book of God's eternal predestination!
The whole picture speaks of the sovereign serenity of our Savior's rule. All things, even the terrible woes of judgment that fall upon the earth, were ordained by God in eternal predestination. And they are all executed by Christ in time. No part of the universe is in chaos. Nothing is out of order. No corner of God's creation is governed by man. Nothing is ruled by satan or the demons of hell. And nothing is left to mere chance, blind fate, or the fickle will of man. Our dear Savior rules over all things, with absolute power, according to the eternal, unalterable purpose of God.
Christ will not put that book down until he has perfectly accomplished everything written upon its pages. In the end every rebel against God's throne will be locked away in the prison house of eternal torment so that they can no longer hurt or defile God's creation. There they shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord (Rev. 20:15). All of God's elect shall be perfectly, completely, and eternally saved, according to that which he has written in the book of his eternal purpose of grace (Rom. 8:28-39). And our great and glorious God and Savior shall be forever glorified, praised, and honored in all things and by all things (Rev. 5:9-14). "All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord."