Revelation 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
It is in the next four verses; we have the description of this one called Alpha and Omega. The divine person of Christ our Lord is the voice of the one speaking to John. His description gives us insight into the character and nature of Christ. As He begins this verse, we find Christ standing in the middle of the Church. His presence in the Church should be convicting, challenging, and comforting on every level. It is also important to acknowledge that it is Jesus and everything He is that gives light to the Church. The Church has no light of itself. The Church alone is only an institution that must be operated based on human intellect and soulish emotion. It is the presence of God in the Church that is needed for empowerment. Supreme priority and significance should be given to the presence of Christ among us. Any activity that brings about the manifestation of the presence of Christ should be our goal.
The form that Jesus took for the sake of this vision is how he appears in heaven, and that is what is walking among the candlesticks. The Heavenly Jesus is with us always, even until the end of the age. This promise is given to us by Christ Himself at His ascension, and we see again in Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. The emphatic nature of this promise is of great security. He says I will never, no, never, under any circumstance, by any means, ever leave or forsake you. By this promise, we should be convicted of our sins, challenged to live closer to Him, and comforted through any trial by His presence in every way. How the services of every congregation would change if we only believed that the heavenly Christ was standing in the middle of us every time we gather. May we encounter His great presence when we meet should be the prayer of every intercessor for every congregation. His presence changes our lives. When no program works or any teaching is listened to, His presence is still what is needed to change the hearts of the people who are there. Though the greatest singing, teaching, and programs are initiated in the Church, they are to no avail without the wonderful presence of Christ. As we will see in the next section of this book, the condition of the Church in general throughout history screams for the presence of Christ to deliver us from the world around us, the adversity and danger of Satan, and ourselves. It is only through His presence that we can find what we need to maintain victory in our inner man. Victory cannot be learned merely through instruction. Instruction in victory must be received through the manifest presence of Christ.
This verse says, He is clothed with a garment to his foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. There are many interpretations of the clothing of the Lord Jesus in this vision. John describes Him as clothed with a garment down to his feet and a golden girdle guarding His chest. We must remember that this vision is in preparation for the Church age to follow. We also see Him standing in the middle of the seven golden candlesticks, which are representative of the Church. Therefore, we are looking at Christ in the Church age and His Church age ministry. The clothing of the Lord and His description, among other things, would represent His Priestly ministry. Hebrews 4:14-15 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. The Robe which many feels represents righteousness, and I would agree that anything concerning Christ is righteous. Still, I do believe that this robe is a high priestly robe as we find in Exodus 28:3-4 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. Therefore, what we can conclude is that the robe and the girdle represent the righteousness of our high priest, the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:9 declares that we have been made a royal priesthood. Therefore, the righteousness of Christ has been imputed to us. It is His righteousness that is what we should array ourselves in and walk in. This challenge of walking in the righteousness of Christ can only be realized through the constant individual presence of Christ.
The golden girdle represents the breastplate that guards the heart. The heart of Christ is protected by the High Priestly ministry that He engages in on our behalf. Because we are a royal priesthood, our hearts must always be protected by the garment of gold arrayed for us. Gold purified in the fire is a constant principle in the Word of God. Going through the fire prepares the heart to represent Christ on earth. These things should cause us to understand that salvation gives us the entrance requirements to the kingdom, but it is much more than that. Salvation introduces us to a new life centered on the service and ministry of the kingdom of our blessed Lord. This responsibility can only be met through the constant infilling of the presence of the Holy Spirit of God.
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