Revelation 1:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,

NIV: The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.

NASB: His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.

CSB: The hair of his head was white as wool--white as snow--and his eyes like a fiery flame.

NLT: His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire.

KJV: His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

NKJV: His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;

In this verse John describes Jesus as having hair like white wool and snow. The prophet Daniel wrote that he saw the Ancient of Days, describing Him as having hair that resembled wool (Daniel 7:9). Seen as having such a resemblance to God the Father, Jesus is eternal. His white hair suggests He is wise, experienced, dignified, authoritative, pure, and glorious.

John writes that Jesus' eyes were like a flame of fire. Nothing is hidden from His sight. As the all-seeing judge, He judges righteously, without partiality. Also, His judgments are pure and right. No one can feign innocence in Jesus' presence and succeed with the hypocrisy (Romans 1:18–20). As Revelation unfolds, we see that Jesus sentences unbelievers to three series of judgments for their crimes. Those judgments are the seal judgments, the trumpet judgments, and the bowl judgments. Not one sinner can escape those judgments, and no one can rightfully claim He does not deserve to be punished.

Revelation 1:12–16 unfolds what John saw when he turned after hearing a loud voice command him. The speaker stood in the midst of seven golden lampstands. He was wearing a long robe and a golden sash around His chest. His hair was white. His eyes resembled a blazing fire. His feet were like bronze. When He spoke, His voice sounded like the roar of many waters. He held seven stars in His right hand. A double-edged sword protruded from His mouth, and His face shone like the noonday sun.

The Roman government had banished John to the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. While John was at Patmos, the risen, glorified Son of God appeared to him and commanded him to write ''the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this'' (Revelation 1:19). John pronounces blessings to those who read and obey Revelation, and then he greets his readers warmly and describes Jesus' appearance.

The apostle John begins this chapter by stating that he received the revelation of Jesus Christ by divine activity. God sent this vision to John while he was on the island of Patmos, likely as a punishment from the Roman government. This book follows John's four prior messages contained in the New Testament: the Gospel of John and the letters 1, 2, and 3 John. Chapters 2 and 3 tell what Jesus dictated to seven churches in Asia Minor, while the rest of John's message concerns future events.

The word ''revelation'' means ''an unveiling or disclosure.'' This writing unveils future events such as the rapture, three series of judgments that will fall on the earth during the tribulation, the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and her amazing revival, as well as Jesus' second coming with His saints to the earth, the judgment of Satan and his followers, and finally, the eternal state. This content, combined with the original Greek term apokalypsis, is why we now refer to an end-of-the-world scenario as ''an apocalypse.''

Accessed 5/7/2024 3:57:48 PM