Jesus Christ as Character

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Jesus Christ as Character
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3 Major Versions

• One like the Son of Man (112-20)
• Highlights his divinity
• Appears in heaven
• The Lamb (56-14 et al)
• Accentuates his humanity
• Appears in heaven
• The rider called Faithful and True (1911-21)
• Triumphant Warrior King Witness and Judge
• Descends from heaven with his entourage to
  conquer the powers of the deception on earth

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One like the Son of Man

• Johns initial vision of Christ is a panoramic
  overview that begins with a description of the
  periphery and narrows to the one at the center
• Periphery 7 golden lampstands representing the
  7 churches of Asia
• Center the Son of Man with a long robe and a
  golden sash across his chest
• Garments are sufficient to hide the nakedness of
  those in the church (318)
• Head and hair are white as white wool, white as
  snow
• Eyes are like a flaming fire
• Feet like burnished bronze that has been refined
  in a furnace
• Voice like the roar of cataracts
• Face has searing brilliance of the noonday sun
• Sharp two-edge sword protrudes from his mouth
• From his right hand he holds the seven stars with
  are the angels of the seven churches
• Light increases in brilliance as John moves from
  a description of the periphery to a description
  of one at the centerChrists radiance is the
  source of light for the lampstands which serve as
  the source of light for the world.

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One like the Son of Mans Speech

• 117     And when I saw him, I fell at his feet
  as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me,
  saying unto me, Fear not I am the first and the
  last 18     I am he that liveth, and was dead
  and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen and
  have the keys of hell and of death.

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Outer appearance describes inner nature

• Dazzling white hair is reminiscent of the
  description of the Ancient of Days in Daniel 79
• Thunderous voicedescription of Gods voice in
  Ezekiel 482 and there, the glory of the God
  of Israel was coming from the east the sound was
  like the sound of mighty waters and the earth
  shone with his glory.
• Searing countenance describes the blinding,
  annihilating effect of looking squarely in the
  face of God
• Out of his mouth protrudes a symbol of his
  conquering speecha sharp two-edged swordwhich
  is also an attribute of God (Isa. 114)
• Burnished bronze feet give incomparable stability
  and immeasurable strength and recall the
  burnished fee of Daniels angel.
• Penetrating flaming eyes also recall Daniels
  angel

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Speech connects him to God

• 117 Fear not I am the first and the last
• Unlimited power over Death and Helljust has God
  has unlimited power
• Figuratively raises John from the dead after John
  falls at his feet as though dead (117)

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Christ Stands (God Sits)

• Stands in the midst of the churches (Rev. 2 3)
• While God exercises control at a distance, Christ
  exercises sovereign control over the church up
  close
• Sustains church in the palm of his right hand
  (116)
• Walks in the midst (21)
• Removes a lampstand if necessary (25)
• Chastises a church for its wavering faith
• Promises those with unswerving dedication the
  blessings of a new creation
• Only at the end of Revelation does he sit at the
  right hand of God (221)

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The Lamb

• Metaphor for Christ 28 times in Rev.
• 7(number of completeness) times 4 (number of the
  world) 28 combination symbolizes the complete
  and worldwide victory of the Lamb in the world

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Role of Lamb

• Inaugurate a new exodus that delivers a new
  Israel to a new promised land
• Conquer Satan
• Share Gods reign

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Faithful and True Rider

• Surrealistic qualitiesmilitary retinue sweeps
  down from heaven and birds gorge themselves at a
  ghoulish banquet of human flesh
• Seer beings with an external description of the
  rider Faithful and True and then moves quickly to
  describe the person and work of Christ
• Progression of Titles
• Faithful and True (1900)
• The Word of God (1913)
• King of kings and Lord of lords (1916)
• Unknown name (1912)

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Faithful and True Rider

• Dual title recalls Christs self-declaration to
  the church at Laodicea 314     And unto the
  angel of the church of the Laodiceans write
  These things saith the Amen, the faithful and
  true witness, the beginning of the creation of
  God
• True unlike the beast that distorts truth, his
  testimony is without deception
• Faithful unreservedly obedient to God even at
  the cost of death
• 1911 merely Faithful and True because his
  role as witness is finished and now appears as
  the faithful and true judge
• 1st coming is as Faithful and True Witness his
  2nd coming is as Faithful and true Judge
• Two edged sword symbolizes truths double-edged
  testimony
• slays falsehood and releases those bound by the
  lies and deceit of the beast
• Condemns those who reject Jesus testimony ot the
  true God and cling to the beasts delusions

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The Word of God

• 1913     And he was clothed with a vesture
  dipped in blood and his name is called The Word
  of God.
• Only weapon is his testimony

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Faithful and True Rider

• Fiery eyes
• Riders fiery eyes identify him with the one like
  the Son of Man
• Symbolize not wrath or fury but the piercing gaze
  of one who sees behind the pretences of the human
  heart to its inner nature
• Outwardly (on his robe) and inwardly (on his
  thigh) Lord of lords and King of kings
• Another secret name that only he knows
• Heightens the mysteriousness of Christs nature
• A name reveals a persons inner selfsince his
  name transcends human understanding, his name is
  unknowablehis essence cannot be known

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Christs Essential Functions

• King of kings, Lord of lords
• Faithful and True
• The Word of God

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Riders garment

• Dipped in blood (1913)
• Some argue it is from the blood of those slain in
  battle
• Other say it comes from the shedding of Christs
  own blood on the cross
• Outer garments reveal true inner nature
• Christ conquers not by might but through his
  death on the cross

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Modern versions

• Jesus Christ Superstar1973, Andrew Lloyd Webber
  musical http//www.youtube.com/watch?v_SXWQtH5l
  Rg
• The Passion of the ChristMel Gibson
  http//www.youtube.com/watch?vyX2LasCa0pg
• Last Temptation of Christ1988, Martin Scorsese
  http//youtube.com/watch?vvGJP7ppejcM