The description given in Rev.1:12-16 is often thought to be Jesus. However, upon closer examination, we see this is a false conclusion. The first thing that should be noted, is that God gave the revelation to Jesus and Jesus in turn, gave the revelation to an angel; Rev.1:1, “…..and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.” Jesus did not go to John himself, He sent an angel to deliver the revelation to the people.
Next, the angel’s appearance resembled Jesus; Rev.1:13, “…..one like unto the Son of man…..” His appearance was like Jesus but it was not Jesus. The angel was a diplomat or representative of Jesus.
The same description was almost verbatim in Dan.10:5-6, only this is a description of Gabriel, one of the arch angels. We know this is Gabriel because scripture confirms it; Dan.8:16, “…..which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.” Just as John temporarily lost consciousness when he found himself in the presence of the heavenly being, Daniel also lost consciousness when he found himself in the presence of Gabriel. The similarities between Dan.10:5-6 and Rev.1:12-16 are enormous. Scripture clearly indicates that it was Gabriel in Dan.10:5-6; therefore it is a good possibility that Rev.1:1-16 is referencing Gabriel also.
The angel in Rev.1:12-16, goes through great lengths to confirm that He was not Jesus. He insisted that John do not worship him; Rev.19:10,”….. he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus …..” A second time, the angel insisted that John do not worship him; Rev.22:8-9, “…..I fell down to worship…..Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant……. worship God.” The angel also assures John that he was sent as a representative of Jesus; Rev.22:6, “And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.”
Many say that because the being had a sharp two-edged sword coming out of his mouth, that this is proof positive that it was Jesus. It is words that come out of one’s mouth, but words are invisible. John was using descriptive words, in an effort to convey what he was witnessing. We know that the word of God is sharp like a two-edged sword; Heb.4:12, “…..the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword…..” We also know that the sword of God is His word; Eph.6:17, “…..the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” That sharp two-edged sword that John saw was actually the word of God; Rev.1:10, “….. and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.” The angel stood in Jesus’ place, speaking the words of Jesus. Finally, Jesus, in HIs own words informs us that it was an angel representing Him; Rev.22:16, “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”
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