Revelation 1:16: “… And His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.”
Manifestation:
The book of Revelation is not so much a message as a manifestation, and that manifestation is the Light of God, the Urim ve Thummim for the direction of His people: “…a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of His people, Israel.”
Taken separately, the literal meaning of Urim is ‘Lights” and the literal meaning of Thummim is ‘Perfections.’ Taken together they have the meaning of ‘Revelation,’ ‘Perfection of Light,’ and ‘Revelation and Truth.’
In the beginning God said: “Let there be Light” and in the last book of God’s revealed Word we find that Light has come to perfection, Perfection of God’s Will, and the inevitable outcome of His Word of power. The most fitting title possible for the final Book of Scripture is Tammim, (a variant form of Thummim), “perfection, completion and fullness.” The Book itself declares that the Revelation is complete when it pronounces a curse upon anyone adding or taking from the words of the Book.
Symbols of Light as Literary Conventions:
There are several ways in which symbols of light are used in the book to reveal Christ. These symbols are used according to the literary conventions already established in the canonical literature including both Old and New Testaments. The book of Beginnings, Genesis, starts with the revelation of the Secret of Light:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; And darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be Light: and there was Light.” -Genesis 1:1-3 KJV.
The Gospel of John starts from this same beginning point:
(1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. (4) In Him was Life: and the Life was the Light of men. (5) And the Light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
(6)There was a man sent from God whose name was John. (7) The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe. (8) He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. (9) That was the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (10) He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew Him not. (11) He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. (12) But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: (13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (14) And the Word was made Flesh, and dwelt among us, (And we beheld His glory, [beautiful Light], the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-14.
Jesus Claimed to be this Light of the World:
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life,” John 8:12.
“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world,” John 9:5.
“Then Jesus said unto them. ‘Yet a little while is the Light with you. Walk while ye have the Light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have Light, believe in the Light, that ye may be the children of Light.’ These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide Himself from them.” John 12:35-6.
God is Light:
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life; (For the Life was manifested, [revealed, brought to light], and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that Eternal Life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us:)…This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all.“ 1 John 1:1, 2, 5.
Revelation was to show [reveal] Christ as the King of Kings:
“…until the appearing [Revelation] of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in His times He shall shew [Reveal], Who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the Light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see; to Whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:14b-16.)
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning,” James 1:17.
Next: Revelation: Light Was Conceived In Creation
This lesson is an edited excerpt from my book, Revelation in Context, available locally at the Living Word Bookstore in Shawnee, Oklahoma or www.Amazon.com, or www.XulonPress.com.
Free downloads are also available at www.revelationincontext.sermon.net.