01 A. Revelation as Light

REVELATION AS LIGHT

THE LIGHT THAT PRECEDES AND SUPERCEDES ALL CREATION

Revelation 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John:  

            Revelation is ‘Perfection of Light’.  Davies discusses the Rabbinical teaching concerning Torah, (often translated ‘Law’), as a much more basic idea than merely the written Law of Moses[1] .  He shows that it is actually the very Light that proceeded forth from God in the beginning.  That Light was also to be identified as Wisdom, in fact, the very principle of Order in the universe.  By this Light of Wisdom/Torah all things were created.  Paul utilizes this concept to preach Christ.  And not only Paul, but also Peter and John base their teachings on this principle: Jesus Christ is that primordial Light that both precedes and supercedes all creation.

            The bare Scriptures will be sufficient to demonstrate this:

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins: 15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence. 19  For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell; (Colossians 1:13-19).

 

            The first word in the Hebrew Bible is bǝrêshîyth, ‘In the beginning’.  Bǝ may be translated ‘in’, ‘by’, ‘for’, and reshiyth may be translated ‘firstborn’, ‘head’, ‘beginning’, ‘preeminent’.  This firstborn ‘prototype’ is Christ; but He was not fully revealed in the Old Testament.  There He is seen first as the Light proceeding forth, the Divine Wisdom, Order, Torah.[2]

            The Christian is to walk in this Wisdon/Light/Torah:

 

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. (Romans 13: 12-13).

 

            For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

 

            For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9  (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.  11.And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].  12.For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13  But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. (Ephesians 5:8-14).

 

            But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9)

 

            5  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. 6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-7).



    [1] Davies, W. D. Paul and Rabbinic Judaism, Harper Torchbooks, Harper & Row, Publishers, New York and Evanston, 1948, pp. 147-176.

    [2] ibid.

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