2:18 “And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;”
Introduction
"...who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;” ～ The Lord further describes Himself as He “who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass.” Apart from identifying Himself as the one who John saw in the midst of the candlesticks (1:14-15), it may very well be that this particular description has been chosen to juxtapose Himself with Tyrimnos (Apollo), and to show that the brilliance of the sun was personified in Himself. This idea is especially possible when ch 1:16 is paralleled to this description. In this description of the One in the midst of the candlesticks/lampstand, John’s graphic account includes this: “and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.” And yet another application surely also applies: namely, that of judge. Christ had come to judge His churches. Thyatira is being put on notice that His eyes see all. “[L]ike unto a flame of fire” indicates a penetrating gaze that burns through all pretense and hypocrisy, to behold the true condition of all hearts.
The Psalmist said,
The Psalmist said,
“The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous,” (Ps 34:15); and, “He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves.” (Ps 66:7)
The Preacher declares that “The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge (truth)” (Prov 22:12; parenthesis mine), and to this end the Lamb of 5:6 is envisioned by the Seer to have seven eyes. The disciple will remember seven to be the number of perfection. The “eyes like unto a flame of fire” are seen again in 19:12. In ch 19 the rider of the white horse (in v11), who is called “Faithful and True,” gallops forth “in righteousness” to both “judge and make war.” The “eyes… as a flame of fire” are part of this persona.
“...and his feet are like fine brass; ...” ～ Continuing the image of the judge and judgment, He describes His feet as “fine brass.” The brass is associated with the brass Altar of Holocaust from the Old Testament tabernacle and temple worship (Ex 27:1-8; see Lev 4:7, 10, 18; cf. 2 Chr 4:1; 7:1), where sin was judged. The Altar of Holocaust is central to the Apocalypse, in relation to judgment meted out upon the Earth (see 6:9; 8:5; 11:1; 14:18; 16:7). The judge of the Apocalypse is described in like terms as is the judge of Daniel’s vision (Dan 7:9-10).
Compare
Daniel 7:9-10 “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.”
WITH
Revelation 1:13-15 “And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.”
The sameness of the Old Testament’s Ancient of Days and the New Testament’s Lord Jesus Christ are more than just hinted at in the above passages. (The disciple is encouraged to review the commentary on 1:14-15.)
There is yet another layer of unveiling encoded in the metal mentioned in connection to our Lord’s feet: namely, “fine brass.” Brass is a metal that is made of two base metals, i.e. copper and zinc. Fine brass is a refined alloy of copper and metallic zinc. These two metals speak to the two natures of Jesus – one divine and one human. Of the two, copper is more valuable than zinc. In that fashion, copper would be representative of the deity of Jesus, while the lesser of the two metals, i.e. the zinc, represents His humanity. The great mystery of the person of Jesus is how He could be God and man at one and the same moment. However this may tax our ability to comprehend and explain, we are obliged to believe it, nonetheless; because, the proposition of holy Scripture is that he is both God and man – the God-man.
Notice the following propositions of Scripture:
Jesus Is God
Isaiah .......................7:14
Isaiah .........................9:6
Micah .........................5:2
John ......................1:1,14
John ............. 8:24,58-59
John ....................14:6,11
2 Corinthians.......... 5:19
1 Timothy.................3:16
Jesus Is Man
Isaiah ........................7:14
Isaiah ..........................9:6
Luke ...............1:31; 2:6-7
Acts .........................17:31
Galatians ....................4:4
1 Timothy ...................2:5
Hebrews ...................4:15
Hebrews ..............7:24-25
Brass is formed by combining copper (Cu29) and zinc (Zn30). Once the two principal metals are fused (amalgamated) they form a third identity—brass; though each property of the two donor metals (Cu29 and Zn30) remains distinct in the third. Furthermore, once combined the copper and zinc can never be separated. By these unique characteristics brass lends itself appropriately as a type of the dual nature of Christ Jesus, and His eternal existence as the God-man.
Apostolically Speaking
☩ Jerry L Hayes
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