Revelation - His Feet - The Brazen Altar

                                   The Revelation of Jesus Christ                                                                                 His Feet – The Brazen Altar

In Chapter 1 of the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the Apostle John sees one in the midst of the seven candlesticks like the Son of Man.  Here we can begin to see the symbolic language that is used throughout the Book.  First, look at the description of the Son of Man, hair white as wool, eyes as flame of fire, a two-edged sword coming out of His mouth, and feet as burnished brass as if they burned in a fire.  The emphasis of the Book must be Him.  For it is the Revelation of Him!

Revelations 1:12 - 20 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 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. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 17 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. 19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; 20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. 

Now how do we understand this?  Jesus tells us that the seven candlesticks are the seven churches of Asia, and the stars are the angels or ministers of the churches.  What would be His feet that looked like brass as it burned in a furnace.  Would the description of Jesus be symbolic as well, or would this be how he physically looked when John saw Him?  Does He look like this now? 

If His description is symbolic then what does the brass feet stand for?  What is being declared by feet of brass.  I believe the answer would be judgement, and not just any judgement but the judgement of the cross.  Where do we find brass in the scripture?  Is there a picture of brass, burning with fire?  The answer would be yes.  When we come into the Tabernacle of Moses, what is the first piece of furniture we are met with as we enter in through the door?  A brazen altar, and not just a brass altar, but one filled with a continuous fire, where continual offerings and sacrifices were made.

We know that Jesus was the fulfillment of the offerings made unto God at this altar.  What He did on the cross fulfilled all offerings of the Old Covenant, from the offerings for sin to the offering for atonement, all was fulfilled by Him.  The next brass furniture we find in the Tabernacle is the washing laver.  If we consider this laver, where the priests washed in it would be a brass basin filled with water, mingled with blood.  The blood of the offering would be in this water, as the Priests washed in this water.  I firmly believe it speaks of water baptism, but I also believe it speaks of being washed by the water of the word.  As we look into this basin, we are looking into the death of the lamb, and being washed with all that speaks of His death. 

This sacrifice is our judgement.  We are being judged through His sacrifice.  We are seeing this judgement or decision as we are washed with His word.  This is active within us, as the Holy Spirit makes known the work of the Living Christ within.  His cross is our salvation.  Here our sins are washed away.  Here is a sweet aroma unto God.  Here the Old Man is dead and put away.  Here the Living God is satisfied with the sacrifices.  Here we find peace with God.  This cross and judgement is multifaceted and has so much to say the believer.  May this judgement fill our hearts!  Glory to God!