THE PERSONALITY OF THIS PERSON IN THE VISION

The Personality of This Person in the Vision

13b-14a "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."

His majesty (greatness) is indicated by the flowing robe (13b cf. Isaiah 6:1). "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple."

Christ is not here as in earthly days clothed in the short, seamless tunic and the flowing cloak of the peas­ant, but now in a garment down to the feet. This suggests some great one of wealth and fame and high position. In fact, here are the priestly and royal robes of the mighty king-priest. The judicial robes of glory and majesty are here his. Artists often try to catch this majesty by the long, flowing robe.

His dignity (goodness) is indicated by the golden girdle. "Girt about the paps with a golden girdle."

The worker girded up his garments about the loins. While the long, flowing robe girded at the breast was the mark of honor and dignity, this was a further mark of judicial glory and majesty. "Righteousness the girdle around his breast. Faithfulness the girdle of his loins" (Isa. 11:5 RV).

His eternity (duration) is indicated by his head and his hair. "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow."

This blinding whiteness John once saw on the Mount of transfiguration. White hair is a sign of maturity and age. This is not the white hair of senility or decay, but the absolute holiness and wisdom of the judge. This is the Ancient of Days (Dan. 7:9; Isa. 9:6). Purity is also portrayed (Isa. 1:18). Beauty (Prov. 16:31).
7:9 "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."
9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
16:31 "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness."