Revelation 1:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The two-edged sword is both historical and allegorical, both according to the letter and according to the spirit. It is a two-edged sword, striking adversaries and defending His own.

This two-edged sword is sharpened on both sides. John speaks both of the present age and of the age to come. Here it strikes adversaries, and above it opens the Kingdom of Heaven.

After He completed the parables, He says to them: “Have you understood all these things?” They say, “Yes.” He said to them: “Therefore every scribe instructed for the Kingdom of Heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old” (Mt 13:51-52).

The new things are the words of the Gospel, and the old things are the words of the Law and the prophets.

That this came from His mouth is revealed in what He said to Peter: “Go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up.

“When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater,” that is, two denarii, “for Me and for yourself” (Mt 17:27).

David likewise says through the Spirit: “God has spoken once; twice have I heard this” (Ps 61:12). For the Lord decreed once, from the beginning, what would be until the very end.

Thus these are the two Testaments. According to the way time is perceived, they are called either two denarii, or New and Old, or the two-edged sword.

Finally, because the Judge Himself has been appointed by the Father, He wished to indicate that men will be judged by the word of His preaching.

He says: “Do you think that I will judge you on the last day? The word that I have spoken will judge on the last day” (Jn 12:48).

And Paul says to the Thessalonians concerning the Antichrist: “whom the Lord will slay with the spirit of His mouth” (2 Thess 2:8).

Therefore this spirit is the sharp two-edged sword coming from His mouth.

His face was His appearing, through which He spoke with men face to face. The glory of the sun is less than the glory of the Lord.

Yet because of its rising, setting, and rising again, Scripture likened His face to the glory of the sun. For Christ was born, suffered, and rose again.

Apringius and Primasius agree with this interpretation. The Incarnation is the supreme moment when Christ stood before everyone face to face.

The only Son of God Himself also indicates this Spirit of His mouth when, after His Resurrection, He breathes on His disciples and says: “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn 20:22).

Indeed, John says in the Apocalypse that from the mouth of the Lord Jesus Himself “went a sharp two-edged sword.” Therefore the Spirit of His mouth is the very sword coming from His mouth.

The teaching that the Holy Spirit proceeds not only from the Father, but also from the Son, appears among Latin authors already in the fourth and fifth centuries. It was fixed as dogma only later, after the division between Rome and Constantinople in 1054.

His voice was like the sound of many waters, like an abundant river watering and filling every soul with truth and making it fruitful. By the seven stars, as is seen below, the Lord means the angels of the churches.

The sword coming from His mouth is the word of God, the spiritual sword that circumcises our inner man. His face shone with a brilliance not sensory, but spiritual.

This description clearly shows that the Lord Jesus appeared to John in His divine majesty, as the Almighty going forth to battle against all the powers of darkness and proclaiming victory.

The seven stars are in the hand of this mighty Man, and the seven lampstands are around Him. But does He guard only the seven churches named, abandoning those in Jerusalem, Rome, Corinth, and His present faithful throughout the whole world?

Certainly not. He said to the apostles, and in them to all believers: “I will not leave you. I will be with you to the end of the age” (cf. Mt 28:20).

Without any doubt, our star too is in His hand, and our lampstand is among the lampstands surrounding Him. The awareness of this is joy and consolation.

Yet one must also recognize the responsibility. Look into yourself and consider whether this Man knows you, and whether it is you whom He guards.

“And from His mouth came a two-edged sword.” Under this image is depicted the penetrating power of the word. It reaches to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart; compare Heb 4:12.

This power will be manifested especially at the last universal judgment.

“And His face was like the sun shining in its strength” (Rev 1:16). This is an image of the ineffable glory of the deified human nature of Jesus Christ and of His might.

He gives life to all things and scatters upon all the life-giving rays of His mercies.

In conclusion, it must be added that the majestic image of the “Son of Man” appeared to John “in the midst of the seven lampstands” (Rev 1:13). This explanation is given: “the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches” (Rev 1:20).

To these the inspired seer was commanded at once to write appropriate epistles, with praises and instructions, but also with rebukes and threats.

By the image of lampstands, recalling the ancient lampstand of the tabernacle of God, we are given to understand that every local church is a division, or branch, of the universal Church.

It spreads around itself the light of the knowledge and worship of God amid the impiety and sinful darkness of this world.

Thus, by His clothing, He appears as both High Priest and King. As for His outward form, His hair was white and indicated in Him the Ancient of Days, the eternity of Christ.

His eyes burned like those of a young man and showed by their brilliance that their possessor is not a feeble, weak man, and that He sees all things.

Christ’s feet were like molten, flowing bronze, chalcolibanus, which indicated the purity and brilliance of Christ’s walk, or manner of action.

His voice was like the sound produced by immense masses of water in their flow, and therefore testified to His might.

In His hand He held seven stars, or, as explained below, the angels of the seven churches. By this He showed that the churches are under His protection.

From His mouth came a two-edged sword, an image of the word of God; compare Eph 6:17. His face was like the sun when it shines in full brilliance, unobscured by mist and clouds.

By this, of course, the highest holiness and the life-giving power of Jesus Christ were indicated.