Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 1:13

"and in the midst of the candlesticks one like unto a son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about at the breasts with a golden girdle." — Revelation 1:13 (ASV)

Evidently the words “someone ‘like a son of man’ ” are to be understood in connection with Da 7:13 as a reference to the heavenly Messiah who is also human. Jesus preferred the title “Son of Man” for himself throughout his earthly ministry, though he did not deny, on occasion, the appropriate use of “Son of God” as well (cf. Mark 14:61). Both titles are nearly identical terms for the Messiah. The early church, however, rarely used the title “Son of Man” for Jesus, except when there was some special connection between the suffering of believers and Christ’s suffering and glory (e.g., Acts 7:56; Revelation 14:14).

“Dressed in a robe” begins the sevenfold description of the Son of Man. This vision creates an impression of the whole rather than of particular abstract concepts. John saw Christ as the divine Son of God in the fullest sense of that term. He also saw him as fulfilling the OT descriptions of the coming Messiah by using terms drawn from the OT imagery of divine wisdom, power, steadfastness, and penetrating vision. The long robe and golden sash were worn by the priests in the OT (Exodus 28:4) and may here signify Christ as the great High Priest to the churches in fulfillment of the OT Aaronic priesthood, or, less specifically, it may indicate his dignity and divine authority (Ezekiel 9:2, 11).