What does it mean that Jesus' voice was like the sound of rushing waters (Revelation 1:15)?

"His eyes like a flame of fire" set forth the penetration that marked Him in judgment. "His feet like fine brass,* as if burned in a furnace" — they could not contract any defilement, and are unbending in judicial strength, as dealing with responsible man according to God. "His voice as the voice of many waters" expressed resistless power and majesty outside the control of men (verses 12-15). Such He is personally and relatively.

"And His voice was as the sound of many waters." This figure is eminently expressive of majesty and power, and is so used by our own poets, as Wordsworth says of Milton: "Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea." In Ezekiel 1; 24 the sound made by the wings of the cherubim is compared to "the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty;" and afterwards, "the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east, and His voice was like a noise of many waters" (Ezek. 43:2.) A voice like the sound of many waters is, therefore, a Scriptural figure of the glory and majesty of God, and it is in this glory that Christ, though man, now appears.

"His feet like to fine brass as if they burned in a furnace," speaking of the inflexible holiness of walk, that never turns to any crooked way, and is undefiled by any soil of earth.

"His voice as the sound of many waters," expresses the power of His word that no man can resist.

— “His voice as the voice of many waters” (compare with Ezek. 43:2). The grandeur, the majesty of His voice is beyond the ceaseless roar of many cataracts. “The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea” (Ps. 93:4). The sign of His supreme sovereignty and majesty over all the waves of human passion, over the circumstances of a wrecked world and a ruined Church, is declared to be “His voice as the voice of many waters.” It was His voice — “God said” — ten times repeated, which brought order out of chaos, light out of darkness, and life out of death (Gen. 1). It was His voice which stilled the angry Galilean sea, and hushed its boisterous winds and waves into the calm of a sleeping child (Matt. 8:23-27).

Copper and fire are often united in scripture, as in verse 15), both speaking of the holiness of God, for copper is the fiery color. In burning holiness He will subdue all things under His feet. The tremendous power of His voice is likened to many waters, with its irresistible, awe-inspiring resonance. It is no longer a voice of gentle grace heard only by His own sheep (John 10:27), but that which will be heard by every ear in the whole universe.

(Vv. 12-16) Turning to see the One that speaks, John has a vision of the Son of Man, who is presented in the character of the Ancient of Days described by Daniel (Dan. 7:9-13). It is no longer the Son of Man in humiliation, scorned and rejected by men, but the Son of Man in glory, about to act as the Judge. It is no longer with garments laid aside and girded for the service of the saints, but with judicial robes. The affections are held in by righteousness, set forth in the golden girdle. The intense holiness of His judgments may be set forth by "His head and hairs white like wool, as white as snow." The searching character of His judgments are surely brought before us by "His eyes as a flame of fire" from which nothing is hid. His feet "like to fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace," may speak of an infinitely holy walk that stands the testing of God "as a consuming fire." His voice as the sound of many waters overwhelms every opposing voice. In His hand He held seven stars which we learn, a little later, set forth the seven representatives of the churches, showing that all is held in His power. Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, speaking of the word which pierces "even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." His countenance was as the sun shines in his strength; speaking of the light that exposes the darkness of this world.

There is not now the sign of activity; the robe was not tucked up for gracious service with girded loins. The Son of Man is seen clad in the flowing garb of dignity reaching to the feet, and He is "girt about the breasts with a golden girdle." Divine righteousness girds Him at the breasts in dignity as judge, not at the loins for strenuous work of grace. But He is Ancient of days as well as Son of Man. "And his head and his hairs [were] white as white wool, as snow; and his eyes as a flame of fire; and his feet like fine brass, as if they glowed in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters, and having in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth a sharp two-edged sword going forth; and his countenance as the sun shineth in its power." His eyes indicated scathing and consuming judgment; His feet, inflexible and unsparing firmness in it; His voice bespoke resistless majesty. Subordinate rulers ecclesiastical were in His right hand of power; out of His mouth went forth the word that judged with unerring decision on both sides, and His countenance with supreme authority and might shine forth as the great light that rules the day.

Voice as the Sound of Many Waters. — Overwhelming power and majesty. (Ezek. 1:24; 43:2.)

So He appears: "Clothed with a garment down to the feet .” He came first to earth to minister to others. He was then the Son of Man with His loins girded for service and to give His life a ransom for many: now it is not service but judgment. "Girt about the paps with a golden girdle .” His affections are restrained by Divine righteousness. "His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow .” The dignity of eternity encircles the once thorn-crowned brow as a halo. "His eyes were as a flame of fire": to search out every evil thing, and to trace from its origin to its climax every rebellious system that has reared its head beneath the sun. "His feet like unto fine brass as if they burned in a furnace": indicating that He will march onward in the execution of Divine righteousness against all evil, until every enemy is subdued beneath His feet. "His voice like the sound of many waters": the voice of majesty and authority. "Out of His mouth goeth a two-edged sword": His word is a life-giving word to all who believe, but it will be a word of judgment and death to all who refuse to own His claims.

Christ is seen in the midst of the "golden candlesticks," and that, too, in the character of a discerner and judge of His own house, the only time we have Him in such a character, with readiness to bless and encourage, as well as to correct. And I cannot exclude the thought, that His first being presented as "like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle," is to remind us that He is also a merciful, compassionate, and sympathizing High Priest. By "His head and hairs white like wool, as white as snow," we are taught that He not only bears the marks of the Ancient of Days (Dan. 7), but is infinitely pure and holy; while "His eyes, as a flame of fire," are all-searching, from whose notice nothing can escape. His almighty power to put all enemies under His feet, and trample them in His fury, may be brought out by "His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace;" and "His voice, as the sound of many waters," may teach us that His mighty voice may be heard far and wide as the thunders of the fall of Niagara; for unto-Him is given all power in heaven and in earth.