His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Read Chapter 19
Bede
AD 735
eyes: He sometimes calls the precepts, sometimes the Spirit, the eyes of the Lord. He says, "Thy word O Lord, is a lantern unto my feet ;" and of the Spirit, "I have come to send a fire upon the earth."
name: "No one knows but He Himself," he says, because all the Church is in Him. For the perfect knowledge of the Word of God is manifested to those who have obtained to be the body of Christ and His members. In the same manner the Lord says, "No one has ascended up to heaven, but He Who descended from heaven, the Son of Man, Who is in heaven." <a
Flame Which shows his indignation.
Diadems; the mark of power. So Ptolemy, the king of Egypt, after he had entered Antiochia, took two crowns, to signify that he was king of two countries, Syria and Egypt. (Pastorini)
Which (name) no man knoweth but himself. Some interpreters think St. John alludes to an ancient custom which still obtains among the Orientals, of having a secret name, which they discover to no one. (Calmet)
Pastorini understands this to be the name of the word of God, as mentioned in the subsequent verse; which is so comprehensive in its meaning, that human reason cannot fathom it, and no man knoweth but himself.
