Ⅲ
"I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright morning star"—Rev. 22:16b:
A
Christ, who is signified by the heavenly luminaries, the lights, is the bright morning star—v. 16b.
B
At His coming back Christ will be the rising sun to His people generally (Mal. 4:2) but the morning star to His watchful lovers particularly.
C
The latter will be a reward to the overcomers: "I will give the morning star"—Rev. 2:28.
D
Christ as the Root and Offspring of David is related to Israel and the kingdom, whereas His being the bright morning star is related to the church and the rapture.
E
The morning star appears before the darkest hour, prior to the dawn.
F
The great tribulation will be this darkest time, after which the day of the kingdom will dawn; this indicates that Christ will appear as the bright morning star in the darkest time, prior to the close of this age.
G
In the kingdom the Lord will appear publicly to His people as the sun, but before the great tribulation He will appear privately to His overcomers as the morning star to rapture them.
H
The bright morning star will appear only to the watchful ones.
I
The slumbering believers will not see the morning star; they will see Christ only as the sun in a general way.
J
The watchful ones will have the priority to taste the freshness of His presence at His coming back after a long absence.
K
The entire Bible concludes with the desire for the Lord's coming expressed as a prayer.
L
John's prayer in Revelation 22:20 is the last prayer in the Bible.
M
"He who testifies these things says, Yes, I come quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"—v. 20.
Morning Nourishment
Rev. 22:16 I Jesus have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright morning star.Mal. 4:2 But unto you who fear My name will the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings, and you will go forth and leap about like well-fed calves.
In His coming back Christ will be the morning star to the overcomers (Rev. 22:16). In Revelation 2:28 He gives a promise to the overcomer, saying, “To him I will give the morning star.” At Christ's first appearing the wise men, not the Jewish religionists, saw His star (Matt. 2:2, 9-10). At His second appearing He will be the morning star as a reward to His overcomers who watch for His coming. To all others He will appear only as the sun (Mal. 4:2)… The appearing of the morning star is secret, but the appearing of the sun is open. The Lord promised that if we are watchful and wait for His coming, He will appear to us as the morning star for a reward.
Christ as the Root and Offspring of David [Rev. 22:16] is related to Israel and the kingdom, whereas His being the bright morning star is related to the church and the rapture. The morning star appears before the darkest hour, prior to dawn. The great tribulation will be this darkest hour, after which the day of the kingdom will dawn. In the kingdom the Lord will appear publicly to His people as the sun, but before the great tribulation He will appear privately to His overcomers as the morning star. (The Conclusion of the New Testament, pp. 350-351)
Today’s Reading
In Revelation 22:12 the Lord Jesus said, “Behold, I come quickly.” In verse 20 the Lord also said, “Yes, I come quickly.” Our loving response should be, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (v. 20; 2 Tim. 4:8)…We should always call for His coming…We must tell the Lord, “Lord Jesus, I love You, and I love Your appearing. Because I love You, I love Your appearing.”In their hearts the apostles firmly believed that the Lord would come quickly and that they also lived a life in preparation for the Lord’s second coming. This is like the situation in which some long-separated relatives are soon to return. The entire family is prepared to welcome them. It is also like a girl waiting to be married, who knows of the wedding day and who is waiting wholeheartedly for that day to arrive. Paul was one who had such an attitude…We can see this by reading 1 Thessalonians. This book has five chapters, each of which concludes with the Lord's coming back. This indicates that Paul was one who loved the Lord’s appearing (2 Tim. 4:8). Taking Paul as our pattern, we should love the Lord’s appearing.
Since we love the Lord’s appearing, we should earnestly wait for His coming (Phil. 3:20; 1 Thes. 1:10). Hence, our future is with Him. Our living should indicate that we have no other hope on earth. Our hope is in the coming Lord. He is our eternal destiny. In 1 Corinthians 7 Paul says, “Brothers, the time is shortened. Henceforth both those who have wives should be as though they had none, and those who weep as though they did not weep, and those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, and those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use the world as though they did not abuse it; for the fashion of this world is passing away” (vv. 29-31). Christ is our real hope.
While waiting for the Lord’s return, we should learn to fear Him. In Luke 12 the Lord gave a parable concerning a rich man who endeavored to lay up wealth for himself so that his soul might enjoy itself and be merry. But God said to him, “Foolish one, this night they are requiring your soul from you” (v. 20). Every “today” that we have is truly the Lord’s grace. Therefore, as long as we have today, as long as we still have breath, we should love the Lord and His appearing, await the Lord’s coming (Phil. 3:20), and always take His coming as an encouragement. (The Conclusion of the New Testament, pp. 4448-4449)
Further Reading: The Conclusion of the New Testament, msgs. 32, 411, 435