Useful Bible Studies > Revelation Commentary > chapter 2
Early in the morning, sometimes a bright star seems to appear in the sky. Unlike the other stars, it is not possible to see this star by night. It only begins to shine as the day approaches.
That ‘star’ is actually one of the objects called planets; today we call it Venus. That word is the name of a false god, and Christ does not use it. Here and in Revelation 22:16, he calls it the ‘morning star’, and he uses it as a special description of himself.
Peter also refers to it, in 2 Peter 1:19, although he uses a different word. His word means the ‘bringer of light’. He uses the darkness of the night as a word-picture for the evil state of this world. He describes the Bible as a lamp that shines in a dark place. Christ, like the morning star, enters into the hearts and lives of his people. That is like the beginning of a new day. Here, the ‘day’ is a word-picture for Christ’s rule, when he has destroyed the power of every evil thing. Revelation 21:23-25 describes Christ’s rule as a time of perfect light.
Here, in Revelation 2:28, Christ promises the ‘morning star’ to his loyal people. So, he promises that he himself will return to this world; everyone will see him (1:7). He is coming for his loyal people, to save them from the evil forces that seem, like darkness, to rule this world (Isaiah 60:2).
However, Christ’s return is not the end of God’s promises to his people; it is just the beginning. God will establish Christ’s complete and perfect rule over all things. The morning star is only the first light at the beginning of the day. Christ’s rule begins at his return, but it will never end. Christ will rule all things, and God’s people will rule with him (chapters 21 and 22).
Next part: What it means to ‘hear’ God’s message (Revelation 2:29)
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© 2016, Keith Simons.