I Am the Bright and Morning Star
Partial Outline: FULL PDF HERE
Revelation 22:16
Of all of Jesus’ names and titles, this is one of the most intriguing. Consider the paradox that is inherent in Revelation 22:16:
- A “root” is that which precedes. An “offspring” is that which succeeds.
- Jesus is saying, “I am the “Root”—the One who got David here. I am also the “Offspring,” the One who came out of David!” “I am both the Producer of David and the Product of David.”
How can someone be “the Root” and “the Offspring” of the same person? “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
Luke’s genealogy of Christ begins with Jesus and goes backwards through Abraham all the way to Adam. Luke 3:23—“Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli…” Luke 3:38—“Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.”
Adam was created by Jesus (Gen. 1:26). “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible… all things were created by him, and for him:” (Col. 1:16)
Jesus is at the beginning of Luke’s genealogy and at the end making Him “the Root and Offspring of David” (Rev. 5:5). “The ROOT” indicates Christ’s deity. “The OFFSPRING of David” refers to the humanity of Jesus.
The CONTRAST between the titles given in Rev. 22:16:
A “root” is beneath the ground where no one can see it—A “star” is in the heavens where all can see it.
The “root” speaks of His lowliness—the “star” of His loftiness.
The “root” speaks of His relationship with earthly things; the “star” speaks of His relationship with heavenly things.
The planet Venus is called “the morning star.” God created the heavens and everything in them. God never does anything in a haphazard way. There is a design to the universe. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheath his handiwork.” We can learn a lot about God by studying the heavens. The wise men came from the east to Christ’s birthplace because they studied the Scripture and the stars.
The title “the bright and morning star” is an analogy to the planet Venus. Let’s apply three celestial characteristics of Venus, “the morning star” to Christ as “the bright and morning star.”
I. He is “the Bright and Morning Star” in His MOVEMENT.
A. DIRECTION of movement—The planet Venus is unique to all the other planets in our solar system because direction of it’s rotation from east to west (clockwise). The earth turns counter-clock-wise. While the Morning Star (Venus/Jesus) tuns one way, the earth is turning in the opposite way.
Jesus moves in a completely different orbit than this world’s system! When you move in the same direction of the Lord Jesus Christ, you will find yourself moving against to the ways of the world (cf Isa. 55:8-9). “This World is Not My Home!”
B. DURATION of movement—Venus rotates very slowly on its axis (1 revolution = 243 earth days). The idea of the slow revolution is that time is fairly irrelevant to God (2 Pet. 3:8). He is patient. He has a plan, and it will not be hurried by anyone (Ps. 90:1-4).
II. He is “the Bright and Morning Star” in His MYSTERY.
Venus is a very mysterious planet.
A. It’s CLOUDS—Venus is shrouded by a thick layer of clouds making it impossible for astronomers to actually see the planet itself.
When Jesus ascended into heaven He was received up into a cloud (Acts 1:9). After that He could no longer be seen —“Now we se through a glass darkly…” (1 Cor. 13:12).
Partial Outline: FULL PDF HERE
