26 He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; 27 And he shell rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father…
In a continual series of promises (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21) to the one who overcomes, Jesus promises nothing less than authority of Israel’s king over the nations of the world promised in the Scriptures. The verse quoted above comes from Psalm 2:9 and as we see from vs. 28 it applies first and foremost to Jesus Christ Himself (See also Rev. 12:5; 19:15). Yet strikingly Christ promises to share his own crown rights with those who will keep his commandments (works) for as long as needed.
28 and I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
The text that is often quoted in connection with this is 2 Peter 1:19 reads as follows:
“Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
But there seems to be little connection with it since here in Greek the word translated as “morning star” is φωσφόρος (phosphoros). The “morning star” in Rev. 2:28 is ἀστὴρ πρωϊνός (aster proinos), which faithfully reflects the meaning of the original. One other Jewish text may shed the light on this issue, however. When the Book of Sirach praises priest Simeon the Righteous, it describes him in very poetic fashion:
“How glorious was he when he looked forth from the Tent, and when he came out from the sanctuary! Like a morning-star (ἀστὴρ ἑωθινὸς) from between the clouds, and like the full moon on the feast-days; Like the sun shining upon the Temple of the Most High…” (Sirach 50:5-7)
Even though the second Greek word (ἑωθινὸς) is not exactly the same as in Rev.2:28 (πρωϊνός) it never the less is fully synonymous with it.
Therefore, the basic aspects of meaning of the concept of the morning star is glory. To receive or to be given the morning star should be understood as a promise of the glorious future, an affirmation of great good yet to come.
Jesus is promising to grant the gift of the morning star to the one who overcomes. In Rev. 22:16 Jesus states that He himself is “the bright morning star” (ὁ ἀστὴρ ὁ λαμπρὸς ὁ πρωϊνός). In short, to anyone with the ultimate faithfulness and perseverance of the overcomer Jesus promises to give a glorious future. They will share it with and in Christ Himself.
thank you for your insight.
Always welcome, Steve.
Isaiah14:12
“The Latin Vulgate translates,Lucifer.This refers to Satan,who,as the Daystar,son of the dawn,was one of the earliest angels(the sons of God-Job38:7,cf.Job1:6)created by God at the “dawn “of the universe.He was appointed by God to be the head of all the angels(Ezek.28:14;Jude9)and later became Satan, the adversary of God,after he rebelled against God.Because of his rebellion,Lucifer as Satan was judged by God(Isa.14:12-15;Ezek.28:16-19;Luck10:18).”
“In verse 28 the Lord gives a promise to the overcomer, saying, “I will give him 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 to His overcomers who watch for His coming. To all the others, He will appear only as the sun (Mal. 4:2).”
Nice, feedback and references, thank you, Idala.
Dr. Eli-
I think we are actually agreeing here. You state that “.. should be understood as a promise of the glorious future, an affirmation of great good yet to come.” How is that ‘promise’ any different of the promise of life after death, through Christ? 🙂
We also need to remember that these letters to the 7 Churches of Asia are meant to offset the megalomaniac, Dominican, the Emperor of Rome. “Don’t fall back on the old ways” because your fellow Christians are being martyred. Remember this is the guy that the troops didn’t like, was assassinated by court officials and had the Senate decree Dominican’s memory ‘condemned to oblivion’. Not a very likeable fellow.
Hi Guys in my studies Lucifer in Isaiah 14:12 should never have been there if we go to verse 4 we see to whom God is talkingabout king of Babylon and not Lucifer and i believe this Lucifer in this verse is a christian Hoax
Yes, Hira, the Latin word should logically not be in Isaiah, it is translators exegesis to lead the reader to make the assumption that personality in Is 14 is Satan. Research the word φωσφόρος (phosphoros) which means the same in Greek and you might find more on the topic.
Let me correct that… evening to morning star occurs before it passes behind the sun.
The Morning Star refers to the full cycle of Venus (and technically Mercury). Venus goes through a cycle of first being on the left side of the sun (evening start -dim since it is close to the sun), grows brighter as it moves away from the sunshine until it crosses the earth point of view and the sun again, here it disappears, and then starts becoming the morning star on the right side of the sun full bright and then dims as it moves back towards the sun. Technically it disappears again behind the sun altogether and reappears as the evening star again.
You also should know that Venus is also the third brightest object in our sky- Sun and moon. Yes the Morning Star is know as the “light bringer” aka Lucifer.
Most ancient belief systems follow Venus and apply it to birth, death, rebirth cycle.
So applying this to Rev we can see how Jesus is saying is the reborn and so we will also be reborn… those that have an ear and hear. These passages all clearly show a message of rebirth.
Naturally, I heard this before :-), but I disagree that this is what is meant here. Thanks for taking part in our studies, Ryan. Eli
The word morning star in Isaiah 14:12 was not translated as Lucifer in torah or the tanakh :)This leads me to believe that the antichrist in 1 John is different than typically understood. I agree with the definition of morning star meaning glory, but I am not sure how Jesus coming in the flesh connects unless WE are the flesh he comes into. I called my two-fold revelation of Christ my “prayers” for many years. My question would be “: are there any Psalms that unfold this revelation in greater detail?”
I am afraid that what I have suggest is the only thing I know at the moment that provide the context for Jesus’ reference to the assemblies he addressed in his letter. Let’s keep thinking together on this. Eli
Lucifer was transliterated from “son of the morning” in Isa 14:12 in the Latin Vulgate version of the Bible.
Yes :-).
Lucia Li Simo: first son If the morning
Morning Star is now Venus but in the past it was Lucifer as far as I have learned.
The idea is within context. OK.