Why is Christ called the "BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR" in Revelation 22:16?

Question

The "morning star" is the brightest sentinel of the night sky. People of the distant past depended upon the stars for guidance. They were largely obligated to astronomical patterns for both seasonal and directional guidance. Today's sophisticated radios, computers, and radar have taken us far beyond the light of stars, but our fascination with Stars remain.

What are some ways the "morning star" mirrors the ministry of our Lord.

Revelation 22:16
"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the "BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR".

What are your thoughts on this verse?

Answer 1

This verse connects with Isa. 11:1,10 where it a rod will come out of the stem of Jesse and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand fo an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and His rest shall be glorious.
Balaam prophesied that "a Star shall come out of Jacob"..
Num. 24:17. Peter talked about the Day Star arising in your heart. 2 Pet 1:19.
Stars in the Bible represent angels. Dan.8:10 and Rev.8:12 talks about the angels who were cast out of heaven and calls them stars. In Acts 27:23 Paul talks about the "Angel of God" that stood by him that night....he said that this Angel was the One he served....which would be Jesus since we do not serve angels. (Rev.19:10) Jesus is not an angel like the created angels but would be brighter...."the Bright and Morning Star."

Answer 2

Jesus is the bright and mornings star

this is not the stars at night but the sun. Jesus is the one who died and rose again to give his light (Life) to the world.

This is a matter of perception, that the sun sets and rises because it is the earth that turns and so Jesus is called the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Jesus was ever our savior, ever our light but in our perspective He is risen anew, for we were in the dark and for us He rose from death itself to give us life, which life He always had with the father and through the eternal Spirit we are turned to Him who is the Son of His love.

Answer 3

It is a herald of the new beginning of creation. It's like the sun rising to proclaim that a new day has begun.

Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." 6 And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

Here is what Barnes notes on the Bible has to say about that verse.

And the bright and morning star - It is not uncommon to compare a prince, a leader, a teacher, with that bright and beautiful star which at some seasons of the year precedes the rising of the sun, and leads on the day.

The reference here is to that star as the harbinger of day; and the meaning of the Saviour is, that he sustains a relation to a dark world similar to this beautiful star. At one time he is indeed compared with the sun itself in giving light to the world; here he is compared with that morning star rather with reference to its beauty than its light. May it not also have been one object in this comparison to lead us, when we look on that star, to think of the Saviour?

It is perhaps the most beautiful object in nature; it succeeds the darkness of the night; it brings on the day - and as it mingles with the first rays of the morning, it seems to be so joyous, cheerful, exulting, bright, that nothing can be better adapted to remind us of Him who came to lead on eternal day. Its place - the first thing that arrests the eye in the morning - might serve to remind us that the Saviour should be the first object that should draw the eye and the heart on the return of each day. In each trial - each scene of sorrow - let us think of the bright star of the morning as it rises on the darkness of the night - emblem of the Saviour rising on our sorrow and our gloom.

Answer 4

Because Jesus is the firstson of God (Colossians 1:15-17) all angels are sons of God (Job 1:6 and 2:1) also all sons of God are called stars in Job 38:4-7, Jesus is the first and most powerful angel of God.

Answer 5

Sailors are guided by astronomy (the constellations) and Jesus, being called the Bright and Morning Star, shows the pathway "home."

Answer 6

Gods entire Word is written in the sky. The
stars, moon, sun, etc. are all used for signs and seasons. I call it "Gods calendar in the sky".
Anyway, you will have to be very careful in Scripture, because Satan copies almost every single thing that Christ does. Satan has lots of names, and one of them is Lucifer, meaning morning star.
So be careful when you read Scriptures, that the subject is our Lord and Savior, and not discussing Satan. Always be sure you know what the subject and object is of what you are reading.

Answer 7

That's funny, considering that Bright and Morning Star is the meaning of Lucifer's name.

It was also the name of the great goddess Inanna, from Sumer, and Ishtar from Babylon.

Answer 8

Because the Bible is heavily influenced by astrology.

For your consideration:

The winter solstice is December 22. For 3 days, the sunset/sunrise appears to halt its southerly progression before beginning its notherly progression to the summer solstice. In ancient times, this hovering of the sun was considered symbolic of death. The return of motion back to the north, was a symbol of rebirth.

Jesus was born (ostensibly) on December 25. That's the end of the the sun's "hovering" and the beginning of it's return to a northerly progression. Jesus -- in whom we are "reborn" is born on the same day that the cycle of life is reborn.

There's MANY correlations between the Bible and astrology. Astrology, as man's first attempt at science (i.e. prediction from observation), was a major influence in the beliefs and daily lives of the ancients. That it is reflected in the Bible is no mystery. It's only natural.

The same associations between the Bible and astrology were made, previously, between prior religions worshipping Mithra, Horus, Zoroaster, and many others.

Answer 9

this is a fulfillment of the prophecy in Numbers 24:17:

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. - Numbers 24:17.

the morning star is the very first star to rise, when night is over.

Answer 10

The Hebrew word for "morning star" is translated as "lucifer", the one fall from heaven (see Isaiah 14:12) ...

What are your thoughts on that?