Bible Studies
The eighth in a mini-series on the Names of Christ
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” —Revelation 22:16
THINK ABOUT IT
The World Book Encyclopedia tells us that the orbits of the planets Venus and Mercury bring them relatively close to the sun. Because of that they reflect the sunlight and can be seen from earth often appearing to move from one side of the sun to the other. When they appear at sunset they are called evening stars. When they appear at sunrise they are called morning stars.
2 Peter 1:19 makes clear reference to the Lord Jesus as THE Morning Star:
“And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, ________________________ in a dark place, until __________________ and _____________________________ in your hearts”.
Read 2 Peter 1:12-21.
What is Peter’s theme in this section?
Sometimes (and this was very true in the time of the New Testament church) it is all too easy to add popular human wisdom to spiritual truth. Peter’s concern was to encourage his readers to stick to the truth as it had been taught to them. What they had learned was not the product of human wisdom, but the result of the moving of the Spirit of God through His servants. And to this truth the believers were to be faithful.
According to verse 16-18 and 2 Peter 3:3-13, what is the particular theological problem that Peter’s readers seem to be having?
Many of the early church expected Christ to return very quickly, and as time went on and He didn’t appear, some began to doubt that He was going to return at all. And, of course, there were bound to be lots who would contribute to those doubts through mockery and false teaching.
Why do you think this picture of the Lord as Morning Star is appropriate to Peter’s argument that Christ will return ?
When the Scriptures repeat something over and over again, the message is that we are to pay attention to that teaching. In Revelation 22:7-21, how many times does John mention, or make some reference to, the second coming of Christ?
And here again, in verse 16 of Revelation 22 we have the wonderful picture of the Morning Star. As surely as the dawn comes each day and banishes the night, so will come the Morning Star, so will the Lord return. As light comes to chase away the dark, so He will come to bring perfect light to our lives and every knee will bow and confess Him as Lord.
PRAY ABOUT IT
I would like to unite my voice to the voice of many, and say “Come, Lord Jesus! Come, like the morning star as the day dawns, and bring us that divine light that we so long to see!” In the meantime Lord, make me diligent to be a pure reflection of your light in a dark world, so that others will seek you and find you. Amen.
ACT ON IT
Oftentimes we live without the expectation that our Lord could come like that morning star at the dawn of a new day — unexpectedly, suddenly. Over these last two thousand years we have gotten so used to not seeing Him come, that we have forgotten that He could come, and will come, when we least expect Him.
Renew your commitment to live your life today as though He might come with the dawn of tomorrow’s new day. And if He chooses not to come tomorrow, thank Him for another day in which to share His message so that others will be prepared for that moment in time when He does come.
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