Revelation Now :
Daily Devotional Bible Studies in Revelation
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Christ is the Bright Morning Star : Day 14 
"To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations 'He will rule them with an iron sceptre; he will dash them to pieces like pottery' just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 2.26-29)
Authority over the Nations
To those who are faithful, the twofold promise is made. Christ says that those who overcome, who remain faithful until the end and continue to please God, will rule over Christ's enemies and reign with him as he judges evil. Who "does my will" means literally, "who keeps my works."
"Ask of me and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." (1) In Jewish belief this Messianic Psalm, looks towards a conquering Messiah who would smash the heathen and extend the rule of Israel to the ends of the earth. But it has also been one of the great missionary inspirations of the Christian Church. Many a missionary claimed that promise: "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage."
The Bright Morning Star
The second part is the promise of the morning star. It is taken as a promise of the first resurrection. As the morning star rises after the night, so the Christian will rise after the night of death. The promise is, "and those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars for ever and ever." (2) If that be so, the morning star is the glory which will come to those who are righteous and have helped others to walk in the paths of righteousness.
All these are very lovely and may all be part of this promise, but the Revelation itself calls Jesus "the bright morning star" (3). The promise of the morning star is the promise of Christ himself. If the Christian is true, when life comes to an end he will possess Christ, never to lose him any more.
Victory over Death
Christ himself is called the morning star. A morning star appears just before dawn, when the night is coldest and darkest. When the world is at its bleakest point, Christ will burst onto the scene, exposing evil with his light of truth and bringing his promised reward. The Christian who perseveres in faith will share in Christ's messianic authority and resurrection victory over death, symbolized by the morning star.
Meditation
Jesus, the Bright and Morning Star, comes to us at our bleakest moments.
Prayer
"He's the Lily of the Valley, He's the Bright and Morning Star,
He's the Fairest of Ten Thousand, Everybody ought to know."
Notes
(1) Psalm 2:8, 9 (2) Daniel 12:3 (3) Revelation 22:16
"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place."
