Revelation 22:16, commentary and pictures

Jesus Himself sent His angel to bear witness of these closing revelations to the churches, declaring Himself to be both David's source and David's descendant and the bright and morning star. As David's root He is the divine, pre-existent Creator and Redeemer, and as David's offspring He is the human Mediator and Saviour who gave His life to bring fallen man back to God. As the bright and morning star He shines upon a world in spiritual darkness as its Light, Truth, and Life, bringing hope, forgiveness, peace, and healing to all who give Him their hearts. His testimony belongs to the last days, calling the world into only two classes of commandment keepers and commandment breakers, promising blessing and entrance to the city and the tree of life to the obedient and warning of exclusion and His soon coming with reward according to works. That testimony with its invitation to take the water of life freely is a message of mercy that must be proclaimed everywhere by united divine and human effort, with every believer receiving the light and reflecting it to others in love and obedience.

Angel Sent to Churches

Jesus personally sent His angel to testify these things in the churches, declaring Himself to be the root and offspring of David and the bright and morning star. This testimony is a message from God that must be proclaimed to the world, with those who proclaim it giving a representation of the character of Christ and turning attention from earthly things to heavenly realities wherever people can be reached. These closing words point out the work to be done, for Jesus came personally to John to present the missionary work to be done because the last message of warning is not thoroughly understood and the proclamation by the angel with the everlasting gospel has not awakened the people to move to action in compassion of infinite love. The testimony is joined to the invitation for the Spirit and the bride to say Come and for the thirsty and whosoever will to take the water of life freely, and those who receive the light God gives are to pass it on and testify in the churches, relying on Christ rather than themselves while God strengthens and qualifies weak people for the work. Its proclamation requires facilities and means, and those who have received God's gifts must impart in order to continue to receive, rousing to meet the call for help coming from England by giving all they can with the assurance that the Lord will bless them in giving.

Heavenly messengers stand close beside God's chosen messengers as they preach the Word of life, supporting them in meetings and in presenting Bible truth. The angel is unseen, but a visible messenger voices the angel's message in the Lord's definite message for that time, which must be proclaimed clearly. Hearing the voice of the angel means listening to the messengers who repeat the angel's words in decided testimony, upholding and vindicating the law of God and showing who are the obedient. These things are the sure and steadfast words of Him and His Father, a message of mercy and warning about the blessing on those who do His commandments and the exclusion of transgressors from the Holy City, so that those who so listen are blessed while those who treat keeping or breaking the law of God as an indifferent matter will be found outside with the commandment breakers.

Ministers must therefore preach the Word and not their own suppositions, new theories, traditions, fables, forms, ceremonies, or fanciful imaginary doctrines. Teaching for doctrine what is not contained in God's Word confuses the mind and makes it impossible to know whether the Word of God or the traditions of men is being followed, and places the teacher with those warned against in the last chapter of Revelation. Ministers must search the Scriptures earnestly and sink the shaft deep into the mines of heavenly truth, and heavenly angels will direct those who study God's Word with earnestness to precious treasure that means life eternal. The words to the churches must be kept in their plain, intended sense and not revised in ways that lessen their meaning and importance, for those who hear are to invite others to come and share the truth rather than keep it to themselves. Altering the words of the prophecy so as to breed unbelief and remove their practical application brings marked signs of His displeasure, while He has given the churches practical instruction and opened a fountain of living water, calling every believer however feeble to speak His words, do their best, and unite with those already at work until He arises and proclaims it finished.

Each person must fight the Lord's battles individually, and selfishness has no place in Christian life, while Satan's angels try to turn people from the truth and keep them from overcoming and angels from heaven support Christ's cause and are present with God's people in their meetings.

Root and Offspring Meaning

To be the root of David is to be David's source and Creator, divine and pre-existent, the world's Redeemer; to be the offspring of David is to bear human nature as David's descendant, Mediator and Saviour who laid down His life to save the human race. His own testimony to the churches presents Him in both natures, and that witness to who He is, in His divinity and existence before His earthly life, is to be made prominent in teaching people about Him. Before the foundation of the world was laid He pledged that if man proved rebellious He would give His life as a sacrifice, bearing human transgressions and making a way for man to return to allegiance to God and secure the salvation of His covenant people.

In these titles He unites the wide extremes of divinity and humanity, joining divinity and humanity with all power in heaven and on earth. His humanity is seen in His being root and offspring of David, His divinity in His being the bright and morning star, and the two natures are united in Him. Because He has so joined heaven and earth, divine and human agencies must work together to carry forward the gospel, with angels as well as men appointed a part in His service. He is the promised Messiah from David's line and the promised ruler, the revelation of God's character and the Saviour to be proclaimed to the world. He is the center of all hope, and whatever phase of truth is presented, especially warnings of last-day danger and perils and the solemn scenes prophecy has revealed, He is to be uplifted as central, with Daniel and Revelation made to speak and truth as it is in Jesus kept foremost.

As the Root He sustains every branch by His power, and He is to be light, sufficiency, and power to His people. Believers must therefore depend on Him and not on finite men, who will certainly fail, drawing from the Root the substance that enables them to bear much fruit. The infant Jesus was already both Root and Offspring of David and the Bright and Morning Star, the divine Son, the promised Messiah foretold by the prophets, and the hope of fallen humanity who would bring peace and salvation. Though presented as a helpless child, His name marked the approaching end of the sacrificial system as its types met their fulfillment in Him, and the child Himself redeemed at His presentation would pay the ransom for the sins of the world.

The wise men discerned Him as the Bright and Morning Star, the infant Saviour and Prince of heaven foretold in prophecy. Guided by the star to the brightness of His rising, they came, fell down, worshiped Him, and acknowledged Him. In opening their treasures and presenting gold, frankincense, and myrrh from their entrusted goods they proved themselves truly wise and became the first fruits of the Gentile world. As the promised ruler from David's line and the hope of His faithful people, He watches those striving to overcome, and when His work on earth is finished He will welcome the righteous and crown the overcomers.

Bright and Morning Star

The bright and morning star means He shines upon the world as the Light of the world and the Truth, the true light and life and the source of true light brought to those living in spiritual and moral darkness, including those in remote places. His testimony as the star must be heeded, and the world must look to that Morning Star for its light. Receiving Him places men under His banner as keepers of His Father's commandments.

The star represents the hope, mercy, forgiveness, and peace that Christ brings. As the world's light He brings peace, rest, and joy to those who give their hearts to Him, and His compassion and love restore both body and soul. He shines amid the moral darkness of a sinful world.

He shines steadfastly in changeless glory above all in fellowship with God, steady and enduring and not like a meteor flash that goes out in darkness. The light shining in His followers is reflected from Him. Ministers of truth are to have Him abiding above them and not imperil the cause by wayward human impulse or caprice.

He kept the light of Christ in His life undimmed and His robes of character spotless in unsullied purity, with the unswerving purpose that preserved Joseph and Daniel amid the corruption of heathen courts. His title is linked to His sinless life and His victory over Satan, in whom Satan could find nothing that answered to temptation or brought Him under sin's power. He is the Sun of Righteousness, the brightness of His Father's glory, the true Light which lights every man that comes into the world, and as Physician and Healer He came to restore the moral image of God lost by transgression. Through Him light shines amid moral darkness, and because He is light the darkness is revealed, with clearer light making the contrast between light and darkness more manifest, so that those who abide in Him shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.

He is the Bright and Morning Star because He came down from heaven to manifest God to men and to lead men to God. He is the true Teacher sent from God, consecrated as the light of the world and chosen to reveal God's character to the world. He seeks entrance to the heart with heavenly wisdom and grace. Trusting in human wisdom closes the door of the heart to Him, and teachers of youth and preachers of truth lose what they need by it; those who feel superior in wisdom and self-sufficient must step down from loftiness, become fools in their own estimation, and become humble learners who drink in wisdom.

He is to be looked to and His sayings made the textbook, so that instruction in schools follows distinct lines differing materially from every other school in the land. This is no new truth and no new revelation, but wondrous things seen out of God's Word by eyes opened through the heavenly anointing, with the doctrine of the grace of Christ gradually developed like the advance from dawn unto noonday. In Him God has sent to men heaven's light and a message of wonderful mercy, offering great salvation to humanity in these last days with mercies, warnings, invitations, and counsels.

Not receiving Him and despising His counsels while continuing in unrighteousness, selfishness, and sin repeats the path of the Pharisees in Christ's day who rejected the truth. He must be revealed as the sin-pardoning Saviour and sin-bearer, the living Christ, the first and the last, the I AM, whose light is to be shown amid moral darkness through proclaiming the message to those who do not know it. His titles present Him as the center of the third angel's message, which makes God's character known to the world and calls people to prepare for His near return. His light reaches every class of people in the world, and His grace and the value He places on every human soul are not limited to any group, so those who profess His name must not cherish an exclusive spirit or depart from His example.

Closing Revelation Context

Revelation 22:16 stands in the last chapter and in the last four chapters of Revelation, given from God through Christ to John on Patmos in solemn warning for these last days, describing the last events of earth's history and especially concerning those living in the last days. It is to be read carefully and prayerfully and understood now rather than dismissed as unable to be understood, so that Satan cannot keep minds confused. It testifies about events that will unfold in the closing scenes of earth's history and in the experience of God's people, and presents Jesus as the church's only hope and sure support and strength in that time.

The things He testifies are the realities of the last days: the close of probation when the unjust, filthy, righteous, and holy are fixed forever, His quick coming with His reward to give every person according to works, His identity as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, the blessing on those who do His commandments giving right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city, the exclusion outside of dogs, sorcerers, whoremongers, murderers, idolaters, and liars, and the invitation of the Spirit and the bride for the thirsty to take the water of life freely. He is the same living Christ who makes intercession until mercy folds its wings and steps from the throne above the ark, when the perils of the last days culminate and eternal realities replace suppositions. The passage continues the promise that those with a place in the city of God shall see His face and have His name in their foreheads, showing changed circumstances from when no one could see His face and live.

It brings believers down to the closing scenes in the great last warfare between those who keep the commandments of God and those who make void His law, holding the message of truth and last message of mercy that those who love God are to lift up as a standard while opposing teachers teach fables to counteract it. His testimony divides the world into only two parties, the commandment keepers and the commandment breakers, the obedient and the disobedient. Those who listen to the messengers who uphold and vindicate God's law are blessed, while those who treat keeping or breaking it as indifferent will be found outside with the transgressors.

What He said about His commandments remains true and binding, and the promised reward and access to the tree of life are connected with keeping them and joining in proclaiming the third angel's message. Keeping them shows love for Jesus and does not place the obedient under bondage, for they are free under grace. Believing the word just as it reads means doing what the Lord has directed, searching the Scriptures to see if these things are so, and praying with earnest desire for opened understanding and a mind willing to grasp every ray of light even when opposed to past belief, as when one asks if she can be saved without keeping the Sabbath.

His concluding message to the churches is connected with the final warning and call to leave Babylon, and with the announcement of His coming and reward. He sent His angel to testify that these things shall come upon this generation, laying upon God's people the present work to rouse the people and bear the Lord's message whether men accept or reject it, not muffling it with smooth words or crying peace when there is no peace to the wicked. This is while Satan with all his angels has come down with great power to work every deception and the powers of darkness plot as in the days of Christ, as illustrated by Jerusalem's refusal of His care and the resulting desolation of its house. In its setting His return and reward are near, and Christ is to be uplifted as the bright and morning star when the messages of Revelation are presented to all, including students, with attention to things soon to come.

Proclaiming the Church Testimony

The testimony is a message from God and a call of mercy sent to the world that must be proclaimed wherever people can be reached, turning attention from earthly things to heavenly realities, while God's people give a representation of Christ's character as they proclaim it. Jesus came personally to John to present the missionary work to be done, because the last message of warning is not thoroughly understood and the proclamation by the angel with the everlasting gospel has not awakened the people to move to action in compassion of infinite love. The message He sends is to be proclaimed by His messengers and voiced by the churches everywhere in clear, simple gospel instruction with no mysteries brought in, and members who receive the light God gives are to pass it on and testify in the churches.

It is to be given to all, high and low, rich and poor, even though many will not heed it, so that whosoever will may come to the water of life and drink. Sanitariums and gospel medical missionary work are appointed means of calling attention to this message and proclaiming present truth in all parts of the world. Its proclamation requires facilities and means, and those who have received God's gifts must impart in order to continue to receive, rousing to meet the call for help coming from England by giving all they can, with the assurance that the Lord will bless them in giving. The message is to be carried to the world through evangelistic work, by opening the Scriptures and warning people about what is coming, and everyone who receives it is to join voice and pen to publish this testimony as the last message of mercy to all nations, tongues, and people.

To do this, take the Word, read it, consider it, pray over it, let it enter the understanding, let the light flood the soul temple, and accept the infallible Word as it reads, taking all the Scriptures as guide; as they study, the mighty blessing of God will surely come and this revelation will be fulfilled in life everlasting. In the last days, when the judgments of God are in the land, divinity and humanity are to combine in proclaiming the truth for this time, with God's people invested with all power and God and Christ and the angels united with human workers in the great closing work; He planned that angels as well as men should act a part in His service and is with His workers to the end. He has ordained that angels and men be employed, opened a fountain of living water for a perishing world, and given the churches practical instruction about what they are to do, with agencies from the heavenly courts urging members to give the invitation; each believer, however feeble, is to speak His words, perform some part, do their best, and unite with those already at work until He arises and proclaims it finished.

The testimony includes the invitation of the Spirit and the bride to say Come and for the thirsty and whosoever will to take the water of life freely; Jesus is the source of that freely offered water, and those who hear are to voice it to others, with every church, institution, member, and believer calling sinners to come because all things are now ready. This testimony and invitation is an encouraging word and promise to be laid hold of by living faith, living works, and living sanctification. Christ's testimony to the churches is sacred light that must be carefully cherished, with the church remaining fully consecrated to God and not conforming to any person's judgment or departing in any degree from the teachings of the Word. The verse presses a deep and thorough individual work that should have been done long ago, with thorough humbling of the soul before God, especially by those in responsibility, and cleansing, refining, and transformation of heart so the present condition will be entirely changed. With the rest of the last chapter it is to make an impression upon heart, life, and character, calling to earnest prayer and untiring work; the time is past when every church, school, and sanitarium should have been placed on a much higher platform, so every soul must now make thorough work for repentance, purify the soul by heartfelt repentance, ask forgiveness for unfaithful duty, tarry no longer unprepared, and open the heart's door that Christ may enter.

Living and Sharing Light

Those who receive the light and blessing God has richly bestowed must communicate it to others in free receiving and free giving, taking the Word, reading it, considering it, praying over it, letting it enter the understanding, letting light flood the soul temple, and accepting the infallible Word as it reads. Those who receive the light God gives are to pass it on and testify in the churches. God can strengthen and qualify weak people for this work as they rely on Christ rather than themselves, lean wholly upon God, look to Christ and take the great salvation He won by His own death, and trust Him as helper and sufficiency to qualify for His service and give victory by faith and not by sight, even when feeling unfit, poor and weak before strong opposition to His commandments. In the hour of deepest trial His workers can do nothing of themselves, but through Christ they can do all things, being strong in His might and a help and blessing to one another as He keeps them from distrust and discouragement while they seek Him together.

Believers must not neglect their God-given work or remain as salt without savor, but must arouse themselves, receive the Holy Spirit, do the works of Christ, and practice the truth so it sanctifies their own souls and others, giving to the world the light given them with earnest, light-filled hearts so thirsty souls will come and take the water of life freely. Through the Holy Spirit's work believers are to know Him as Root and Offspring of David and Bright and Morning Star by personal experience, following on to know the Lord until the experience is perfected in the churches, they discern Him as the Morning Star, and they show the world His character through good works. Christ shines with undimmed brightness to the world through His united church, whose members represent Him by following His example and showing love for one another. Receiving Him places men under His banner as keepers of His Father's commandments, looking to that Morning Star for light, for He shines upon the world as the Light of the world and the Truth.

From the moment of conversion those who receive Christ are to reflect the glory of the bright and morning star and become the light of the world, letting that light shine forth in works of self-denial and self-sacrifice after His example and leading others to the Fountain by bidding them come. As the Root He sustains every branch by His power, so believers must depend on Him as sufficiency and power rather than on finite men who will fail, drawing from Him the substance that enables them to bear much fruit. Every true believer catches beams of light from the Morning Star to transmit to those who sit in darkness, shining amid the darkness of their own neighborhood and as a church going forth to regions beyond. Everyone who unites with the church is to be one with Christ to diffuse those beams and become the light of the world, and Christ and His people are co-partners in the great work of saving the world, which the Lord expects every man to do his duty in.

He impresses on His church that they are His brethren, to unite with Him as laborers together with God in a brotherhood for saving humanity, doing a very different work than the churches have done. This requires conversion, obedience to His new commandment to love one another as He loved them, banishing envy, evil surmising, evil thinking and evil speaking, and growing spiritually after the divine model and Christ's own pattern, with oneness with Christ producing love for one another as the sure fruit and badge of discipleship in answer to His prayer that they all may be one. Believers must speak the truth clearly, let their light shine so no one stumbles, and urge people to prepare without delay for Christ's coming, voicing to others the invitation they have heard to come and receive the water of life freely. The steamer named Morning Star could serve as a means of carrying His light to people living in darkness in places otherwise difficult to reach by boat.