Revelation 2:26-29

Revelation 2:26-29

[26] And  he that overcometh,  and  keepeth  works  unto  the end,  to him  will I give  power  over  the nations:  [27] And  he shall rule  them  with  a rod  of iron;  as  the vessels  of a potter  shall they be broken to shivers:  as  received  of  Father.  [28] And  I will give  him  the morning  star.  [29] He that hath  an ear,  let him hear  what  the Spirit  saith  unto the churches. 

What does Revelation 2:26-29 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The prize for faithfulness was the privilege of reigning with Christ in His earthly kingdom (cf. Revelation 1:6; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15; Psalm 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 20:4-6). As with the promises in the other letters, this one is probably for all believers and would encourage them to overcome the temptations this Jezebel held out. The Lord intended the prospect of this blessing to motivate the unfaithful in the church to return to God"s will for them and to encourage the faithful to persevere. Believers who are faithful will receive authority in heaven from Jesus Christ and will "rule" (lit. shepherd) others during the Millennium ( Luke 19:11-27; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 3:21). Some believers evidently will receive greater authority for being faithful than others who have not been as faithful (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10). This is the first mention in Revelation of the Lord"s coming for the church, the Rapture (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
"This is the nearest we have in the seven letters to a definition of the conqueror. He holds fast the traditions of faith and life delivered to the Church till the coming of Christ ( Revelation 2:25), and he keeps Christ"s works till the end ( Revelation 2:26)-whether that "end" be the Lord"s parousia or his own death." [1]
While not all Christians will remain faithful to the Lord ( 2 Timothy 2:12), He evidently described believers as faithful to motivate them to remain faithful. John identified the "morning star" ( Revelation 2:28) elsewhere as Jesus Christ Himself ( Revelation 22:16). The morning star (usually the planet Venus) appears in the night sky just before the dawning of a new day. From Babylonian to Roman times the ancients regarded the morning star as a symbol of sovereignty and, in Roman times, victory. [2] Jesus Christ will guide faithful believers in the future as the new day of His rule dawns (cf. Titus 2:13).
"The gift of the morning star must refer to the fact that the exalted Christ shares his messianic status with the believer who conquers." [3]
Commentators have pointed out that spiritual conditions during the Middle Ages in the West (A.D606-1520), where the church was most prominent in the world, were similar to those that existed in this church. There were faithful believers, but there was also a strong encouragement coming from those who claimed higher authority to do things contrary to the teachings of Scripture. This came primarily from the Roman Catholic Church. Some have also compared the leadership of the Virgin Mary, as promoted by the Roman Church, to Jezebel"s leadership in Thyatira. [4]