After criticizing other approaches to the Bible in my previous posts on these verses, I must freely admit that my own weak point is in emphasizing too much the importance of first establishing the literary structure of a book under study. So again, my warning to readers is not to rely on any one strategy for reading, understanding, and applying the Bible. Take what is useful from each commentator and discard what is not. With that, I will bore you some more by first repeating the organization to this passage developed in earlier posts:
Figure 1: Literary Structure of Revelation 22:6-21
A. Introduction (6-7)
1. true...Lord God
2. I am coming soon
3. blessing on those who keep the words of prophecy in this book
B. John “hears” and worships (8-9)
C. Center: Ultimate Fates
1. The Damned and Saved (10-11)
2. Jesus' self-description (13)
1'. The Saved and Damned (14-15)
2'. Jesus' self-description (16)
B'. The Spirit says, Everyone who “hears,” come (17)
A'. Conclusion (18-21):
3'. warnings for those who hears the words of prophecy of this book
2'. I am coming soon
1'. amen (truly)...Lord Jesus
At this point it is very valuable to remember why a Christian should be reading the Bible in the first place. Paul says in II Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” In order, this boils down to
(a) relying on God's word as being absolutely truthful and trustworthy just as God Himself is true and trustworthy;
(b) because it is true it is valuable for the truths (doctrines) it contains, truths which can enlighten us and which we can share with others;
(c) it is equally applicable for those who have departed from God's truth, those who have strayed slightly, and those who are committed believers;
(d) all of it being designed to build up God's people
(e) for the main purpose of being able to adequately live a full Christian life (application).
Let's break this down a little to see how it applies specifically to the teachings in vv. 6-21, beginning at the two ends of Figure 1 and working our way toward the middle.
Fortuitously, Sections A1 and A'1' closely associate Jesus and God with the concept of truthfulness just as Paul explained in (a) above. And by adding the title 'Lord' in each case, John stresses that this truth counts much more than human truth in that it comes from the Deity, our personal Lord and master. The mention of the Holy Spirit in v. 17 completes the Holy Trinity.
The important doctrinal point found in A2 and A'2' is that of the Second Coming with the attendant Judgment. And it is not just something that is purely theoretical with no real importance to the way we live now. In fact, it should stir us to evangelical action as well as spurring us on to maintaining our close relationship with God at all times since we really have no idea when we might to called on to defend our actions before God's tribunal. This is an important corrective to those prophecy experts who lay out a long scenario of events which they have determined must occur first before the Second Coming.
Next in A3 – A'3', we get another strong warning against those who do not take the writings in Revelation seriously at their face value, but insist on adding their own ill-founded and highly speculative interpretations to it (a word to some fundamentalists) or subtracting from it (as do many liberals).
Moving onward to sections B and B' are two passages designed for the correction of believers and the encouragement of sincere seekers after the truth, respectively. These two thus are addressed to those who are already believers but need a little adjustment in their thinking and to those who are close to belief but may need a little shove in that direction. In both cases, we are dealing with those people who still have time to grow spiritually.
By contrast, those mentioned in C1 and C1' are those who, one way or another, already have their respective fates sealed with no chance of change – true Christians who have eternal assurance of salvation as well as unrepentant sinners who have purposely cut themselves off from God's grace.
Alternating with these two sections are two three-fold descriptions of who Christ is (C2 and C2'). By placing them in association with the two different classes of people in C1 and C1', we are reminded powerfully of the basis of Christ's authority which qualifies Him uniquely to be the judge of mankind's final state. He was present at the beginning of time and will be there at the end (C2). Similarly, King David sprang from His spiritual root just as from a human viewpoint Jesus came from the David's lineage (C2').
That just leaves one detail to explain, the cryptic description of Jesus Christ as “the bright morning star” in verse 16 and also appearing in Numbers 24:17; Isaiah 14:12; II Peter 1:19; and Revelation 2:28. For that I will have to throw myself on the mercy of the commentators:
Fuller says that “the rewards proferred [in Rev. 2-3] are all heaven-oriented and astonishing in their richness...But whatever form this may take, it is clear that such recognition is given only that it may in some way reflect and honor the power and glory of God.”
Neyrey: “The use here [II Peter 1:19] is surely metaphorical. Until the true light ('day' and 'morning star') come to fulfill the prophecy of the parousia [Second Coming], believers must cling to the prophecy itself as a lamp shining in the dark night of waiting in faith.”
Green points out that the Messiah is also associated with stars in Malachi 4:2; Luke 1:78; and Ephesians 5:4.
“Like the morning star Venus, which is seen in its brightest just at dawn, he [Christ] will bring the dawning of the unending day of eternity.” (Harvey)
In the same vein, Mounce says, “The morning star is a promise that the long night of tribulation is all but over and that the new eschatological day is about to dawn.”
Morris: “Some see a reference to the coming of 'a Star out of Jacob' (Nu. xxiv. 17), an idea which is taken up in later Jewish writings...”
Bruce points out that “in the Qumran texts [i.e. Dead Sea scrolls] Num 24:17 is a recurring testimonium of the messianic warrior of the endtimes.”
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