Rapture Thoughts: The Morning Star
In Malachi 4, the final chapter of the final book of the Old Testament, Yahweh is speaking through His prophet about the coming Day of the Lord. In verse 1, He promises destruction for the proud; for those who are His enemies.
In verse 2, He says, “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.”
He then concludes the chapter’s opening statement in verse 3 by promising Israel that they will be victorious over their enemies: “‘And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act,’ says the Lord of hosts.”
Hold onto the “sun of righteousness” imagery.
In Revelation 22, the final chapter of the final book of the New Testament, Jesus Christ is speaking through His apostle about His return and the glories of the New Jerusalem. In verse 12 and 13, we read, “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me… I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Christ is coming, bringing both His rewards and His judgments along with Him.
In verse 16, our Lord declares, “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
The “bright morning star.”
So, in the closing moments of the Old Testament, God promises His people Israel that the sun of righteousness will rise.
And in the closing moments of the New Testament, Christ identifies Himself to His Church as the bright morning star.
Both the planet Venus and the star Sirius share the title of morning star. These celestial bodies appear in the eastern sky before the sunrise. In other words, the morning star precedes and heralds the rising of the sun.
Christ, “the bright, morning star,” will precede and herald the rising of “the sun of righteousness.”
Immediately before the ultimate victory promised to Israel in the closing of the Old Testament, the Lord promises to “come again and… take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:3) The bright, morning star will be seen just before the rising of the sun.
The rapture will precede and herald the Day of the Lord.
“The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’” (Revelation 22:17)
Amen and amen.
Come, Lord Jesus.
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And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Revelation 22: 7, 20
And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
II Peter 1:19
“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
o shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
Luke 1:76-79