Revelation 2:26-28

‘And he who overcomes, and he who keeps my works to the end, to him will I give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron (or iron sceptre), as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers, as I have also received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.'

The ones who stand firm will enjoy with Christ His authority over the nations, something far better than aligning themselves with the Emperor of Rome. This promise is taken from Psalms 2:8 where the rule of the Messiah over the nations is linked with their being broken with a rod of iron, (or iron sceptre), and dashed in pieces like a potter's vessel. Thus it is a ruling in judgment that is in mind. ‘Ruling with a rod of iron' means acting in judgment.

As Christ has received an iron sceptre from His Father, so will He share it with His people. They too will share in the judging of the world (1 Corinthians 6:2). Indeed they too will judge even angels (1 Corinthians 6:3). Notice that here overcoming is described in terms of ‘keeping my works to the end'. There is a constant emphasis to this church on the need to endure.

‘And I will give him The Morning Star.' This idea comes from Numbers 24:17. ‘There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, and a rod (or sceptre) shall arise out of Israel'. (The word, usually translated ‘sceptre' here, most often means ‘rod'). So the coming of Messiah as a star is there connected with His arising as a rod which will bring judgment on their enemies, which is like the description here in Revelation 2. That this reference in Numbers specifically applies is confirmed in Revelation 22:16 where Jesus says, ‘I am the root and offspring of David, the bright, the morning star', connecting the morning star with the Davidic king. Notice that the giving of the morning star in Revelation follows, or parallels, the exercising of the iron rod. The idea of the morning star cannot therefore refer to a parousia before Christ's final coming. Indeed the reason for the use of the adjective ‘morning' is stated. It is because of the special brightness of that star (Revelation 22:16).

So the brilliant star which is the Messiah will be given to the overcomers, who will thus share in His glory and His final judgment. The idea of the ‘morning' star may have partly come from Job 38:7 where we learn ‘the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God (bene elohim - angels) shouted for joy'. Thus morning stars are connected with heavenly beings. But here the writer sees Jesus as not a morning star, but The Morning Star. He is the supreme heavenly Being.