Revelation 2:28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

By the morning star He means either the one of whom the prophet Isaiah proclaims, "How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, rising at dawn." He promises, after crushing him, to place him beneath the feet of the faithful (Lk 10:18-19; Ps 90).

Or He means the daystar mentioned by blessed Peter, shining clearly in the hearts of believers (2 Pet 1:19), that is, the illumination of Christ.

John the Baptist and Elijah the Tishbite are also commonly called daystars. The former was the forerunner of the first rising of the Sun of righteousness, and the latter the forerunner of His second coming. We believe that those who overcome the devil will share with them.

"And I will give him the morning star," that is, the Lord Jesus Christ, whom evening never overtakes. He is eternal light, and He Himself always abides in light. The same may be understood otherwise. He promises the morning star, that is, the first resurrection, the morning star that drives away night and announces the light.

The Lord requires the faithful Thyatirans to hold firmly to the established truth. They must not permit themselves to depart from it or introduce innovations until the very coming of the Lord. The Lord Himself calls Himself the morning star and the daystar (see Rev 22:16; 2 Pet 1:19).

By the name of the Church of Thyatira one must understand not the historical Church, but the prophetic and mystical Church. The local Church of Thyatira has long since ceased to exist, and even in antiquity it was insignificant.

It may be supposed that, under the name of Thyatira, the Lord addresses the Church of the age after the Ecumenical Councils.

"I will give him the morning star." The morning star, Venus, is distinguished by special brightness. This shows that the victor receives a special glory in comparison with other believers. From the later Revelation it is clear that this bright morning star is Jesus Christ Himself (Rev 22:16).

Those who were not carried away by Jezebel's teaching, and who fortunately were not able, by the heretics' own admission, to penetrate the depths of Satan, will not be subjected by the Lord to a new trial beyond what they suffered from the false teachers.

Yet to preserve faithfulness to Christ in everything until the end is so difficult that the Lord promises a reward to those who meet this condition. During His earthly life, He promised this reward only to those closest to Him (Lk 22:28 and following).