Commentary

 

#91 What to Do about a Falling Star Problem

By Jonathan S. Rose

Title: What to Do about a Falling Star Problem

Topic: Second Coming

Summary: We look at stars from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, and see how unstarlike they sometimes are. Stars in Scripture are subject to (1) darkening, and (2) falling, even to the earth. What does this mean?

Use the reference links below to follow along in the Bible as you watch.

References:
Genesis 1:14; 15:5; 37:9
Numbers 24:17
Deuteronomy 1:10; 10:22; 28:62
Job 9:7
Ecclesiastes 12:2
Isaiah 13:10
Joel 2:10; 3:15
Genesis 37:9-10
Daniel 8:10
Job 9:2-9; 15:15; 25:4-6; 38:1-7
Psalms 148:1-3
Ecclesiastes 12:1-2
Isaiah 13:9-10
Ezekiel 32:7-8
Daniel 8:3; 12:3
Joel 2:10, 31; 3:15
Matthew 2:2, 9-10; 24:29
Mark 13:25
Luke 21:25
1 Corinthians 15:41
Revelation 8:12
Matthew 24:29
Mark 13:25
Revelation 6:13; 8:10; 9:1; 12:4; 1:16, 20; 2:1; 3:1; 6:13; 8:10; 9:1; 12:1, 4; 22:16

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Spirit and Life Bible Study broadcast from 5/16/2012. The complete series is available at: www.spiritandlifebiblestudy.com

The Bible

 

Revelation 22:16

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16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #954

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954. "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." This symbolically means that He is the same Lord who was born into the world and who then was its light, and who is about to come with new light, which will arise before the eyes of His New Church, which is the Holy Jerusalem.

I am the root and the offspring of David means, symbolically, that He is the same Lord who was born into the world, thus the Lord in His Divine humanity. That is why He is called the root and offspring of David, and also the branch of David (Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15). That is why He is also called a rod from the stem of Jesse, and a sprout from his roots (Isaiah 11:1-2).

His being called the bright and morning star means, symbolically, that He was then the light, and that He is about to come with new light, which will arise before the eyes of His New Church, which is the Holy Jerusalem. He is called a bright star because of the light with which He came into the world. For that reason, too, He is called both a star and a light - a star in Numbers 24:17, and a light in John 1:4-12; 3:19, 21; 9:5; 12:35-36, 46; Matthew 4:16; Luke 2:30-32; Isaiah 9:2; 49:6. He is called the morning star as well because of the light which will arise from Him before the eyes of the New Church, which is the New Jerusalem. For a star symbolizes light from the Lord, which in its essence is wisdom and understanding, and the morning or dawn symbolizes His advent and a new church then, as may be seen in no. 151 above.

  
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Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.