Revelation 22:16; Root and Offspring of David

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Revelation 22:16 (KJV)  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.

My angel is the same as “His angel” in Revelation 22:6. What God does, Jesus does also (Beasley-Murray). The plural number of “to you” recalls that John is not the sole beneficiary of the revelation (cf. 1:1). The ultimate objects were people in the seven churches who received these words through seven messengers who received them from John. This plural pronoun along with the “His servants” of Revelation 22:6 could imply that the book contains visions granted to some of the other prophets in the churches of Asia (Beckwith), but this is impossible in light of John’s claim in Revelation 22:8 to be the sole instrument through whom the revelation came (Moffatt). The antecedent of “these things” refers to the contents of the whole book, that is, “things that are at hand”.

Jesus ties His claim to authority in revelation to His claim to Messiahship and His right to inaugurate the kingdom promised to David – I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

The pronoun “I” is once again emphatic, being added to the first person singular subject of the verb “I am”. As David founded the first Jerusalem, Jesus will be founder of the New Jerusalem (2 Samuel 7:12; Psalm 132:11; Isaiah 11:1, 10; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15-16; Ezekiel 34:23; 37:24-25; Hosea 3:5; Amos 9:11; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12; Romans 5:12) (Moffatt, Caird, Hailey). Revelation has mentioned “the root of David” earlier (Revelation 5:5).

2 Samuel 7:12 (KJV)  And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 

Psalm 132:11 (KJV)  The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. 

Isaiah 11:1 (KJV)  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 

Isaiah 11:10 (KJV)  And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. 

Jeremiah 23:5 (KJV)  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 

Jeremiah 33:15-16 (KJV)  In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. 

Ezekiel 34:23 (KJV)  And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. 

Ezekiel 37:24-25 (KJV)  And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. 

Hosea 3:5 (KJV)  Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days. 

Amos 9:11 (KJV)  In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: 

Zechariah 3:8 (KJV)  Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. 

Zechariah 6:12 (KJV)  And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: 

Romans 5:12 (KJV)  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1995, 509]