Translation
and to the one who prevails I will give the morning star.
Go to footnote numberParaphrase
and to the one who prevails I will give a sign indicating that the dark times are almost over and the full extent of God’s power will soon be visible.
Footnotes
1
The “morning star” was a very bright and prominent luminary in the sky that became visible shortly before dawn, as if it were announcing the coming of the sun. It was an indicator that the darkness is passing away and that light is coming. It was a pledge of the coming day, a promise or sign of the sovereignty of light over darkness. For the believer suffering persecution this was a powerful image. It is repeated in the vision’s climax Revelation 22:16.