The Names of Christ
"NAMES OF CHRIST"© -is a book written by Dr. James Modlish
-reprinted here with the author's permission-

Lesson Three

Christ, The Bright and Morning Star
(Revelation 22:16)

Introduction: Venus has often been called the Earth's sister world because it Is approximately the same size. When Venus is moving toward the earth, the planet can be seen in the evening sky, thus it is called the Evening Star. When moving away from earth, it is visible in the early morning sky and called the Morning star. When viewed through a telescope, Venus can be seen going through "changes" in shape and size. These apparent changes are called phases, and they resemble those of the moon. They result from different parts of Venus! Sunlit areas being visible from the earth at different times.

Venus never really changes but only appears to. And so it is with the Lord Jesus Christ - He never really changes, but His appearance depends upon where you are in proximity to Him. When Venus is closest to the earth in its orbit it is only 26,000,000 miles away (right next door as far as space is concerned) - closer to the earth than any other planet. At its closest point the apparent diameter is six times greater than when it is at its farthest point.

There are several things about Venus that we need to consider:
 

I. ITS BRIGHTNESS

Venus is the third brightest object in the sky as seen from earth - the sun being the brightest (Matt. 4:2) and the moon the next brightest. The only reason the moon appears brighter to the world is because it is so much closer to the earth than Venus. Actually the moon only reflects 7 percent of the fight it receives. By comparison Venus reflects 59 percent of the light it receives from the sun. The church is compared to the moon (Sol. Song 6:10) and is obviously negligent in its responsibility to cast fight upon the world. According to astronomers, Venus, at its brightest, may be seen in the daytime if one knows just where to look for it. At night, it often casts a long path of light across a body of water. (See also, Ps. 19:12; Isa. 60:1-3; Hab. 3:4; Acts 26:13; Heb. 1:3)
 

II. ITS CLOUDS

Venus is shrouded by a perpetual layer of dense clouds that make it impossible for astronomers to actually see the planet itself (Jn. 1:5) When Jesus ascended into heaven He was received up into a cloud (Acts 1:9). After that He could no longer be seen but there was plenty of bright evidence of His existence (Acts 1:3).

The clouds accomplish at least two things of interest:

A. According to National Geographic, June 1975; "If a man could stand on Venus on a clear day the observer would enjoy one of the strangest experiences of a life time. Because of super refractivity, the acute bending of light rays by the ultra dense atmosphere, one could in theory see all the way around the planet. In effect he would seem to be standing at the bottom of a bowl with the entire planet stretching up endlessly on every side.

"It would be," says Dr. Bradford A. Smith of the University of Arizona, "like looking through a fishbowl of clear water." See (Prov. 15:3; 5:21; 2 Chron. 16:9; Job 34:21,22; Jer. 16:17; Zech. 4:10; Heb. 4:13).

B. The thick atmosphere of clouds that reach astonishing altitudes of over 35 miles (on earth, even the highest clouds seldom go above ten miles) traps the suds energy and helps build up the most furnace like heat yet to be found on any planet. The constant temperature of Venus runs between 800 degrees and 1000 degrees F. At such temperatures lead, tin, and zinc will melt, and any number of compounds vaporize. This kind of intense heat is always characterized by judgment in the Bible, (See Mic. 1:3,4 Isa. 64:1-3 ; Ps. 68:1,2; 97:1-5; Nah. 1:5).

C. In the Old Testament the cloud was representative of the power and presence of the Lord. (I Kings 8:10,11; Ex. 40:34,3 5 Eze. 10:3,4)

III. ITS ROTATION

Venus is the exception of all the planets in our solar system in that it rotates from east to west whereas others rotate from west to east. Of course this is no surprise to a Bible student even though it may be to a scientist.

WEST TO EAST

(Gen. 3:24) Adam and Eve driven out of the garden to the East.

(Gen. 4:16) When Cain left God's presence he went out to the East.

(Gen. 28:10) When Jacob got backslidden and ran from Esau, he went eastward.

(Num. 32) The first tribes to go into captivity settled East of Jordan.

(Jer. 52) When the Jews were taken captive they went Eastward. (I Sam. 16:18) David ran from Absalom, Eastward.

West to East is the rotation of the world against the sun.

EAST TO WEST

(Gen. 12:1-6) Abraham called out of Ur of Chaldees, East to West.

(Gen. 32-35) When Jacob got his life right he traveled Westward.

(Num. 19:25) The Jews entered the land East to West (they traversed the Dead Sea).

(Ezra-Neh.) When the Jews returned from captivity, they went Westward.

East to West movement of the Sun (Type of Christ) in opposition to the world. Entering the tabernacle you move East to West. This is the direction of Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the 2nd coming.

(Matt. 1) The wise men came from the East, The gospel has traveled from east to west.

- In other words Jesus Christ runs in opposition to the rest of the world. (See Jn. 8:23; 1:10; 17:14,16; 1 Jn. 2:15,16; 4:4-6) 

IV. ITS REVOLUTION

While earth turns on its axis once a day, Venus turns slowly - and in the opposite direction - once every 243 earth days. At the same time, it revolves about the sun once every 225 earth days. The combination gives the planet a solar day (that is, from one sunrise to the next) of 117 days.

The idea of the slow revolution is that time is fairly irrelevant to God. He is patient, He has a plan, and it will not be hurried by anyone. (2 Pet. 3:8; Ps. 90:1-4; Rev. 1:8; 21:6; 22:13; Isa. 57:15).
 

-Page Navigation-

Lessons: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23