Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 22:16

"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright, the morning star." — Revelation 22:16 (ASV)

As in 1:8, 17–20, Christ addresses John and the churches directly (the “you” is plural). Here Christ’s words authenticate the whole book of Revelation (“this testimony”) as being a message to the churches. Therefore, any method of interpreting Revelation that blunts the application of this message in its entirety to the present church disregards these words of Christ. He is the Messiah of Israel, “the Root and the Offspring of David” (cf. Isaiah 11:1; see comment on Rev 5:5), and the fulfillment of the “Star” promise to the overcomers at Thyatira .