Jesus Christ: the root and descendant of David
February 29, 2020
INTRODUCTION
Revelation 22:16
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring [descendant] of David, and the bright and morning star.
[see the youtube video on this and much more here: https://youtu.be/gci7sGiJ9Uo]
There are 2 main aspects of this remarkable verse we’re going to cover:
- The root and descendant of David
- The bright and morning star
The bright and morning star
Genesis 1
13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.
14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
The word “signs” comes from the Hebrew word avah and means “to mark” and is used of marking someone significant to come.
Jesus Christ was resurrected on the third day, shining his spiritual light in his spiritual body, a new dawning for all mankind to see.
In Revelation 22:16, where Jesus Christ is the bright and morning star, its in the context of the third heaven and earth [Revelation 21:1].
Astronomically, the bright and morning star refers to the planet Venus.
The word “star” is the Greek word aster and is used 24 times in the bible.
24 = 12 x 2 and 12 refers to governmental perfection. The most fundamental meaning is that of rulership, so we have rulership established because in the book of Revelation, Jesus Christ is the king of kings and lord of lords.
The first usage of the word star is in Matthew 2:
Matthew 2
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
So in the first usage in Matthew, we have the wise men, guided by his star, to find the recently born Jesus, ruler [king] of Israel.
Astronomically, “his star” refers to the planet Jupiter, the largest in the solar system and is also known as the king planet and Jesus Christ is the King of Israel.
Furthermore, the Hebrew word for Jupiter is ssedeq, which means righteousness. In Jeremiah 23:5, Jesus Christ came from the royal line of David and is referred to as the righteous branch and is also called the Lord our righteousness.
In addition, Genesis tells us that the lesser light was made to rule the night, and God, the greater light, to rule the day.
Genesis 1
16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
JESUS CHRIST, THE ROOT AND DESCENDANT OF DAVID
Jesus Christ’s unique identity in the book of Samuel [1st & 2nd] is the root and offspring [descendant] of David. The name “David” is used 805 times in the KJV bible, but 439 usages [54%!] is in the book of Samuel [1st & 2nd].
In other words, the name of David is used more in the book of Samuel than all other books of the bible combined.
In the old testament, there are 5 prophesies of the coming branch or sprout [Jesus Christ]; 2 of them are about Jesus Christ being the king that would rule from the throne of David.
In Matthew, the first book of the new testament, he is the King of Israel. In Revelation, the last book of the new testament, he is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
According to various verses, the coming messiah had to fulfill several genealogical requirements:
- He had to be a descendant of Adam [everybody]
- He had to be a descendant of Abraham [narrows the #]
- He had to be a descendant of David [narrows the #]
- He had to be a descendant of Solomon [narrows the #]
Finally, besides being the son of Adam, Abraham, David and Solomon, he had to be the son of God, which is his identity in the gospel of John.
From a genealogical point of view alone, Jesus Christ is the only person in the history of mankind that was qualified to be the savior of the world.
So the reason Jesus Christ could be the root and descendant of David was because:
- his royal genealogy as a King in Matthew chapter 1
- and common genealogy as a perfect man in Luke chapter 3
Let’s dig a level deeper
The word “root” in revelation 22:16 is used 17 times in the bible; 17 is a prime #, which means it can’t be divided by any other whole number [except for 1 and itself].
In other words, there can be 1 and only 1 root and descendant of David: Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, it’s the 7th prime #, which is the number of spiritual perfection. 17 = 7 + 10 & 10 is the # for ordinal perfection, so 17 is the perfection of spiritual order.
Contrast this with 13, the 6th prime #. 6 is the number of man as he is influenced by the adversary and 13 is the number of rebellion.
So God set up the system of numbers that is biblically, mathematically and spiritually perfect.
Definition of root:
Strong’s Concordance #4491
rhiza: a root [noun]
Phonetic Spelling: (hrid’-zah)
Definition: a root, shoot, source; that which comes from the root, a descendant.
This is where our English word rhizome comes from.
What is a rhizome?
British Dictionary definitions for rhizome
noun
1. a thick horizontal underground stem of plants such as the mint and iris whose buds develop new roots and shoots. Also called rootstock, rootstalk
As the root [rhizome] and descendant of David, Jesus Christ is spiritually woven and connected throughout the entire bible from Genesis as the promised seed to Revelation as the king of kings and lord of lords.
If Jesus Christ was an isolated, independant root, then both of his geneologies would be false and the perfection of the bible would have been destroyed.
And since we have Christ in us [Colossians 1:27], as members of the body of Christ, we are also spiritual rhizomes, all networked together.
So the bible is mathematically, spiritually and botanically perfect, [along with every other way too!]
The mint, iris and other rhizomes are also classified as invasive species.
Who are the true invasive species?
Invasive species?! That makes me think of aliens from outer space in flying saucers or the giant vines growing a zillion miles per hour that were attacking people all over the place in Robin Williams 1995 movie Jumanji.
However, there is a spiritual invasion going on right now and we are part of it! The adversary, the devil, is trying to invade the hearts and minds of as many people as possible, and we can stop him with all the resources of God.
In the table below, we will see how 4 characteristics of invasive species of plants relate to the Jesus Christ and us.
| # | PLANTS | JESUS CHRIST |
| 1st | Most originate long distances from the point of introduction; come from a non-native habitat | Long distances: John 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Non-native habitat: Philippians 3:20 For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: II Corinthians 5:20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” – amb def: a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative We are ambassadors, sent from heaven to earth to walk in the steps of Jesus Christ. |
| 2nd | disruptive to the native environment | Native environment: Isaiah 14:17 [Lucifer cast down to earth as the devil] That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? II Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. Disruptive: Acts 17:6 …These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; Acts 19:23 …there arose no small stir about that way; |
| 3rd | become dominant species | Acts 19:20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; II Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. In the future, the believers will be the only species. |
| 4th | Produce copious amounts of seed with a high viability of that seed | Genesis 31:12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. Matthew 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. |
From the devil’s perspective, we, the believers in God’s household, are the invasive species, but are we really?
Historically and spiritually, God set up man to be the original species, then the devil took that rulership away and he became the God of this world by way of the fall of man recorded in Genesis 3.
But then Jesus Christ came and now we can become the spiritually dominant species once again by walking in the love, light and power of God.
Romans 5:17
For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
In the new heaven and earth, the devil will be destroyed in the lake of fire and the believers will once again the dominant species forever.
WORD STUDY
Definition of “rooted”:
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4492: [rhizoo – the adjective form of rhiza]
to render firm, to fix, establish, cause a person or a thing to be thoroughly grounded:
Very significantly, this Greek word is only used twice in the entire bible, since the number 2 in the bible is the number of establishment.
Ephesians 3:17
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith [believing]; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Colossians 2
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
In plants, roots have 4 primary functions:
- Physically anchor the plant into the ground for stability and protection against storms ; otherwise, it would be like a tumbleweed, blown about by every wind of doctrine
- Absorption and conduction of water into the rest of the plant
- Absorption and conduction of dissolved minerals [nutrients] into the rest of the plant
- Storage of food reserves
Now we’re going to cover each aspect in greater detail:
1st>>Anchor:
If you try to pull up a weed in your garden, its usually easy, but if that weed is connected to a dozen other ones, then its a dozen times more difficult. If its connected to 100 other weeds, then its almost impossible to pull it out unless you use some kind of tool.
The same holds true of us, the members in the body of Christ. If we’re all rooted and grounded in love together, then if the adversary throws storms at us and every wind of doctrine, we’re not uprooted.
So if he tries to take one of us out, we just tell him that he’s going to have to take us all out, and we know he can’t do that.
Secondly, if the storms and attacks come, what is the natural reaction? To be afraid, but one of the functions of the love of God is that it casts out fear. That is why Ephesians says to be rooted and grounded in the love of God.
Philippians 1:28
And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
2nd & 3rd>>Water & nutrients: we can feed each other the word of God.
Colossians 2
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
HELPS Word-studies
Definition of “being knit together”:
4822 symbibázō (from 4862 /sýn, “identified with” and 1688 /embibázō, “to board a ship”) – properly, bring together (combine), “causing to stride together” (TDNT); (figuratively) to grasp a truth by intertwining ideas [like rhizomes!] needed to “get on board,” i.e. come to the necessary judgment (conclusion); “to prove” (J. Thayer).
Symbibázō [being knit together] is used only 7 times in the bible, the # of spiritual perfection.
Ecclesiastes 4:12
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
- In Romans, we have the love of God poured out into our hearts
- In Corinthians, there are 14 characteristics of the love of God
- In Galatians, faith [believing] is energized by God’s love
- In Ephesians, we’re rooted and grounded in love
- In Philippians, the love of God abounds more and more
- In Colossians, our hearts are knit together in love
- In Thessalonians, the work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ
Intertwining ideas:
Acts 2
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
In verse 42, fellowship is full sharing in the Greek text.
It is the full sharing based upon the apostles doctrine that keeps the body of Christ enlightened, edified and energized.
4th>>Storage of food reserves
Ephesians 4
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Job 23:12
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
The 5 gift ministries feed us the word of God, as we make the word of God our own, being rooted and grounded in love, with Jesus Christ as the rhizome and descendant of David.
