John Worshiping the Angel Revelation 19:10

An “angel” from heaven showed John the apostle many things which will occur in the tribulation time on the earth, and John wrote about commercial Babylon's destruction and the people who were affected by it. John continued to write, “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he has judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever .And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshiped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all you his servants, and you that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he says unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”, and in Revelation chapter nineteen and verse ten John, “fell at his feet to worship him” where we read:

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See you do it not: I am your fellow-servant, and of your brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

The verse reads, “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See you do it not:” John began with the words, “and I fell” which means “and John descended from a higher place to a lower and prostrated himself” “at his feet” or “beneath the one who spoke's feet” “to worship him” which means “to kneel, do homage to and make obeisance in order to express respect or to make supplication”. “And he said” or “and the one who spoke to him uttered, proclaimed and declared” “unto me” which means “to John”, “see you do it not” or “beware and take heed that John did not worship”. John “prostrated” himself before the messenger who came to him and was told not to do it.

The verse continues, “I am your fellow-servant, and of your brethren that have the testimony of Jesus:” John added the words, “I am your fellow-servant” which means “the messenger was John's associate, colleague of one who is Christ's servant and minister”, “and of your brethren” or “and pertaining to John's fellow believers who are united to another by the bond of affection” “that have the testimony” which means “who hold, own and possess the evidence, record, report and witness given” “of Jesus” or “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation”. John was told that the “messenger” was also a “fellow bond-servant” who “owned and possessed” the “witness” of Jesus.

Finally the verse says, “for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” John ended the verse with the word, “for” or “because, since and on account of” “the testimony” which means “the evidence, record, report and witness given” “of Jesus” or “pertaining to the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “is the spirit” which means “the simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting” “of prophecy” or “a discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked or comforting the afflicted or revealing things hidden especially by foretelling future events”. The “witness” of Jesus was what “prophecy” in the “spirit” was all about.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we can imagine how overwhelmed John was with this experience and scene, and it was natural for him to want to worship the “messenger” who proclaimed these things. However, this was forbidden, and because Jesus is the only One worthy of “worship” and “praise”, and all the rest are “fellow-servants” or “opponents” to Jesus. The reason for “prophecy” within the scriptures is to point to Jesus Christ who is the “Savior” of the world. God desires to have fellowship and relationship with every person who will yield their lives to His Son Jesus, and when they do, they shall have followed God purpose for “prophecy”. Let all who read these words receive Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and may the “spirit of prophecy” be known in their lives.

Next time John, “saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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