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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadWilliam Burkitt Notes and Observations - Revelation 19:9 - 19:9
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Blessed are they which are called to the marriage-supper of the Lamb; that is, (say they, who understand, by the marriage of the Lamb, the conversion of the Jews,) who shall live in the happy time, when the Jews being converted shall with the Gentiles make up one glorious gospel church. But the marriage is one thing, and the marriage-supper another; the marriage-supper follows the marriage; so that the kingdom of glory rather seems here intended: blessed are they which are called to it, being made meet and prepared for it, by grace here, and glory hereafter: we must be made meet for heaven before we can be admitted into heaven. Blessed are they which are called to the marriage-supper of the Lamb.
Observe next, That St. John being overjoyed at the good news of his countrymen's (the Jews') conversion, fell down at the angel's feet to worship him, as Cornelius did at St. Peter's, when he heard of the conversion of the Gentiles, And I fell at his feet to worship him. Act_10:25. The holiest and best of saints are not wholly free from passionate infirmities: he would now have worshipped this angel, yet we read not of any attempt made to worship any of the former angels which conversed with him. This makes it probable that he apprehended it to be an uncreated angel, even the Son of God, which now talked with him.
Observe next, With what indignation this holy angel rejected the offer of religious adoration, and how peremptorily he forbids it: Ora mey By no means, upon no terms do it, See thou do it not.
The church of Rome asks us, Why we reprove them for worshipping the angels, when St. John himself did it? Our answer is ready, That St. John himself was reproved for it: the angel rejected it as none of his due.
O the presumption of those men, who dare do that which the angel expressly forbids to be done! Yet, after all, Bellarmine says, That St. John did well to worship the angel; then, say we, the angel did ill to reprove St. John; but whether we shall believe a cardinal at Rome, or an angel of God, judge ye.
Observe lastly, The reasons assigned by the angel who forbade it.
1. Because God, and God alone, is the sole and proper object of religious worship: Worship thou God.
2. Because the angel was St. John's equal in office, though not in nature: I am thy fellow-servant.
As if he had said, "Those who serve and worship God together with you, must not be worshipped by you: those who are fellow-servants to one master, should not give to one another that worship which is only due to their Lord and Master. But we are fellow-servants; how doth that appear? Thus: you have the testimony of Jesus, and I have the spirit of prophecy.
Now the spirit of prophecy, and the work of the ministry in testifying of Jesus, being of the same nature and kind of service, therefore from those that are employed in one of them, religious worship is not due to the other. It is Christ that employs us both, and therefore he alone is to be worshipped, and neither I nor thou: Worship God, to whom religious worship is justly and peculiarly due."