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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Revelation 19:9 - 19:10
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev_19:9-10
9Then he said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" And he said to me, "These are true words of God." 10Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
Rev_19:9 "Blessed are" This is the fourth of seven blessings to the redeemed in Revelation (cf. Rev_1:3; Rev_14:13; Rev_16:15; Rev_19:9; Rev_20:6; Rev_22:7; Rev_22:14).
▣ "those who are invited" This is a Perfect passive participle, which emphasizes God's call to salvation (cf. Rev_17:14; Joh_6:44; Joh_6:65).
▣ "These are the true words of God" This phrase emphasizes the trustworthiness of the angel's message (cf. Rev_21:5; Rev_22:6).
Rev_19:10 "Then I fell at his feet to worship him" There has been much discussion about John's attempt to worship an angel (cf. Rev_22:8). Possibly John included it intentionally as a word against angel worship (cf. Rev_22:9; Col_2:18). John was awed by this powerful angelic person and may have assumed that he was either a divine personification (cf. Gen_16:7-13; Gen_22:11-15; Gen_31:11; Gen_31:13; Gen_48:15-16; Exodus 32, 4; Exo_13:21; Exo_14:19; Jdg_2:1; Jdg_6:22-23; Jdg_13:3-22; Zec_3:1-2; Luk_24:5) or a physical manifestation of the Spirit (cf. Rev_22:8-9).
▣ "I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus" John called himself by this same term in Rev_1:1. The angel identifies himself not only as a servant of God (cf. Deu_33:2; Psa_103:21; Dan. 17:10) but also of redeemed mankind (cf. Heb_1:14). This angel also identifies himself with the testimony of Jesus, which is normally said of saints rather than angels (cf. Rev_12:17).
▣ "for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" This is a highly unusual phrase and has been widely interpreted. It may refer to either
1. Jesus as the focus of prophecy
2. the fact that prophecy has returned as a sign that Jesus has brought in the new age of the Spirit (cf. Rev_1:2; Rev_6:9; Rev_12:17; Rev_14:12 for a similar use of this phrase)
3. Jesus is the very breath of prophecy (similar to "God breathed" of 2Ti_3:16)
The context shows that those who have trusted in Christ have been led by the Spirit. No one can come to Christ unless
1. the Spirit woos him (cf. Joh_6:44; Joh_6:65)
2. helps him understand the gospel message
3. encourages him to trust Christ
4. baptizes him into Christ
5. forms Christ in him (cf. Joh_16:8-11)
The Spirit's ministry is magnifying Christ!