Revelation 19:10
So I fell at his feet to worship him. But he told me, "Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
So I fell at his feet to worship him
The act of falling at someone's feet is a gesture of deep reverence and submission, often seen in ancient cultures as a sign of worship or honor. In the Greek, the word for "worship" is "proskuneo," which means to bow down or prostrate oneself. This action by John, the author of Revelation, reflects a natural human response to the divine or the extraordinary. However, it also serves as a cautionary tale about the object of our worship. In the historical context of the early church, there was a strong emphasis on ensuring that worship was directed solely to God, avoiding the idolatry prevalent in surrounding cultures.

But he said to me, 'Do not do that!'
The angel's immediate correction underscores the importance of directing worship appropriately. The Greek phrase "me poiei" translates to "do not do that," indicating a strong prohibition. This reflects the biblical principle that worship is reserved for God alone. The angel's response is a reminder of the hierarchy within the spiritual realm and the proper focus of adoration. In the historical context, this would have been a powerful reminder to early Christians surrounded by pagan practices.

I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers
The term "fellow servant" comes from the Greek "sundoulos," meaning a co-slave or co-servant. This highlights the equality and shared purpose among believers and heavenly beings in serving God. The phrase "your brothers" refers to the community of believers, emphasizing the unity and shared mission within the body of Christ. This serves as an encouragement to believers that they are part of a larger, divine mission, working alongside heavenly beings.

who rely on the testimony of Jesus
The "testimony of Jesus" is central to the Christian faith, referring to the witness or declaration of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. The Greek word "marturia" for "testimony" implies a witness or evidence. This phrase underscores the foundation of Christian belief and the source of prophetic truth. Historically, the early church relied heavily on the apostolic testimony of Jesus as the cornerstone of their faith and practice.

Worship God!
This command is clear and unequivocal. The Greek word for "worship" here is again "proskuneo," reinforcing the idea of bowing down or showing reverence. The directive to "Worship God" serves as a central tenet of Christian doctrine, emphasizing monotheism and the exclusive devotion to the one true God. In the context of Revelation, this command is a call to remain faithful amidst persecution and false teachings.

For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy
This profound statement links the testimony of Jesus with the essence of prophecy. The Greek word "pneuma" for "spirit" suggests the life-giving force or essence. Prophecy, in this context, is not just about foretelling the future but is deeply rooted in the revelation of Jesus Christ. The phrase indicates that true prophecy will always point back to Jesus and His redemptive work. Historically, this would have been a reassurance to the early church that their faith in Jesus was the fulfillment of prophetic promises and the guiding truth for their lives.

Persons / Places / Events
1. John the Apostle
The author of the Book of Revelation, who receives visions and messages from God while exiled on the island of Patmos.

2. The Angel
A heavenly messenger who delivers divine revelations to John. In this verse, the angel corrects John's attempt to worship him.

3. The Testimony of Jesus
Refers to the witness or declaration concerning Jesus Christ, which is central to Christian faith and prophecy.

4. Worship
The act of reverence and adoration, which is due to God alone, as emphasized by the angel's correction.

5. Prophecy
The divine revelation or message that is inspired by the Holy Spirit, often concerning future events or truths about God.
Teaching Points
Worship God Alone
Emphasize the importance of directing worship solely to God, avoiding the elevation of any created being, including angels, to a place of worship.

The Role of Angels
Understand that angels are servants of God and fellow servants with believers, not objects of worship or adoration.

The Testimony of Jesus
Recognize that the core of prophecy and revelation is the testimony of Jesus, which should be central in our faith and witness.

Discernment in Worship
Cultivate discernment to ensure that our worship practices align with biblical teachings, focusing on God rather than experiences or intermediaries.

Prophecy and the Holy Spirit
Acknowledge the role of the Holy Spirit in prophecy, guiding believers to understand and proclaim the truth about Jesus Christ.
Bible Study Questions
1. Why is it significant that the angel instructs John not to worship him, and how does this reflect the biblical teaching on worship?

2. How does the concept of the "testimony of Jesus" as the "spirit of prophecy" influence our understanding of biblical prophecy?

3. In what ways can we ensure that our worship remains focused on God alone, avoiding the elevation of other beings or objects?

4. How does the role of angels as fellow servants with believers impact our view of their function and purpose in God's plan?

5. What practical steps can we take to align our lives with the testimony of Jesus, ensuring that it remains central to our faith and witness?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 20:3-5
The commandment against idolatry and worshiping anything other than God, reinforcing the angel's instruction to John.

Hebrews 1:14
Describes angels as ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation, aligning with the angel's self-description as a fellow servant.

1 Corinthians 12:3
Discusses the role of the Holy Spirit in enabling believers to confess Jesus as Lord, connecting to the testimony of Jesus as the spirit of prophecy.

Matthew 4:10
Jesus' response to Satan during the temptation, emphasizing worship of God alone, similar to the angel's directive to John.
Departed Saints Fellowservants with Those Yet on EarthAndrew Lee et al Revelation 19:10
Servility and HumilityD. Thomas Revelation 19:10
The Bride of ChristR. Green Revelation 19:1-10
The Triumph of the RedeemedS. Conway Revelation 19:1-10
The Eternal in the Universe, and His Representative to ManD. Thomas Revelation 19:1-21
People
John
Places
Patmos
Topics
Bondservant, Borne, Bow, Brethren, Brothers, Brother-servant, Exclaimed, Face, Fell, Fellow, Fellow-bondman, Fellowservant, Fellow-servant, Hold, Homage, Oh, Prophecy, Prophet's, Says, Servant, Spirit, Testimony, Underlies, Witness, Worship, Yours
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Revelation 19:10

     2318   Christ, as prophet
     6610   adoption, descriptions
     7120   Christians
     7942   ministry

Revelation 19:9-10

     8623   worship, of God

Library
January 22. "His Wife Hath Made Herself Ready" (Rev. xix. 7).
"His wife hath made herself ready" (Rev. xix. 7). There is danger in becoming morbid even in preparing for the Lord's coming. We remember a time in our life when we had devoted ourselves to spend a month in waiting upon the Lord for a baptism of the Holy Ghost, and before the end of the month, the Lord shook us out of our seclusion and compelled us to go out and carry His message to others; and as we went, He met us in the service. There is a musty, monkish way of seeking a blessing, and there is
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

King of Kings and Lord of Lords
And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, K ING OF K INGS AND L ORD OF L ORDS T he description of the administration and glory of the Redeemer's Kingdom, in defiance of all opposition, concludes the second part of Messiah Oratorio. Three different passages from the book of Revelation are selected to form a grand chorus, of which Handel's title in this verse is the close --a title which has been sometimes vainly usurped by proud worms of this earth. Eastern monarchs, in particular,
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

The Lord Reigneth
Hallelujah; for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth! T he book of the Revelation, being chiefly prophetical, will not, perhaps, be fully understood, till the final accomplishment of the events shall draw near, and throw a stronger light upon the whole series. But while the learned commentators have been, hitherto, divided and perplexed in their attempts to illustrate many parts of it, there are other parts well adapted for the instruction and refreshment of plain Christians. Particularly, those passages
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Departed Saints Fellowservants with those yet on Earth.
"I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets." The revelation made to St. John in the isle of Patmos, was a comfort to the suffering apostle, and a blessing to the church. "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the word, of this prophecy." The beginning indeed was dark; the prophetic sketch, was for sometime, gloomy: It unfolded a strange scene of declensions and abominations, which were to disgrace the church of Christ and mar its beauty; and dismal series of woes on woes,
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

The Saviour's Many Crowns
My brethren, it needs John himself to expound this glorious vision to you. Alas my eye has not yet seen the heavenly glory, nor has my ear heard the celestial song, I am therefore but as a little child among topless mountains, overawed with grandeur, and speechless with awe. Pray for me that I may utter a few words which the Holy Spirit may comfortably apply to your souls, for if he help me not, I am helpless indeed. With his divine aid, I dare to look upon the glorious diadems of our Lord and King.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

"They have Corrupted Themselves; their Spot is not the Spot of his Children; they are a Perverse and Crooked Generation. "
Deut. xxxii. 5.--"They have corrupted themselves; their spot is not the spot of his children; they are a perverse and crooked generation." We doubt this people would take well with such a description of themselves as Moses gives. It might seem strange to us, that God should have chosen such a people out of all the nations of the earth, and they to be so rebellious and perverse, if our own experience did not teach us how free his choice is, and how long-suffering he is, and constant in his choice.
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Christ's Kingly Office
Q-26: HOW DOES CHRIST EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF A KING? A: In subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies. Let us consider now Christ's regal office. And he has on his vesture, and on his thigh, a name written, "King of kings, and Lord of lords", Rev 19:16. Jesus Christ is of mighty renown, he is a king; (1.) he has a kingly title. High and Lofty.' Isa 57:15. (2.) He has his insignia regalia, his ensigns of royalty; corona est insigne
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Seventh (And Last) vision "On Earth"
E^7, xix. 17&151xx. 15. THE FINAL FIVE JUDGMENTS. We must get a complete view of these in order to embrace them all and view them as a whole. The Structure shows their true sequence: E^7., xix. 17-- 15. The Seventh (and Last) Vision "on Earth." E^7 A^1 xix. 17-21. MEN. The Judgment of the Beast and the False Prophet. B^1 xx. 1-3. SATAN. The Judgment of Satan (Before the Millennium). A^2 xx. 4-6. MEN. The Judgment of the overcomers. The "rest of the dead" left for Judgment. B^2 xx. 7-10.
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

The Last Watch of the Night
C. P. C. Rev. xix. 7 It ends--the vigil of high festival, The solemn night of song; For lo! the crimson day has lit the hills, The day desired so long. From peak to peak there spreads the jasper glow, The morning star grows dim; How passing strange the joy that now we know-- So soon to look on Him! Oh, deeper than our longing and our love, More wondrous than our bliss, His love that waited while the ages rolled To welcome us as His! And now, the watching and the waiting o'er, The sin and sadness
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Moses' Prayer to be Blotted Out of God's Book.
"And Moses returned unto the Lord and said. Oh! this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou--wilt, forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray they, out of thy book which than hast written." In the preceding discourse we endeavored to show that the idea of being willing to be damned for the glory of God is not found in the text--that the sentiment is erroneous and absurd--then adduced the constructions which have been put on the text by sundry expositors,
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

That Worthy Name.
James ii:7. IN the second chapter of the Epistle of James the Holy Spirit speaks of our ever blessed Lord as "that worthy Name." Precious Word! precious to every heart that knows Him and delights to exalt His glorious and worthy Name. His Name is "far above every Name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come." (Ephes. i:21.) It is "as ointment poured forth" (Song of Sol. i:3); yea, His Name alone is excellent (Psalm cxlviii:13). But according to His worth that blessed
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

He Shall not Keep Silent.
THE heavens have long been silent. It is one of the leading characteristics of this present age, the closed, the silent heavens. But they will not be silent forever. "Our God shall come and shall not keep silence" (Ps. i:3). In His divine Patience the Lord has been at the right hand of God for nearly two thousand years. He will not occupy that place forever. It is not His permanent station to be upon the Father's throne. He has the promise of His own throne, which He as the King-Priest must occupy.
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

The Disciple, -- Master, what is the Real Meaning of Service? is it that We...
The Disciple,--Master, what is the real meaning of service? Is it that we serve the Creator and then His creatures for His sake? Is the help of man, who is after all but a mere worm, of any value to God in caring for His great family, or does God stand in need of the help of man in protecting or preserving any of His creatures? The Master,--1. Service means the activity of the spiritual life and is the natural offering prompted by love. God, who is Love, is ever active in the care of His creation,
Sadhu Sundar Singh—At The Master's Feet

The Third vision "In Heaven"
H3, xi. 15-19-. THE SOUNDING OF THE SEVENTH TRUMPET. The Seventh Trumpet brings us back to Heaven and to the Third Vision seen there by John. For it is "in heaven" that the Trumpet is sounded. After it is sounded, we again hear the heavenly utterances which tell us of the design of this sounding. In xix. 1-16, heavenly voices again tell us of the completion of its effect. After it is sounded, and its object unfolded, there is a break; and an episode occupying chaps. xii., xiii. and xiv.; the effects
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

All Fulness in Christ
The text is a great deep, we cannot explore it, but we will voyage over its surface joyously, the Holy Spirit giving us a favorable wind. Here are plenteous provisions far exceeding, those of Solomon, though at the sight of that royal profusion, Sheba's queen felt that there was no more spirit in her, and declared that the half had not been told to her. It may give some sort of order to our thoughts if they fall under four heads. What is here spoken of--"all fullness." Where is it placed--"in him,"
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

An Advance Step in the Royal Programme
(Revelation, Chapters iv. and v.) "We are watching, we are waiting, For the bright prophetic day; When the shadows, weary shadows, From the world shall roll away. "We are watching, we are waiting, For the star that brings the day; When the night of sin shall vanish, And the shadows melt away. "We are watching, we are waiting, For the beauteous King of day; For the chiefest of ten thousand, For the Light, the Truth, the Way. "We are waiting for the morning, When the beauteous day is dawning, We are
by S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on the Crowned Christ of Revelation

The Power of God
The next attribute is God's power. Job 9:19. If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong.' In this chapter is a magnificent description of God's power. Lo, he is strong.' The Hebrew word for strong signifies a conquering, prevailing strength. He is strong.' The superlative degree is intended here; viz., He is most strong. He is called El-shaddai, God almighty. Gen 17:7. His almightiness lies in this, that he can do whatever is feasible. Divines distinguish between authority and power. God has both.
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Living One
"I am He that liveth, and was dead" (i. 18). (...) (ho zon), THE LIVING ONE. Like the previous title, it is used as a special designation of the One whose unveiling is about to be shewn to John. Its use is peculiar to Daniel and Revelation. The two books thus linked together by it are linked as to their character and subject matter in a very special manner. It is used twice in Daniel:- Dan. iv. 34 (31 [19] ) and xii. 7; and six time in Revelation:- Rev. i. 18; iv. 9,10; v. 14; x. 6; and xv. 7. [20]
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

The Seventh vision "In Heaven"
H^7. Chap. xix. 1-16. The final heavenly Utterances and Actions. We now come to the last of the seven Visions seen "in Heaven," which is the subject of chap. xix. 1-16, giving us the final heavenly Utterances and Actions which lead up to, explain, and introduce the five concluding judgments which close up the things of Time, and pass on to what we call the Eternal State. This last Vision "in Heaven" is divided into two parts, each having its own independent construction. The first contains the words
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

An Appendix to the Beatitudes
His commandments are not grievous 1 John 5:3 You have seen what Christ calls for poverty of spirit, pureness of heart, meekness, mercifulness, cheerfulness in suffering persecution, etc. Now that none may hesitate or be troubled at these commands of Christ, I thought good (as a closure to the former discourse) to take off the surmises and prejudices in men's spirits by this sweet, mollifying Scripture, His commandments are not grievous.' The censuring world objects against religion that it is difficult
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Opposition to Messiah Ruinous
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel T here is a species of the sublime in writing, which seems peculiar to the Scripture, and of which, properly, no subjects but those of divine revelation are capable, With us, things inconsiderable in themselves are elevated by splendid images, which give them an apparent importance beyond what they can justly claim. Thus the poet, when describing a battle among bees, by a judicious selection of epithets
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

The Lord's Supper
We are approaching now the end of our Saviour's life. The last week has come, and we are in the midst of it. This is called Passion week. We commonly use this word passion to denote anger. But the first and true meaning of the word, and of the Latin word from which it comes, is--suffering. And this is the sense in which we find the word used in Acts i: 3. There, St. Luke, who wrote the Acts, is speaking of Christ's appearing to the apostles, after his resurrection, and he uses this language: "To
Richard Newton—The Life of Jesus Christ for the Young

In Reply to the Questions as to his Authority, Jesus Gives the Third Great Group of Parables.
(in the Court of the Temple. Tuesday, April 4, a.d. 30.) Subdivision D. Parable of the Marriage of the King's Son. ^A Matt. XXII. 1-14. ^a 1 And Jesus answered and spake again in parables unto them, saying, 2 The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son, 3 and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage feast: and they would not come. 4 Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them that are bidden, Behold, I have made
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Consolations against the Fear of Death.
If in the time of thy sickness thou findest thyself fearful to die, meditate-- 1. That it argueth a dastardly mind to fear that which is not; for in the church of Christ there is no death (Isa. xxv. 7, 8), and whosoever liveth and believeth in Christ, shall never die (John xi. 26). Let them fear death who live without Christ. Christians die not; but when they please God, they are like Enoch translated unto God (Gen. v. 24;) their pains are but Elijah's fiery chariot to carry them up to heaven (2
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

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