Revelation 19:9-10

Strauss-' Comments
SECTION 62

Text Revelation 19:9-10

9 And he saith unto me, Write. Blessed are they that are bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are true words of God. 10 And I fell down before his feet to worship him. And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren that hold the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Initial Questions Revelation 19:9-10

1.

Why are those bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb blessed - Revelation 19:1?

2.

What does the refusal by the heavenly messenger to accept John's worship imply - Revelation 19:10? Does John ever describe a situation in The Revelation when Jesus is worshipped and He accepts that worship?

3.

Does the messenger claim any special status in the kingdom - Revelation 19:10?

Revelation 19:9

John is commanded - Write thou; blessed (are-not in text) the ones having been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The source of this truth is God Himself. The implication of this verse is that if one is not invited to the marriage supper, or if invited and he refuses to attend, then he will not be blessed. Our Lord uttered a parable (Matthew 22:1-14) in which He used this imagery. Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like unto. then saith he to his servants, the wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore unto the partings of the highways and as many as ye shall find, bid them to the marriage feast. God will not overlook the slighted invitation on the great day of His wrath. The Bride of Christ can never be destroyed but she has often been purified. Christ said - I will build my Church and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).

Revelation 19:10

John was emotionally overcome by the tremendous revelation which he had received from the heavenly messenger. He says, And I fell down before his feet to worship him. The object worshipped here was an angel. The Jehovah Witnesses persist in their heretical assertions that our Lord is a creature of God. What was the response of this messenger? Immediately he told John; See thou do it not; I am your fellow-slave and of your brothers having the witness of Jesus; worship God. There is never a command given by any messenger of God in either the O.T. or N.T. to worship anyone other than the living God. In fact, it was categorized as idolatry if anyone worshipped anything, or anyone other than the God of the Prophets and Apostles. Yet our Lord repeatedly accepted worship from men! Angel worship flourished in Asia Minor at this time. The Colossian and Hebrew Epistles specifically condemn this practice. The last sentence in Revelation 19:10 is a very difficult one. For the witness of Jesus (There is no way to determine whether or not this is an objective or subjective genitive. This means there is no way to absolutely determine whether John is speaking of the witness given by Christ Himself or whether the witness is about Christ.) is the spirit of prophecy. 1 Peter 1:11 provides us with a very good (possible) commentary. Searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the suffering of Christ, and the glories that should follow them.

Discussion Questions

See Revelation 19:17-21.