“At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus'” (Revelation 19:10 NIV).
This brief exchange offers circumstantial evidence to support the assertion that the Bible is a divinely inspired text. After all, what credible author would fabricate the unflattering self-portrait given to us here in Revelation 19:10?
So why would John, our author, include this embarrassing record of his rebuke? To address that question, we might look at several potential applications from this text. First, we might consider the emotional excitement that characterized the moment when John fell at the feet of this angel to worship him. This angelic response reminds us that a moment of spiritual fervor cannot justify unbiblical conduct. Those who “get caught up in the moment” of a spiritual experience should not use that experience as an excuse to engage in Biblically inappropriate behaviors.
Next, we should remember that nothing can take Jesus’ place as the object of our worship. Whenever we are tempted to worship someone or something else, we would do well to recall the swift rebuke offered by this angelic being.
Finally, those in positions of authority should note the directive issued by this angel: “Worship God!” Just as this angel redirected John’s focus towards God, those who hold leadership positions should follow this good example in their relationships with others who have been entrusted to their care.
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-16).
This horseman of Revelation 19:13 is Christ, for His name serves to associate Him with the “Word Of God“ mentioned earlier in the first verse of John chapter one. We’ll examine this portion of Scripture in greater detail next.