Revelation (Written)

Monday, 12 July 2021

And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Revelation 19:14

The previous verse revealed the Lord returning in vengeance, symbolized by His robe being dipped in blood. The words now speak of those who will follow Him, saying, “And the armies in heaven.”

There is debate as to who these are, but the words of Scripture elsewhere reveal that they are the saints. In other words, they are those who have been redeemed by the Messiah. When Christ returns, His redeemed will return with Him. That they are His saints is seen in the next words, saying, “clothed in fine linen, white and clean.”

This speaks of the imputed righteousness of Christ. Those who have been cleansed and purified by Him are those who wear the white garments. This description has been seen several times in Revelation, such as in 3:4&5; 4:4; 6:11, 7:9; 7:13-17; & 19:8. The linen has been seen on others in Revelation, but the description here appears particularly suited to those who have been purified by Christ. It is these who “followed Him on white horses.”

The Greek is in the imperfect tense. It more specifically says, they “were following Him.” In this, it gives the sense of an advancing movement of the armies. The white horses speak of rule and authority. Paul, writing to Timothy said –

“If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.” 2 Timothy 2:12

This is the thought of the white horses. Thus, the white horses go beyond the idea of victory (something assured in Christ), but they extend to ruling with Christ.

In the previous verse, Isaiah 63 was quoted where it said –

“I have trodden the winepress alone,
And from the peoples no one was with Me.”

From this, it can be argued that Christ alone brings vengeance on the people and that those riding with Him have no part in the battle. But the symbolism of Isaiah and Revelation is just that. One cannot expect that Christ is literally stomping in a winepress. Rather, it is symbolism to speak of Him gaining the victory over His enemies.

Elsewhere, the Lord is said to gain the victory even though Israel participated in the battles where those claims are made (see Judges 20:25, for example). How the exact events will play out is unstated, and so only speculation can be given. Whether the Lord alone conducts the warfare, or whether His armies join in the battle is a matter that will be known at that time. For now, it is clear that the Lord ultimately is the Victor of what will occur.

Life application:  The Bible is a book of progressive revelation. It doesn’t arbitrarily introduce random thoughts that are key to the redemptive narrative. Things may come out of order at times, but the key points of the narrative will follow a logical introduction, development, and progression to what is presented. Understanding this helps us to make right decisions about important concepts. A very good example is from Genesis 6 which speaks of the “sons of God.”

In Genesis 6:2, it says that “that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.” There are various opinions as to who these “sons of God” are – the sons of Adam through Seth who remained faithful to the Lord, angels, aliens, etc. A poor analysis will lead to the wrong conclusion. In other words, one must look at the progressive nature of God’s revelation to understand that it is, in fact, actual humans, not angels or other beings.

Nothing concerning angels had been introduced into the narrative, and specific points in the narrative that had already been provided were given as clues to who these “sons of God” were. Later passages in the Bible then confirm what is said in Genesis 6.

This is important to understand because it bears directly on this verse in Revelation. Who are the “armies in heaven” that are following Jesus? The answer is often given as “angels.” This is an incorrect analysis because the very context and progression of the book of Revelation (and of passages given earlier in Scripture) shows us who it is. It is the redeemed of the Lord already described in preceding verses. This is why this progression of thought has been given.

In Revelation 4:1, the rapture of the church occurred. From 4:2 until 19:13, the church has been out of the picture, except as they are noted with Jesus, in heaven, not on earth. The intervening verses where earthly visions have been revealed have referred to the tribulation, the final seven-year period of Daniel’s “seventy weeks” noted in Daniel 9. This seven-year period has now ended, and Christ is returning to set up His millennial kingdom. And it is the bride of the Lamb who is returning with Him.

Others have been noted as receiving white garments during the tribulation, and their state has been explained to some extent, and it will continue to be explained later as well (such as in Revelation 20:4).

This verse says these armies are clothed in fine linen, white and clean. Such are garments of righteousness mentioned in the preceding verses of Revelation. Another point concerning those coming with Christ is what was noted in chapter 17. The ten kings of the end-times empire are said to wage war with the Lamb. This isn’t possible until the Lamb actually returns which is now being stated in Chapter 19.

When they fight against the Lamb, it notes this in 17:14 – “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” Thus, it is clear that these are believers in, and followers of, Jesus – not angels.

And as added support, we read this from the hand of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 – “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” Although this doesn’t mean that all believers will be with the Lord at all times and forever, as if we are sitting in a room together. However, if we “shall always be with the Lord,” then it seems clear that this includes following Him to His glorious victory.

When we return with Him, we will also be riding on white horses. Thus, we are sharing in His victory as those who reign with Him. This in no way diminishes the victory as His alone, but rather glorifies it. As Paul writes in Romans 8:37 – “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

It brings both honor and glory to Jesus for His saints to return with Him in this capacity because it is noting that He is the One who stood in victory over our sinful state, cleansing us and bringing us near to God through the purifying power of His shed blood. This is the reward and honor of being a faithful follower of Jesus Christ – sharing in His victory and glory. Hallelujah to the Lamb! Hallelujah to JESUS!

Lord God, help us to properly look into your word and to evaluate it as it is presented. Help us to not come to unfounded conclusions because of what we want to believe, but rather lead us to make logical conclusions based on what You have presented. You are the God of order, and Your word reflects this. Thank You for the beautiful words of life it presents to us. Amen.

Sunday, 11 July 2021

He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. Revelation 19:13

The marvelous depiction of Christ at His second coming continues to be described by John. The verse begins with, “He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood.”

Of these words, there are two general thoughts on the meaning. The first is that it is referring to His crucifixion and the blood of that act. The second thought is that it is referring to the blood of His enemies. Based on the immediate context, that of judging and making war, it is probable that the second option is being referred to. In this, it fulfills the shocking Old Testament symbolism given by Isaiah –

“Who is this who comes from Edom,
With dyed garments from Bozrah,
This One who is glorious in His apparel,
Traveling in the greatness of His strength?—

‘I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.’
² Why is Your apparel red,
And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress?
³ ‘I have trodden the winepress alone,
And from the peoples no one was with Me.
For I have trodden them in My anger,
And trampled them in My fury;
Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments,
And I have stained all My robes.
⁴ For the day of vengeance is in My heart,
And the year of My redeemed has come.
⁵ I looked, but there was no one to help,
And I wondered
That there was no one to uphold;
Therefore My own arm brought salvation for Me;
And My own fury, it sustained Me.
⁶ I have trodden down the peoples in My anger,
Made them drunk in My fury,
And brought down their strength to the earth.’” Isaiah 63:1-6

Isaiah’s prophecy refers to the Lord’s judgment in salvation. It is to be remembered that the focus of Revelation 4:2–19:10 has been the tribulation period, leading up to the Second Coming. It is during this time that the final seven years of Daniel’s prophecy of “seventy sevens” takes place. Thus, the focus of attention is on the nation of Israel.

Jesus is returning to them in order to set up His millennial kingdom. As such, Isaiah’s prophecy will be fulfilled. Israel has called on their Lord and He is responding – destroying her enemies and working salvation on their behalf. The symbolic nature of His garments being stained in the enemy’s blood demonstrates that He has acted in order to rescue them.

The second clause of the verse next says, “and His name is called The Word of God.” This is the only time that this full expression of His name is given. Hebrews 4:12 uses the same wording, but that is referring to Scripture rather than Christ the Person.

Elsewhere, He is simply called “the Word” (John 1:1-14), or “the Word of life” (1 John 1:1). The writings of John have developed a picture of the nature and characteristics of Christ. This name, the Word of God, is not the same as that referenced in the previous verse where it said, “He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.” Rather, this is an explanation of that, just as the name provided in verse 19:16 will be an explanation of it.

One can explain something in part without knowing the fullness of what is being explained, and this is the idea here. The Word of God reveals to us a partial view of who Christ Jesus is. We can know that through the Word God made all things (John 1:2, Colossians 1:16). We can know that by the power of the Word all things are held together (Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:3), and so on.

However, these explanations do not exhaust all of who He is because God is infinite. Because John has used the name “the Word of God” here, we are informed that everything about God is associated with who Christ Jesus is. The thing to be focused on is not so much the totality of what the name signifies, but why is the name stated here?

The answer is probably because God, who is revealed in the Old Testament Scriptures – and whose very nature states that He cannot lie – is expressing Himself through the Person of Jesus Christ to His people who had missed the significance of who He is in His first advent. The same Jesus who was crucified (and thus whose garments were at that time dipped in blood) is the same Jesus who is faithfully returning to defend those who rejected Him, once again dipping His garments in blood to demonstrate who He is – the fulfillment of the prophecies in their own Scriptures.

As He is the Word of God, He is their God because they were the stewards of the word of God, meaning Scripture. It is Scripture that presented Him. It is by Scripture that He is revealed. It is Scripture that prophesied of His coming. And it is Scripture which prophesies of His second coming. He is the Word of God.

Life application: The concept of Jesus returning to Israel permeates the Old Testament writings, and it is the fulfillment of Jesus’ own words, meaning that He will return when they call out to Him –

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! ³⁵ See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Luke 13:34, 35

In having said this, He is Faithful and True to fulfill His promise. His robe will be dipped in the blood of His enemies when He comes to save His people because He is the Word of God.

The word which God speaks is revealed in and fulfilled by the Person of Jesus Christ. From the first sentence of the Bible, right to the last, Jesus Christ is the Word of God. He is the Creator, Redeemer, Savior, and Deliverer. He is our All in all.

As you read the Bible, the most relevant question you can ask is, “How does this point to Jesus?” Every book, every chapter, and every verse is written in order to show us God’s plan of redemption in human history, and all of it can only be properly understood when viewed through the lens of God in Christ. He is the Word of God. He is JESUS.

Oh, God! How precious it is to read Your word and to discover Jesus everywhere we look. You have presented Your great love for us by sending Him to show us who You are and what You are like. And then You have given us your word to reveal Him to us! What a wonderful, magnificent story of love and hope. Hallelujah and Amen.

Saturday, 10 July 2021

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. Revelation 19:12

The rider from heaven coming on a white horse, the Lord Jesus, is now described in more detail by John as he says, “His eyes were like a flame of fire.”

This takes the reader back to verse 1:14, which said, “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire.” The eyes were then mentioned again in the letter to the church at Thyatira. In short, the idea of fire in the Bible is that of judgment, purification, refinement, and so on.

The eyes of Christ will burn through those who stand before Him, exposing all sin. They will get to the very heart of the rebellion of the people of the world just as He looked into the corrupt hearts of those in Thyatira. He will pierce deeply into the souls of all people because nothing in creation can be concealed before His piercing gaze.

As for believers, they will come before the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ. That which is of no value shall be burned away. The eyes of the Lord will pierce through the days of our lives and the actions of our conduct, and they will purify us for our eternal state.

For those who are not found in Christ, they will be judged with those same burning eyes. In their judgment, they will find eternal destruction. The difference between being in Christ or not being in Christ is one that will continue for all eternity after the judgment has been rendered.

Next, it says, “and on His head were many crowns.” This is the third and last use of the word diadéma in Scripture. It was seen in Revelation 12:3 and in Revelation 13:1. Rather than a stephanos, or crown of victory, it is a royal crown. It is a kingly adornment for the head. The idea of many crowns comes with a title that will be stated in verse 19:16. He is the King of kings. All rule and authority ultimately belong to Him because every kingdom – in heaven and on earth – is under His authority.

This idea of wearing more than one crown goes back to Zechariah 6 where it says –

“Take the silver and gold, make an elaborate crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. ¹² Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, saying:

“Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH!
From His place He shall branch out,
And He shall build the temple of the Lord;
¹³ Yes, He shall build the temple of the Lord.
He shall bear the glory,
And shall sit and rule on His throne;
So He shall be a priest on His throne,
And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.’” Zechariah 6:11-13

The “elaborate crown” set on the head of Joshua is actually plural “crowns.” It is noting that he was symbolically filling two roles, that of both the king and the priest. These were offices that were not to be mixed under the law. The words thus prefigure the coming work of the Messiah where the offices would be united. In His return, there will not only be two crowns. Rather, there will be many crowns on His head. He is the King of kings, and the roles He fills are vast in number. On Him rests all rule, authority, and honor.

The verse finishes with, “He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.” In the Bible, a name is more than just a type of “who” identification. It can also carry the significance of “why,” “what,” “where,” “how,” and even “when.” It is an identification that provides a comprehensive understanding of the very nature of the being it represents.

Because Jesus has a name written on Himself that is known only to Him, it is identifying Him with I AM THAT I AM of Exodus 3:14. He is the self-existent One. He is the One prior to creation and the One who is upholding all creation by the power of His word. He is the eternal Word of God. No one knows the name except Himself because no one can know the name. It is beyond comprehension, it is beyond understanding, and it is marvelous in and of itself because it identifies that which is infinitely marvelous.

This is seen in an account found in Judges 13. The Angel of the Lord informed the parents of Samson that they would have a child. After the announcement, and prior to the Angel’s departure, the account then says –

“Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, ‘Please let us detain You, and we will prepare a young goat for You.’
¹⁶ And the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, ‘Though you detain Me, I will not eat your food. But if you offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the Lord.’ (For Manoah did not know He was the Angel of the Lord.)
¹⁷ Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, ‘What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?’
¹⁸ And the Angel of the Lord said to him, ‘Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?’” Judges 13:15-18

The word translated as “wonderful” is the adjective peli. It signifies something secret, wonderful, and incomprehensible. Its only other use is found Psalm 139:6 –

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.”

Just as David could not attain to the knowledge of the most high, mortal man cannot attain to the comprehension of the name of the Lord. These words of John clearly show that Jesus, the One being described in this vision, is the unsearchable God.

Life application: Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of every hope, every desire, and every need of the human soul because He is the Creator of man. Only in Him is found true peace and contentment. Those who have rejected Him as the avenue of reconciliation to God have not only brought condemnation upon themselves, but they have separated themselves from any hope of any contentment at all.

This is what we are to learn from the description of Him in this verse. The eyes like a flame of fire, the many crowns on His head, and the name written on Him that only He knows all shout out to us that Jesus Christ is God. Of His name, we will eternally move towards it, striving to know it without ever grasping its fullness. For those who reject Him, they will be eternally separated from that name and thus they will be eternally separated from the Source of the “who, what, when, where, why, and how” it represents. He is great. He is glorious. He is JESUS!

Lord Jesus, until Your return, You have blessed us with Your word. Its pages contain all that we need to know and understand in order to live our lives properly and grow in our knowledge of You. Fill us with Your Spirit, and open our eyes to its truths now in anticipation of the heavenly state when we will continue to learn about You for all eternity. Amen.

Friday, 9 July 2021

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. Revelation 19:11

With the vision of the great multitude in heaven complete, a new vision is brought to John’s attention with the words, “Now I saw heaven opened.” It is not unlike verse 4:1, which said, “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven.”

This time, instead of being called up to heaven as in 4:1, John views One that will be coming from heaven. As he looks up, he says, “and behold, a white horse.” Many scholars attempt to tie the appearance of this horse in with the white horse found in Revelation 6:2. Other than the fact that both ride a white horse, there is nothing in common between the two.

The white horse is a symbol of military leadership. The rider, on the white horse in 6:2, represents a military leader during the tribulation period. The antichrist most likely. The white horse now is coming from heaven. It is Christ Jesus. This is then set as a contrast to Christ’s first advent when He was completing His ministry. At that time, He rode on a donkey, symbolizing humility and peace. Now, He is coming as the conquering King. As it next says, “And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True.”

These names are actually attributes ascribed to Him. Scripture is replete with references to the faithful nature of the Lord. For example, Psalm 89 says –

“O Lord God of hosts,
Who is mighty like You, O Lord?
Your faithfulness also surrounds You.” Psalm 89:8

The faithful nature of the Lord is one of His defining characteristics. Likewise, the truthfulness of the Lord is also on prominent display in Scripture –

“For the word of the Lord is right,
And all His work is done in truth.” Psalm 33:4

Because these attributes define His very nature, what has been spoken by Him will come to pass. As His word says that there will be a time of peace on the earth where Israel will be chief among the nations, it will come to pass. When the Lord promises that He will always defend His people, even in their unfaithfulness to Him, it will come to pass.

Every word that the Lord speaks will be fulfilled, and many promises to Israel have been spoken. Therefore, they will come to pass. It is for this reason that the Lord will return as a conquering King. As the verse next says, “and in righteousness He judges and makes war.” The next words of Psalm 33 (just cited) say –

“He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” Psalm 33:5

Not only does the Lord judge and make war in righteousness, but Scripture states unambiguously that there is no unrighteousness in Him (see Psalm 92:15 and John 7:18). Therefore, His judgments and His war-making are based upon His righteousness. In other words, it would be unrighteous for Him to not do these things at the point in history when they come about.

The Lord has promised to keep Israel forever. He has promised that they will endure and that they will never be uprooted from the land again (see Amos 9:15). But there will be a time when Israel is facing complete annihilation. At that time, if the Lord does not intervene, they will be utterly wiped out. In this, His word (an extension of who He is) will have failed. Such cannot be. Therefore, He must judge and make war. This is seen in Daniel 12 –

“Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.” Daniel 12:7

The deliverance of Judah and Jerusalem is prophesied in Zechariah 12 and 14 as well. Because these words have been spoken by the Lord, and because He is Faithful and True, He must intervene as He has proclaimed.

Life application: There are many words in Greek translated as “time” in the Bible, but there are two concepts of time that can be summed up by two specific words. The first is chronos, and it generally indicates the continuance of time; it is ongoing and indeterminate time. Think of a watch ticking (a chronometer counting time). We are living in this time, and it is moving ahead.

The second concept is kairos. It indicates a specific moment in recorded time which is set and identifiable. For you, the moment of your birth is a moment such as this. It is a memorable event because it only occurs once and records something special or historic. Americans would look at the attacks on Pearl Harbor or the Twin Towers as such moments. But such moments of universal importance permeate Scripture as well. A few are –

The creation of the world
The fall of man
The flood of Noah
The call of Abraham
The giving of the Law at Mount Sinai
The birth of Jesus Christ
The crucifixion of the Lord
The resurrection of Jesus Christ
The ascension of Jesus Christ
The coming of the Holy Spirit

And (as we wait patiently) –
The rapture of the church
The literal, physical return of Jesus Christ

These moments have such great significance because they are key points of the redemptive narrative outlined in Scripture. Revelation 19:11 is the realization of the most anticipated event on earth. In fact, the largest font used in the publication of newspapers is known as the “second coming” font. It is reserved for the greatest moments in history. People have been waiting, watching, and either loving or hating the thought of this moment for over 2000 years. But despite the interval, it is a real moment that will really occur.

John looked and saw heaven opened. Jesus said that in the same manner as which He left, so He would also return. It will be visible and in a manner that anyone with their eyes directed upwards will behold. At exactly the right moment, He will return. The King is coming.

It is this moment that John sees when he beholds the white horse! As noted above, when Jesus came the first time, it was with humility and tenderness. He came as the Prince of Peace and the One to offer to His people, and by extension the whole world, a time of peace and righteousness. In demonstration of this, He humbly rode a donkey into Jerusalem. But His offer was rejected, and He was nailed to a cross. On the third day, He rose again. In His death, a New Covenant was introduced, and through His work, a new dispensation would result – the age of grace.

At the rapture, this age will end and there will be the seven years of tribulation which have been analyzed in detail – from Revelation 4:2 until Revelation 19:10. With Revelation 19:11 stated, there begins a new era in human history. Although there are still matters to be cleaned up, Jesus Christ has returned!

The Prince of Peace is now the Conquering King! As noted above, the descriptions of Him as “Faithful and True” are found throughout Scripture. A key verse, of which Revelation 19:11 is the fulfillment, is found in Psalm 96 –

“For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth.
He shall judge the world with righteousness,
And the peoples with His truth.” Psalm 96:13

This verse was speaking of the Lord (Yehovah). And yet, it is understood that John is applying it to the return of Jesus. It is yet another in the many continuous reminders that Jesus Christ is God. One cannot accept Jesus as nothing more than a “created being” and be considered a Christian – the two are mutually exclusive. He is the God/Man, and He is coming again to rule and judge in righteousness.

We must shun all false pictures and depictions of Jesus. When it is time for Him to act, He will do so. The time for Him to do so is closer each day. At a moment when the world is completely unprepared for it, He will come for His church. After that, the tribulation period will come about. And just as Israel is about to be annihilated, He will again act, coming to defend them and bring them into the New Covenant that they missed in His first advent. These events will happen. He is coming! He is Faithful and He is True. Hallelujah! He is JESUS!

We bow our knees to you, O Lord. You are the King of kings and the One who is coming again to rule in righteousness. Lord, help us to be faithful servants who will proclaim that You are angry at sin and that You are coming in all Your glory to judge the world in truth and righteousness. Great are You and You are greatly to be feared. And more, greatly are You to be praised! Amen.

Thursday, 8 July 2021

And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10

The one speaking with John just stated that his words “are the true sayings of God.” Either misunderstanding what is being conveyed or misinterpreting what should be done with such a statement, John next says, “And I fell at his feet to worship him.”

It is unclear what John was thinking concerning the messenger. It could be that John thought he was deity and fell at his feet in order to worship him as such. This is seen at various times in Scripture, such as in Genesis 18:2 when Abraham bowed before the Lord and those with him. Or it could be that John assumed that a divine messenger, even if not God, was to be worshipped. Cornelius made this mistake in Acts 10:25 when Peter arrived with a divine message.

Whatever the case, John made an error in his thinking when he fell in worship. In response to John’s act, it next says, “But he said to me, “See that you do not do that!” The Greek is much simpler, saying, “See not.”

It is a direct expression that what John did is inappropriate. But equally important is that this certainly shows the authenticity of the account. John would not have written such words, putting himself into such an embarrassing situation if they were not true. With this in mind, the messenger continues by saying, “I am your fellow servant.”

In saying this, various meanings are possible. The first is that this is a heavenly angel, and yet he is placing himself in a comparable position to John, stating that angels are fellow servants in the service of God. Or it could be that this is a human who is conveying the message of Christ to John. The word translated as “angel” simply means a messenger.

The context determines the interpretation, and the interpretation here is actually not clear. In Revelation 22:16, it will say (probably speaking of this same messenger), “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches.” This is the same general thought as that given in the last book of the Old Testament –

“The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.” Malachi 1:1

&

“Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,”
Says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:1

In Malachi 1:1, the name Malachi means “My Messenger,” coming from the word malak, meaning an angel (and thus a messenger). That is clearly speaking of the human prophet. In Malachi 3:1, the words “My messenger” are translated from the same word, malaki, used in 1:1. This is speaking of the coming of John the Baptist. The same word, malak, is then used when speaking of Christ, the “Messenger” of the covenant.

Understanding this, we can see that it is not perfectly clear that the “angel” referred to by Jesus in Revelation 22 is an angelic being. In fact, it appears that in all three instances – the prophet Malachi, John the Baptist, and the messenger of Revelation –humans might have been chosen to convey the message of God. As such, this one now speaking to John – if indeed a human – next says, “and of your brethren.”

Without being dogmatic, this tends to lean the entire thought of this messenger into the category of humanity. A heavenly angel could say this, but it appears he is saying that his servanthood is based on his humanity. Either way, he next says that the brethren (whether he is including himself in the term or not) are those “who have the testimony of Jesus.”

Of these words, Vincent’s Word Studies provides two possible options, saying, “Some explain as the testimony which proceeds from Jesus. Jesus, by imparting this testimony to believers imparts to them the spirit of prophecy. Others, the witness which is born to Jesus. The way of bearing this witness, the substance and essence of this testimony is the Spirit of prophecy.”

These two options are then revealed in various ways in different translations –

who hold to the testimony of Jesus – NIV
who testify about their faith in Jesus – NLT
who rely on the testimony of Jesus – BSB
who tells about Jesus – CEV
who hold to the truth that Jesus revealed – GNT
who rely on what Jesus is saying – ISV
who have borne testimony to Jesus – WNT

Whichever of the two options is correct, the ultimate point of the messenger’s words is that the message conveyed is one that is Christ-centered. As he is only a messenger and not the Lord, he exclaims, “Worship God!”

The words here clearly indicate that only God is to be worshiped. Any other being is created and is not God. Therefore, to worship anyone other than God is to fall into error. With that clearly and unambiguously stated, this messenger then finishes the verse with, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

What is being said here is not that there is only one purpose of prophecy, but that all prophecy is given to bear witness to the work of God in Christ. Every prophetic utterance in Scripture has a purpose, be it to foretell the future, to call the people back to a right relationship with God, to explain the dimensions of the building of the temple, or for whatever reason God determines.

However, each such prophetic utterance ultimately bears witness to the redemptive narrative which is focused and centered on Jesus. This may be typological, chronological, symbolical (such as in metaphor), and so on. But nothing that issues from God in prophecy will be stated unless it refers to and helps explain what He is doing in Christ. As such, no messenger of prophecy is to be worshiped unless that Messenger is Christ Himself. This is the point and purpose of what is conveyed to John.

Life application: This verse is one of the clearest indications of Jesus’ deity in the Bible. And yet, in order to dismiss it, cults such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses need to misuse and mistranslate what the Bible clearly teaches (they have their own translation of the Bible compiled with a set agenda against the Person of Jesus and who He is).

John, overwhelmed with the sight and concept of the marriage supper of the Lamb, falls at the feet of the messenger of the vision in order to worship him. But, in a clear and precise manner, he refuses the worship and redirects it towards Jesus. In the process of doing so, he proclaims, “Worship God!” In the Greek, as in the English, the “testimony of Jesus” brackets the state that God alone is to be worshiped.

What is implicit then is that Jesus is God. The angel states that he is only a fellow servant and one who bears the testimony of Jesus. It is this testimony that we are to direct our attention to, because that testimony is Christ-centered. Every word uttered in the Bible is either pointing to the coming Messiah or explaining and revealing Him.

Through the Bible’s prophetic utterances, we learn that Jesus Christ is God’s revelation of Himself. The Creator that we can’t know – except for how He has revealed Himself through creation (general revelation) – becomes known and intimate through the Person of Jesus (specific revelation). Here is the logical progression of the idea –

1) We cannot specifically know God apart from the Person of Jesus Christ.
2) We cannot, at this time, know Jesus Christ apart from what is contained in Scripture.
3) Therefore, what is written in the Bible is intended to lead us to Jesus and thus to a proper knowledge of God.

Because the Bible’s last book is entitled “Revelation,” we can be certain that all we need to know for our life, doctrine, and practice has now been given. And because this book ends with the complete restoration of all that was lost at the beginning, then we have the full assurance that we have the whole counsel of God in its pages. Thus, there is no further prophecy necessary, and thus there are no more prophets who foretell the word of God.

This is vitally important to understand because heretics such as Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormons, Mohammed of Islam, as well as a host of others throughout the ages, have proclaimed that they are prophets with a message from God. But these always lead away from Jesus, not towards Him, even if they proclaim Jesus in some sense.

God’s word is sealed, the testimony of Jesus is given, and only this is to be considered in our knowledge of, and obedience to, God. Yes, the spirit of prophecy is – wholly and entirely – the testimony of JESUS!

Thank You, O God, for the beautiful revelation of Yourself through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and for the description of this revelation in the pages of Scripture. You have given us everything we need to pursue You, to know You, and to then turn to You in worship and praise. Great are You, O God! Amen.