Rev 19:10

[davidoffinland]

From Finland.

Rev 19:10, "....worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." The last part is abit confusing even in some commentaries.

One: The possession of the spirit of prophecy shows itself evident in the life of Jesus.

Another: Jesus, by imparting this testimony to belivers imparts to them the spirit of prophecy.

Even another: the design of prophecy is to bear in Jesus´testimony.

Any comments?

Shalom, davidoffinland.

 

[BalaamsAss51]

Hello davidoffinland.

Here is something from Revelation by Brighton -

The directive of the angel to "worship only God" is placed between the mention of those "who have the witness of Jesus" and the statement that "the witness of Jesus is the Spirit of the prophecy" (Rev 19:10). The double mention of "witness" in this context suggests that the saints on earth, God's slaves, worship God by being witnesses of Jesus to the world. This brings to mind what Jesus said to the disciples in Lk 24:44-48: the message of the Torah of Moses and the Prophets and the Writings of the OT was fulfilled in his death and resurrection, and in his name the forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed to all nations, for the disciples were "witnesses of these things." "The witness of Jesus is the Spirit of the prophecy" (Rev 19:10), that is , the witness that the Spirit gave in the prophetic writings of the OT is the same witness that the apostles and John and the saints of God now hold concerning Christ (cf. 1 Pet 1:10-12), and it is the witness which they proclaim to the world. By this witness they worship God. To worship an angel would signify that their witness was not to Christ and his saving victory, but to an angel, and this they are never to do.

"The Spirit of the prophecy" identifies "the witness of Jesus" as the same witness that the Spirit gave to and through the prophetic message of the OT. This is the witness concerning the death and resurredtion of the promished Messiah, which witness is now conveyed through the "true words" (19:9) of the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.

Pax