Chapter
Verse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Revelation 22:9

ESV but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
NIV But he said to me, 'Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!'
NASB And he *said to me, 'Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brothers the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!'
CSB But he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words of this book. Worship God! "
NLT But he said, 'No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!'
KJV Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

What does Revelation 22:9 mean?

To the angel's credit, he told John he must not worship him. The angel explained that he was simply a fellow servant of God with John and his brothers in Christ, with the prophets, and with all who obey the words of Revelation. In a brief command, the angel implored John to worship God, instead. This is the second time John fell at an angel's feet and tried to worship him, and it is the second time an angel rebuked him and told him to worship God (Revelation 19:10).

Given the context, we're not sure if John fell down to worship as a spur-of-the-moment reaction, or some intentional effort. Either way, it reminds us that even God's most faithful servants can be slow learners, or prone to making hasty mistakes! The worship of angels was not uncommon in the first century. Paul rebuked the worship of angels, a sin that had crept into the Colossian church. He wrote in Colossians 2:18: "Let no one disqualify you, insisting on ascetism and worship of angels, going on about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind."
Expand
Expand
Expand
What is the Gospel?
Download the app: