04/29/2008
9Then [the angel] said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.” 10Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow slave with you and your brothers who have the testimony about Jesus. Worship God, because the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
In my studies of New Age religions, I come across many religious-sounding web-sites that talk about angels. There are many people who worship angels. They claim that these angels have given them religious guidance and protection. These messages almost always play down Jesus’ role in salvation. Rather, they reduce Jesus to the level of another angel, or even a great human. In these messages, the angels accept worship and have no trouble being the recipient of prayers.
But there is a serious problem with this. When we look at angels in the Bible, they *never* accept worship. In this account above, John, overwhelmed by what he is seeing and experiencing in the Revelation, falls to worship the angel who has spoken to him. But how does the angel react? It is easy for me to see this angel recoiling with the same indignation as we would if we were being accused of a crime. “Don’t do that!” the angel declares very directly. Then he continues “I am a fellow servant, the same as you.”
Then the angel does what every true angel of God will do; he redirects worship and glory to where it rightfully belongs—to God: “Worship God.” And following is the reason: “Because the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” The testimony about Jesus is very important. Any angel who does not refer to Jesus as supreme Lord with God is a liar and a deceiver. And Satan is the king of liars and deceivers.
Worship belongs to God, which is at one time altogether the Father, Jesus the son, and the Holy Spirit. Any human, angel, or being of any kind who accepts worship is a deceiver.
Who is the object of your worship?
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
©2008 Cleff Publishing, all rights reserved.
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