Revelation 22:8–9 (ESV) — 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.
And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel
who showed them to me, 9 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.”
NOTE: Why is this
story here? What is the purpose? I think for a story about the end of history,
it serves as a useful reminder. It was the worship of something or someone,
other than God, that started the rebellion. The damage to people has been
unfathomable. We can't worship ourselves or things. We can't listen to the
"liar," as Jesus calls him. Yes, we know better, but do we really?
Here is John, an apostle, confused enough to worship an angel. We worship
power, position, popularity, beautiful people, and rich people. The angels says
"Don't do it." The message of Revelation is to "Worship
God." That means we listen to and obey his word above all. Babylon is
trying to tell us that God's word is archaic and does not apply to modern life.
It tells us that science, as defined by Babylon, knows better. It deceives us,
just as Jesus said "he has been a liar from the beginning."
PRAYER: Lord,
protect us, your children from the lies of Satan. We are susceptible to the
Babylonian worldview. Everyone else believes it. And we, in our weakness, fall
into the trap of being accepted by others. Let us hold our ground, but also to
do it with gentleness and respect.
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