Revelation 22:8; Seen And Heard (2)

Revelation 22:8 (KJV)  And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 

The antecedent “these things” is more specifically what he has just seen in the vision of the Holy City just concluded. Now he hears the personal promise of Jesus’ imminent return (v7a) and sees the angel-side whose apparel resembles that of Christ (cf. 1:13; 15:6). This may be what led to his confusion a second time in offering worship to the angel (Revelation 19:10).

Revelation 19:10 (KJV)  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 

After all, he has already fallen at the feet of the glorified Christ once at the beginning of his visional experience without being reprimanded (Revelation 1:17).

Revelation 1:17 (KJV)  And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

The description of John’s response here – I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things – is in almost the same words of Revelation 19:10. This time, it is not just the description of something monumental like a great city, but the vast scope and deep significance of his total prophetic experience on Patmos has overwhelmed him. Perhaps the brief word from Christ in Revelation 22:7 added to the impact of the occasion and created the lapse that led him to offer worship to the angel.

Perhaps he thought he was worshipping Christ. John’s response apparently came immediately after the culmination of the vision of the glory of the New Jerusalem: the angel announces the vision’s end in v6 with John bowing immediately thereafter (Beckwith). This was the sequence in Revelation 19:9-10. It only entails understanding the parenthetical nature of v7-8a to have that sequence here.

Revelation 19:9-10 (KJV)  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 

The participle clause “which shewed me these things” identifies the angel to whom John offered the worship. It was the same one whose special task was elaborate regarding the New Jerusalem (cf. Revelation 21:9, 10; 22:1, 6).

Revelation 21:9 (KJV)  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 

Revelation 21:10 (KJV)  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 

Revelation 22:1 (KJV)  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 

Revelation 22:6 (KJV)  And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. 

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody 1995, 499-500]