(10) Tho benediction, ver. 21.
6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets [682]sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
6. And he said unto me. The angel-interpreter, who had showed John the vision of the New Jerusalem, ch. xxi. 9, 10. As these visions are now at anend, the angel comes to John directly, and assures him that all these things are true—that there has been no deception of the senses in these visions, but that they were really divine disclosures of what would soon and certainly occur. ¶ These sayings are faithful and true. These communications—all that has been disclosed to you by symbols, or in direct language. See Notes on [ch. xxi. 5.] ¶ And the Lord God of the holy prophets. The same God who inspired the ancient prophets. ¶ Sent his angel. See Notes on [ch. i. 1]. ¶ To show unto his servants. To all his servants—that is, to all his people, by the instrumentality of John. The revelation was made to him, and he was to record it for the good of the whole church. ¶ The things which must shortly be done. The beginning of which must soon occur—though the series of events extended into distant ages, and even into eternity. See Notes on [ch. i. 1–3].
7 Behold, [683]I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
7. Behold, I come quickly. See Notes on [ch. i. 3]. The words here used are undoubtedly the words of the Redeemer, although they are apparently repeated by the angel. The meaning is, that they were used by the angel as the words of the Redeemer. See ver. 12, 20. ¶ Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. That receives them as a divine communication; that makes use of them to comfort himself in the days of darkness, persecution, and trial; and that is obedient to the precepts here enjoined. See Notes on [ch. i. 3].
8 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 showed me these things.
8. And I John saw these things, and heard them. That is, I saw the parts that were disclosed by pictures, visions, and symbols; I heard the parts that were communicated by direct revelation. ¶ And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel, &c. As he had done on a former occasion. See Notes on [ch. xix. 10]. John appears to have been entirely overcome by the extraordinary nature of the revelations made to him, and not improbably entertained some suspicion that it was the Redeemer himself who had manifested himself to him in this remarkable manner.
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
9. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not. See Notes on [ch. xix. 10]. ¶ For I am thy fellow-servant. Notes on [ch. xix. 10]. ¶ And of thy brethren the prophets. In ch. xix. 10, it is “of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus.” Here the angel says that, in the capacity in which he appeared to John, he belonged to the general rank of the prophets, and was no more entitled to worship than any of the prophets had been. Like them, he had merely been employed to disclose important truths in regard to the future; but as the prophets, even the most eminent of them, were not regarded as entitled to worship on account of the communications which they had made, no more was he. ¶ And of them which keep the sayings of this book. “I am a mere creature of God. I, like men, am under law, and am bound to observe the law of God.” The “sayings of this book” which he says he kept, must be understood to mean those great principles of religion which it enjoined, and which are of equal obligation on men and angels. ¶ Worship God. Worship God only. Notes on [ch. xix. 10].
10 And he saith unto me, [684]Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.