Throughout the book, the message has been delivered to John by angels. He has at times heard the voice of the Son of God, but it is angels that have revealed the majority of the visions. As on other occasions in the book, John is so overawed by what he has seen and heard that he falls down to worship the angel who speaks with him. It is evident that if even an apostle could make this grave error, it is a danger for lesser believers also. This is one strong reason why angels do not intrude visibly into human affairs. Man is so prone to worship creatures more powerful than himself that it is not safe for him to have more than exceptional glimpses in Scripture of these great beings. Therefore although they act as servants sent by God to minister to the children of God, they must operate out of sight. Man lacks the discernment to distinguish between proper and improper objects of worship, when faced with the glory of heavenly beings. Yet in spite of this correction, John commits the same error again in Revelation 22:8 and has to be corrected in almost identical words. Man in his humiliation is not able to bear such sights without behaving foolishly and giving far too much honour to created beings. The same tendency is seen on the mount of transfiguration when Peter inappropriately suggests that Moses and Elijah should be treated equally to the Lord Jesus Christ. No doubt God allowed this to happen, so that the firm rebuke that followed would warn the church in the coming ages of the error and folly of angel worship. Paul warns us, ‘Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind’ (Colossians 2:18).
We have here this fascinating statement: ‘For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’ Have you ever wondered about the prophecy of Joel, and how the time would come when there would be the outpouring of wonders and tongues, languages, and prophecies? All the people of God are seen as prophesying, and even the maidens’ prophesy. Peter stands on the Day of Pentecost and preaches to the Jewish congregation and he says, ‘This is the fulfilment of the prophecy of Joel.’ But where are the maidens prophesying? The Charismatic Movement does not understand it. They say, ‘There you are. There is supposed to be prophecy and tongues speaking and everything, all the time in the New Testament church.’ But ‘the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’ When the Bible speaks about prophecy, we remember that it has in mind not only foretelling, but forthtelling. On the Day of Pentecost there was the great sign of tongues among the apostles and disciples of the Lord. It was a sign to Jews. It wasn't to continue long. But the prophecy: how is that fulfilled? Well, whenever we preach the word of God, we are prophesying. It isn't my personal prophecy, received by revelation from God. It's the word of God. But it’s prophecy; the gospel is prophecy. The gospel speaks of Christ who is risen from the dead and who is returning again. It has an eschatological element. It speaks of salvation, which is for ever in heavenly glory. It speaks of future things. We preach the completed, once for all given, revealed Scripture. It is the spirit of prophecy. We warn about future punishments. We give the promises of God about salvation and heaven and glory. It’s prophecy; it’s concerned with the future. You cannot open the Book of Revelation without – whether you realise it or not – preaching prophecy. The testimony of Christ is the spirit of prophecy. Here you have a verse in Revelation which explains exactly what the prophet Joel means. Does this mean that the subject of all prophecy is Jesus Christ? Ultimately, yes, for all Scripture is fulfilled in him. But of course there are many details along the way and many other subsidiary subjects that Scripture addresses.