22:8Revelation 22:8

John had just been shown the river of life, the tree of life, the end of the curse, and God's servants seeing His face and reigning forever in the city of God.Ms 119, 1906, par. 48–51+1 Overwhelmed by the glory of that vision of final deliverance, he fell down at the feet of the angel who showed it to him, repeating his earlier mistake even after being reproved.GC88 471.1+1 The angel corrected him and directed him to worship God, for though glorified he was only a fellow servant with John and the prophets and not to be worshiped.Ms 87, 1909, par. 9–11+2 Worship belongs to God alone, and must never be given to an angel from heaven or to any human being, lest both the one worshiped and those who worship be led astray.Lt 45, 1892, par. 13–15+3 The last chapters where this stands are to be read carefully and obeyed now, with humbling of soul, cleansing of the heart, and thorough repentance without delay.Lt 144, 1906, par. 5–9+1

What John had seen and heard was the pure river of water of life proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb, the tree of life with its healing leaves, the end of the curse, and the servants of God seeing His face and reigning forever.Ms 119, 1906, par. 48–51 These sayings are faithful and true and will be fulfilled as life everlasting.Ms 119, 1906, par. 48–51 The verse stands after the promise that those who have a place in the city of God shall see His face and have His name in their foreheads.Ms 127, 1909, par. 1 That promise belongs to a changed circumstance from the time when no one could see His face and live.Ms 127, 1909, par. 1

What was made known to John on the Isle of Patmos concerned the last events of this earth's history.Lt 224a, 1906, par. 7–9 It was given as a solemn warning to call minds in these last days and to keep them from confusion by Satan, who works in all deceivableness of unrighteousness to deceive if possible the very elect.Lt 224a, 1906, par. 7–9 The perils of the last days are upon us, and confusion now may be death unto death, requiring straight paths and pressing toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.Lt 224a, 1906, par. 7–9

Overwhelmed by the glorious vision of the church's final deliverance and the heavenly city, John fell at the angel's feet to worship.SG1 130.1 After seeing the visions and hearing the angel's words, his fall expressed falling as one dead in the self-abasement of one who has seen divine glory.GC88 471.1+1 He repeated the mistake of worshiping the angel despite having been reproved for it before.SG1 130.1

After hearing and seeing the things shown to him, John fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed him these things, an act corrected in the next verse where the angel tells him to worship God.Ms 87, 1909, par. 9–11 The angel who raised him and reproved him directed him away from himself to God.Ms 188, 1907, par. 4–5+1 Though that angel was an overcomer who had been translated to heaven, he was still a fellow servant with John and with the prophets, and therefore not one to receive worship.Ms 188, 1907, par. 4–5+1

Worship belongs to God alone and must not be given even to an angel from heaven, and the scene stands as a rebuke to human pride.Lt 45, 1892, par. 13–15+1 The refusal of the angel makes clear that worship belongs to God and not to an angel.Ms 110, 1905, par. 28–29 For the same reason the incident warns against giving worship or undue honor and reverence to human beings, since those who are worshiped may themselves be led astray and may lead others astray.Ms 188, 1907, par. 4–5+1

John's response is an example of conduct that must be corrected rather than a basis for invented doctrines or worship, and the teaching of the chapter must not be distorted by fanciful interpretations of Scripture.Lt 207, 1899, par. 15–18 True worship of God includes daily character-building and living hidden with Christ in God, so that others can see the difference between those who serve God and those who do not.Ms 110, 1905, par. 28–29

The verse stands in the last four chapters of Revelation, which are to be read carefully and obeyed now.Lt 144, 1906, par. 5–9 They call for deep and thorough individual work, a thorough humbling of the soul before God, and a cleansing and refining and transforming of the heart and soul temple.Lt 144, 1906, par. 5–9 The heart is to be diligently cultivated, so that fruit appears in the life in proportion to the light given.Lt 144, 1906, par. 5–9

The last chapter is to be read so that it makes an impression upon heart and life and character.Ms 25, 1908, par. 17 It calls for earnest prayer and untiring work, for thorough repentance without delay, and for purification of the soul.Ms 25, 1908, par. 17 It calls for asking God's forgiveness for unfaithful discharge of duty, for leaving an unprepared state, and for opening the door of the heart for Christ to enter.Ms 25, 1908, par. 17

That last chapter is to be read together with the twentieth chapter of Exodus and Exodus 31:12-18 to answer whether a person can be saved without keeping the Sabbath.Lt 131, 1903, par. 6–9 Doing His commandments gives right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city.Lt 131, 1903, par. 6–9 Searching the Scriptures with prayer and with a mind willing to accept light contrary to past belief reveals God's will on this truth.Lt 131, 1903, par. 6–9 The episode in which John falls down to worship the angel who showed him what he had seen and heard is connected with the truth that each person is judged by their works, which God sees.Ms 188, 1907, par. 4–5 The chapter stands as a solemn warning that ministers must search the Scriptures earnestly and not preach their own suppositions, for if they teach for doctrine things not contained in God's Word they will be as those represented in that chapter.Ms 82, 1894, par. 19–21