Revelation 22:6-9, 18–19: Building on Rock.

“6 The angel said to me, ‘These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.’7 ‘Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.’8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, ‘Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!’

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: if anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” NIV

To build on the Word of Christ is to build on Rock, whereas to build a life on any other foundation is disastrous (Matthew 7:24-27). As part of Scripture, ‘Revelation’ is ‘’trustworthy and true’’. This doesn’t mean we can understand everything in it, but it does mean we should treat it with the utmost respect, along with the rest of Scripture (18,19). This includes obeying all that we see we need to do as we read its pages (7, 10).

As a faithful ‘preacher’, the angel would not accept any honour that was not due to him, but called John (and through him every person in the church) to ‘’Worship God’’ alone (9).

Let every other preacher take note. We should:

  • Have confidence in the truth of God’s Word;
  • Call people to have faith and obedience in it;
  • Seek to decrease that the Lord may increase.

As the Westminster Shorter Catechism says: ‘Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever