Revelation 22:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

They are faithful and true because Truth Himself speaks them. After indicating all that had been seen and explained as though through an angel, He now speaks from His own person. “And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants what must soon take place.” If the God of the prophets is Christ, who sent His angel to show His servants the future through blessed John. Who beheld this vision, then it is clear that the apostle earlier says, according to the divine economy, that the Revelation was given to the Son for the sake of the flesh. For can the God of the prophets, who sends angels as ministering spirits to disclose the future to His servants, not know the day or hour of the end? Does He only now learn it from the Father, when, as God, He has the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge? From His person the evangelist then says:

By the spirits of the prophets are meant the prophetic gifts, according to what most wise Paul said: “The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets” (1 Cor 14:32). And according to the divine prophet Isaiah: “Because of fear before You we conceived in the womb and travailed. We brought forth the spirit of Your salvation, which You have created upon the earth” (Isa 26:17-18 LXX). “To show His servants what must soon take place,” as it is said. Through John and his writings, all learned what he saw. He excellently said “soon,” for all time is insignificant, as was said earlier. This remains true even if, compared with the endless ages to come, it seems to someone to last especially long.

The angel does not doubt that John is worthy of trust. Rather, he offers this vision to the whole Church as true, knowing that there will be beginners in her who must be taught by it...

The one God, who through the Holy Spirit spoke by the prophets to Old Israel concerning Christ the Savior who was to come, now speaks through the mouths of the apostles after Pentecost. He speaks to all who desire to have the right to the tree of life, showing what must be done to enter lawfully into the New Jerusalem through the pearl gates. As a pearl is formed imperceptibly from a tiny grain of sand, so earthly dust becomes a king and priest to God by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Only through such gates, the gates of transfiguration, do men enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And therefore he says further, in verse 7.

Why does the angel refuse worship, and does this not testify against the veneration by which we honor the heavenly beings? To answer these questions, one must determine from what motive John’s intention to offer worship to the angel arose. John was filled with great joy, seeing the destruction of Babylon and hearing the news of the marriage supper of the Lamb. In this spiritual rapture he took the angel speaking with him for the Lord Himself, for the Victor over the dark power Himself. Therefore he hastened to offer him worship. The angel had to refuse worship offered with such thoughts. This is what he did, saying: “See that you do not do this.” Angels are due worship of honor, not that which is rendered to God: not λατρεία, but προσκύνησις τιμητική.