Studies in Revelation: The Deity of Jesus

The apostle John clearly believes that Jesus is God, giving testimony to this throughout his Gospel (see John 1:1 and the Jehovah’s Witnesses). Jesus is not God’s highest creation but a member of the Holy Trinity, equally God with the Father and the Spirit. This is clear also in Revelation.

Jesus Is the Coming Son of Man of Daniel 7

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. (Revelation 1:7, NIV)

John’s reference to Jesus coming with the clouds is a clear reference to Daniel 7, where the Ancient of Days gives one like a son of man rulership of all the earth. We are told in 7:14 that all peoples bowed down or worshiped this son of man, something clearly forbidden to all but God.

Jesus Receives the Same Worship as the Father

¹¹ Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. ¹² In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” ¹³ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Revelation 5:11-13, NIV)

And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:10, NIV)

It is inappropriate to accord the same praise to Jesus as to God unless he is, in fact, divine, equal to the Father in every way.

Jesus Is the One to Be Worshiped for Making the World

⁶ Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. ⁷ He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 14:6,7, NIV)

Each member of the Trinity was involved in creation, so worship is properly accorded to each.

Jesus Is to Be Worshiped as the Source and Focus of All Prophecy

At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.” (Revelation 19:10, NIV)

An angel refuses and rebukes worship, directing it to God, who included the Spirit and Jesus.

Jesus Bears the Epithets Worthy of Deity

On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords. (Revelation 19:16, NIV)

Only God is King over all kings and Lord over all lords.

Jesus Is Worshiped by His and His Father’s Priests

Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6, NIV)

Jesus Is, Like the Father, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End

 ⁶ He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. ⁷ Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. (Revelation 22:6,7, NIV)

¹² “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (Revelation 22:12,13, NIV)

In Revelation 1:8, the Father identifies Himself as the Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, another way of saying He is the beginning and the end. But it is clearly Jesus speaking in Revelation 22, taking the same attributes as the Father (see pages 12,13 in John 1:1 and the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Jesus Is, With the Father, the Shekinah Glory in the New Jerusalem

²² I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³ The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. (Revelation 21:22,23, NIV)

As the glory of Yahweh filled the temple of Solomon (2 Chronicles 7:1-3), so the glory of Yahweh fills the city, which is, in effect, the temple of God. Only if Jesus is God could it be said that he and the Father are the temple and the glory.