Did John Sin in Heaven?

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Did John sin when he worshipped an Angel in heaven? If John was "in the Spirit" (Revelation 4:2), how could he still sin? Does this mean we can still sin when we get to heaven also?

That is a great question, and fortunately for us, the answer is “no”, it is not suggesting we can still sin in heaven. Being “in the Spirit” does not mean John (Revelation 1:13, 4:2), or we (Galatians 5:16), are in our perfected, glorified bodies, or that we are incapable of sinning. The Bible tells us that until we receive our glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:51-57), we still have our flesh to contend with, and the bible tells us that these two (flesh and Spirit) will be at war with one another (Galatians 5:17), until we are glorified (Philippians 3:20-21).

When discussing John worshipping an angel in heaven, there is something that is very important for us to remember when trying to understand this apparent dilemma that we find him in. We must remember that he did not physically leave the island of Patmos at any time during this vision, which means he was never actually in heaven, at least bodily. When John describes this event to us, he is very clear that this entire vision took place while he, “was on the island that is called Patmos” (Revelation 1:9). Much like the apostle Paul explained to the Corinthians that he, “was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words” (2 Corinthians 12:4), by way of “visions and revelations of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 12:1-3), so too did the apostle John experience something quite similar in his life (Revelation 1:1).

While on the island of Patmos John was “in the Spirit” (1:10), and “heard” a loud voice behind him (1:10). John then “turned” to see the voice that spoke (1:12), and it was Jesus (1:13-16). John was so overwhelmed by the vision he received of Jesus in His glory that he “fell at His feet as dead” (1:17a). Jesus picks John back up (1:17b-20), and then proceeds to give him a message for the seven churches in Asia (Revelation 2-3). When chapter four begins, John is still physically on the island of Patmos, and he testifies that he “looked” and saw another vision, and “heard” another voice (4:1), and still “in the Spirit” (4:2), he was ushered into heaven (not bodily, but by way of “Revelation”). The rest of this “Revelation” from Jesus, is John testifying of what he “saw and heard” while receiving this heavenly vision (Revelation 22:8).

John was so overwhelmed by the extraordinary nature of the revelation he was given, that he fell at Jesus’ feet as “dead” (1:17), and twice fell at the feet of an angel to worship (19:10; 22:8). The Bible is crystal clear that we are not to ever worship angels (Colossians 2:18), and yet many Bible Scholars agree (and I agree with them), that John’s actions were not of malicious intent or lack of devotion to God, nor was it a vain attempt to place this angel as an equal to God. He was simply overwhelmed by the awesomeness of all that was taking place before him.[1]

Because John was never physically in heaven when this event occurred, it could be argued that John did not actually commit a sin. I am not suggesting this is the case, but it is something to consider. Regardless of one’s take on this event, even if John was sinning, we see an immediate act of repentance on his part on both accounts, because he immediately got up and did not insist on continuing to worship at the feet of the angel (19:10; 22:8-9).

In addition to this, both times John fell at the angels’ feet to worship, it was in response to what Jesus was about to do, and what Jesus had said. The first time John fell at the angels’ feet was when he was told of our coming reunion with Jesus at “the marriage supper of the Lamb!” (19:9). What an awe-inspiring moment this must have been for John! The second time John fell at the angels’ feet was in response to hearing Jesus proclaim, “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (20:7). Again, this must have been powerfully awe-inspiring as well. After all, the first time John heard Jesus speak in His glory, he “fell to the ground as dead” (1:17). Therefore, when we discuss John worshipping an angel, we must realize that his worship came from being in awe over the things he was seeing and hearing about his Lord Jesus.



[i] See Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the New Testament, Barnes Notes on the New Testament, Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown’s New Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Testament Volume, The Apocalypse; Lectures on the Book of Revelation by Joseph A. Seiss, as examples.
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