The Two Worships: Reverence (Sebazomai) vs. Servitude (Proskyneō) 🙏
The Book of Revelation states that the world will be coerced into worshipping the Beast. However, the New Testament uses two very different Greek words for “worship,” and the distinction clarifies the nature of the false religious devotion demanded in the final days.
1. The False Reverence: Sebazomai (σϵβαˊζoμαι)
- Meaning: This word refers to veneration, reverence, or religious awe. It is the feeling of respect or devotion given to a god or a sacred object. It is the root of the word “sebastos,” which was a title used for the Roman emperor (Augustus).
- Theological Focus: Sebazomai is the internal, emotional response—the awe and respect that people feel toward a powerful entity. Paul uses this word to describe the pagan worship of creation rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).
- The Shocking Tie: The world gives the Beast a reverence based on his spectacular power and successful conquest (Revelation 13:4: “Who is like the beast, and who can make war against him?”). This is the worship of power and success.
Sebazomai is the awe felt toward the Beast’s might.
2. The Forced Servitude: Proskyneō (πρoσκυνϵˊω)
- Meaning: This word literally means “to bow down towards” or “to kiss the hand/ground toward” a superior. It is a gesture of abject submission and homage. It is a word of physical and political obeisance.
- Theological Focus: Proskyneō describes the external act of submission and service—the demanded physical gesture of allegiance. This is the word used for the worship that Satan demanded from Christ during the temptation (Matthew 4:9).
- The Shocking Detail: Revelation repeatedly states that the world is forced to “worship” (proskyneō) the Beast and his image (Revelation 13:15). This is not primarily a worship of heartfelt devotion (Sebazomai), but a mandated act of political allegiance and servitude required to buy, sell, and participate in society.
The Eschatological Conclusion
The final religion of the Beast is a destructive synthesis:
- It is fueled by the reverence (Sebazomai) the world has for his power and apparent success.
- It is enforced by the servitude (Proskyneō)—the mandatory, visible act of bowing down to the system to maintain economic viability.
The ultimate shocking truth is that the final test is not a complex theological argument, but a simple, public, physical act of submission to political power.
The Return Question
If the Beast’s system demands Proskyneō (physical and political submission), what specific act of external compliance—in your job, social media, or public speech—would you be most tempted to offer to the world’s system to avoid the economic pressure of the final days?