The "testimony of Jesus" is mentioned four times in Revelation because it will be particularly significant to people all over the world who live during the Great Tribulation.
What is the testimony of Jesus?
It is the Spirit of prophecy
The angel told John, ". . . For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19:10) What does this mean?
The testimony of Jesus can be thought of as the words of Jesus. Jesus is alive! He is not silent.
Jesus still speaks and His words (or testimony) are conveyed to His children via the Holy Spirit.
In like manner, our words (prayers) are conveyed to God’s throne via the Holy Spirit! (Romans 8:16,26,27)
The Holy Spirit has the ability to be on Earth and in Heaven at the same time. For that matter, the Holy Spirit is everywhere at any given time. This boggles the finite mind, but according to Joel 2,
the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all people at the same time!
How God does this, I do not know. That He will do this, we can be certain – His Word is sure.
So, let’s look at the Bible’s explanation of the testimony of Jesus. Please review the following references:
1. Revelation 1:1,2 "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ."
2. Revelation 1:9 "I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus."
3. Revelation 12:17 "Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring – those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus."
4. Revelation 19:10 "At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’ "
These four verses contain several clues that we need to investigate further.
In the first text John reports that he is a witness, testifying to everything he saw. John saw Jesus, Jesus spoke to him, and during these visits, Jesus Christ showed John a number of scenes that explained His actions and purposes. John’s reference to the phrase "the testimony of Jesus" is used to describe what Jesus said to John during this wonderful vision (now called the book of the Revelation). The words of Jesus, which He spoke directly to John during this vision, is His testimony – "the testimony of Jesus."
In the second text, Revelation 1:9, John explains that he is a prisoner on the island of Patmos because of "the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus." What does this mean? John was a prisoner of Rome because he chose to obey God rather than Caesar.
Every Christian knows that to follow Christ means we cannot serve two masters. The devil will be sure that everyone who decides to follow God will be pressed to their human limits in an effort to force them to give up their faith.
Simply put, John was a prisoner of Rome because He obeyed God rather than man. John obeyed the voice of His master (the testimony of Jesus). (John 10:16) Because the kingdom of God cannot coexist with the kingdoms of men, people who choose to follow God are often subjected to conflict and suffering. (2 Timothy 3:12) Even more, scorn and ridicule await those people who study the prophecies concerning the return of Jesus and the establishment of His kingdom. (2 Peter 3:3)
There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus spoke to John through the ministry of the Holy Spirit many times after His ascension. For nearly 65 years John received the words (the testimony) of Jesus in visions much like the Apostle Paul did. (2 Corinthians 12) These divine communications between Jesus and John were conducted via the Holy Spirit. Thus, the testimony of Jesus is only received through the Spirit of prophecy..
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