THE TESTIMONY OF A TRUE WITNESS
Revelation 1:2 is a scripture every true, sincere, obedient, loyal, expectant and faithful believer needs to prayerfully study; before going further into the prophecies of the book of Revelation. This verse reads, “Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.” This statement was referring to Apostle John; who wrote in verse 1, that this book was, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him (the Son, Jesus Christ), to shew unto his servants (every believer) things which must shortly come to pass (the last days); and he sent and signified it by his angel (only God has angels) unto his servant John (the beloved). You need to ask yourself, if you really believe the record of John. He was the only one there, when he was banished to Patmos, to die a lonely death for the sake of the gospel of Christ. This was when he got a visitation from God: documented in what is called the Book of Revelation.
Firstly, John bare record of the word of God. Surely, he alone was in the particular spot, chosen by God to speak to him. John alone heard and saw and was able to bare record. Remember, John 1:1-14, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of truth and grace. John was with Peter and James on the Mount of Transfiguration; when Jesus Christ was transfigured and Elijah and Moses were present too. Jesus alone was transfigured. Moses was dead and his body could not be found (Deut. 34:5-6) Angel Michael contended with the devil about Moses’ body (Jude verse 9) and here was standing Moses alive. Truly God is the God of the living and not the dead (Mk. 12:27, Matt.22:32-34). The last time we heard about Elijah was when he was carried to heaven in a chariot of fire. Here he reappeared and we read they were talking with the Lord about his death on the cross. Jesus Christ was back into deity (Rev. 1:12-17) dimension and summoned Moses and Elijah for a brief meeting and allowed the three disciples to witness it; but tell no man, not even fellow disciples, Peter could not tell his brother Andrew also until after the ascension. The disciple whom the Lord loved (John 20:2). He was again on the Isle of Patmos to bare witness again.
Secondly, he bare witness of the testimony of Jesus Christ. There are so many testimonies that John could bare of Jesus Christ; but God chose him to be the one for this assignment, remember Jesus said, “If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee,” (John 21:22). Now John was alive to see Jesus Christ in the revelations on Patmos. John knew the Lord and could not miss him any time, remember 1st John1:1-3, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handed, of the Word of life.” John saw the suffering and death, resurrection and the ascension of Jesus Christ. Now he was going to see and hear from another dimension of the spirit. In verse 4, John clearly testified about who he was going to talk about, “Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come: and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne.” In verse 8, Jesus Christ testified of himself (and John was witness) saying, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” In verses 10-11, John wrote, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet. Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, and what thou seest write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia.” Again in verses 17-19, Jesus identified himself again and John are witness. Jesus Christ said, “—— Fear not; I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth, and was dead (Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary); and behold, I am alive forever more, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.”
John saw many things and one of them was the appearance of one like the Son of man ( Jesus Christ), verses 12-17 paints the picture for you (study it); that was what John saw. The person he saw now was different from the person who walked the streets of Judea. He was a little like the transfiguration experience which was nothing compared to the majesty he saw while on Patmos, the voice as the sound of many waters: His head and his hair were white as wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire, and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.” Who was this magnetic figure that John saw? The answer rests in the statement, “I AM HE THAT LIVETH, AND WAS DEAD AND, BEHOLD, I AM ALIVE FOREVERMORE.” Only the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled this qualification, requirement and John was witness. If you cannot believe the witness of John, may be you were never of the Lord from the foundation of the world. THINK ABOUT IT SERIOUSLY.
The rest of the book of Revelation contains what things John saw and heard; and wrote in a book to the seven churches as instructed by the majestic Lord of Lords. It is your responsibility to study the book of Revelation and see what John was told to write in a book and send to the churches. Prominent among these are the seven church ages, the seven seals, the translation, the horrible great tribulation, the mark of the beast 666, Armageddon, millennium, the White throne judgment, the lake of fire, the new heaven and the new earth. John saw all these and bare witness.
Finally Rev. 1:3 reads, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which were written therein: for the time is at hand.” In Rev. 22:7, Jesus said, “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” In verse 16, He said again, “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” Study Rev.22: 6, 16. 18-21. What about you, what kind of a witness are you, true, sincere, obedient, loyal, expectant of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, and faithful? Remember Isaiah 43:10-11 and Acts 1:8. If you are surely saved you cannot deny these scriptures. Do you believe the scriptures? Remember 2nd Peter 1:20-21.
121 – THE TESTIMONY OF A TRUE WITNESS