The Testimony Of Jesus By Doug Krieger
"See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19:10) “THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY” As a young Christian I often found myself in meetings where I would hear: “Does anyone have a testimony to give?” Then someone would share something about what the Lord was doing in their life or have a “praise report” or a “prayer request” (for some reason—normally qualified as “spoken” or “unspoken”—but they always spoke, so I never got it). I also found out, and this was a spontaneous experience for me, and, I am sure, with many believers, that after I yielded by life to Jesus, I wanted to share His story with others (i.e., known as “preaching the gospel”). Simultaneously with the above experience of “testimonies,” I also heard a lot about Bible prophecy; then, I became keenly aware that the “Coming of the Lord” was something that evangelical Christians were “really into.”So, as I studied His Word, I was aware of the “prophetic Scriptures” a lot more than I had any idea I would be at the beginning of my walk with the Lord. Again, years later I realised that every member of the Body of Christ has a right and responsibility to “function” with other Christians and to share in coming together around the Lord. A passion for “Body Life” gripped my heart—I wanted every meeting of believers to be a time of “testimony.” Eventually, I discerned that this form of Body Life was encouraged in the Scripture and was termed: Prophesy. It went something like this: “How is it then, brethren?
Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification . . . for you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of he prophets are subject to the prophets” (I Corinthians 14:26, 31-32). It has only been in the last couple of years that another truth has ignited within my spirit: The very TESTIMONY OF JESUS must become my very own testimony and that His speaking in my life would one day become “the word of their testimony.”
It’s not simply a “group testimony” taking place here—it is the very “word of my testimony” – to wit: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death” (Revelation 12:11).
Throughout the Revelation, and as I have previously pointed out (Please see TRIUMPHANT TESTIMONY) the origins of the Greek word for testimony and witness is the word martus or “martyr.” Eventually I have discovered that the depth of this “testimony” and “witness” is lived through the lives of believers who have been called to give their all—even their physical lives, if need be—for the Saviour. How selfish I had become—listening to “testimonies” or “delivering my testimony.”
There is a profound understanding in all this that goes to the very core of what real Christianity is all about: To deny one’s self means to identify with the Lord Jesus in His testimony—His death—His overcoming life. “Unto the death” means precisely what it says—death to self, and even physical martyrdom for the cause of Christ!
THROUGH THE “BLOOD OF THE LAMB” If this could be done on our own strength—then, there would be no need for this portion of Scripture: “They overcame him (i.e., the Beast/Antichrist) by the BLOOD OF THE LAMB and by the word of their testimony . . .” – in other words—our “ultimate price” is wholly based upon the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, upon His blood, His righteousness, His capability and NOT OUR OWN!
Ours is to embrace His cross, to acclaim His blood! Then, and then only, will there be “the word of our testimony.” George Eldon Ladd, in “A Commentary on the Revelation of John” comments on this very verse in Revelation 12:10: “The shed blood of Christ is the real means of victory over Satan. The secondary means of victory is the word of their testimony; i.e., their witness to the saving power of the blood of Christ. The background of martyrdom stands behind these words.
They loved their Lord more than life itself and willingly suffered death rather than deny Christ. Jesus had said, ‘He who endures to the end [i.e., to the point of death] will be saved’ (Matt. 24:13).
Victory over Satan is not physical victory to be found in the preservation of life or escape from the persecution he wages against the saints.
They stood fast in their testimony to Christ and loved not their lives even unto death. Their very martyrdom was their victory over Satan; it proved that his accusations against the brethren were empty. It is clear that victory over Satan is a spiritual victory which is often won even in the terrible experience of martyrdom” (pp. 172-73).
LEST WE FORGET . . . “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now ‘If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?’
Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (I Peter 4:12-19). Now, take the verse in Revelation and of “overcoming him by the blood of the Lamb” and read I Peter 5:7-9: “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (I Peter 5:7-11). And—what of the BROTHERHOOD?
Are the “same sufferings” being experience by us which are being experienced in the BROTHERHOOD? For those of us in Babylon’s heart this is NOT our reality—not yet. But the blatant fact that our brethren, our brotherhood throughout the world—they are the ones who have “the testimony of Jesus” and they are the ones who cry out to the Lord at this very hour. Indeed, are not these the ones spoken of in His Word?
“When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held” (Revelation 6:9).
Their sacrifice has gone up to the Almighty—yes, their “sweet incense” has ascended, being borne by the Lamb Himself: “Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand” (Revelation 8:3-4). These prayers are not the “ordinary prayers” of the saints—no, this incense is the crushing, breaking, pouring out of God’s people and their identification with Christ, the WHOLE BURNT OFFERING! What ascends is a “sweet smelling savor” that satisfies the Almighty, because it is the very “Testimony of Jesus” – “The word of their testimony.” Lest we forget—our brotherhood, your brothers and sisters, are, right now, throughout the world, laying down their lives as the “testimony of Jesus” lives on; as their sweet incense ascends to the Almighty!
PLEASE—VIEW THESE INTERNET SITES Now, I ask you to go to these web sites and see for yourself—your brotherhood, my brotherhood, whose souls cry out from beneath the “Altar of Sacrifice” – for surely, this “altar” can be none other—but eventually, their sacrifice and the coals that caused their identification with His sufferings—are turned into the “prayers of the saints” which are offered upon the “Altar of Incense” before His Throne!
http://bhutan4christ.com/persecution-wwl.html http://www.odusa.org/Display.asp?Page=leadstory http://www.crosswalk.com/news/religiontoday/1247848.html http://www.the-tribulation-network.com/ebooks/martyrs/martyrs_toc.htm God bless you and keep you and join with me in praying and supporting our brotherhood who continue to go on before us and who, even today, love not their lives unto the death!
