While it’s easy to become engrossed in all the myriad aspects of prophecy concerning the return of our Lord, we need to be focused on the main topic. Or should I say the main Man, Jesus. The above title is a directive to the Apostle John when he fell down in worship at the feet of the angel who was instructing him. “And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘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 “testimony” as used here is the judicial witness that Jesus is who our bible says He is. In fact, the entire Book of Revelation is an angelic “testimony” given to John for our consumption. “And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the Word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.” (Revelation 1:1-2). Authentic Christians in these last days will not be ashamed of this testimony concerning Christ even if the result is their own death. “And they overcame him (Satan) 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).
The word “spirit” of prophecy is the underlying, animating force of our words of testimony. It’s the vital essence of truth making up the very nature of prophecy. The angel told John that he was a fellow servant who had this spirit of prophecy as did the apostle. He then added that all John’s brethren have it as well. This implies that we Christians all have this spirit of prophecy urging us to share our testimony of Jesus, our soon coming King.
Yes, the main topic of prophecy is Jesus. It’s all about Him. Everything He did from His acts of creation, His Old Testament appearances, His coming into the physical realm to redeem mankind from sin and death through His miraculous birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension to His Father’s throne are all part of our testimony. Of course, His second coming to judge the earth and establish His Kingdom just as the angel detailed to the apostle John in Revelation should be a major part of our witness and testimony. Of course, our personal testimony of how we came to know these things and how it has impacted our lives is a useful part of sharing with others.
If you’re a Christian who is at all interested or intrigued by biblical prophecy, don’t keep it to yourself. You have “the testimony of Jesus.” And, “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Maranatha, Jim