If we do not testify, it equals to having blood debt nothing may pay.
Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1:9-20 is about the vision of John on Patmos island.
John the apostle was on Patmos island and experienced flesh suffering, not because of doing sins, but the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. As a result, he experienced some things as follows.
ad. 2. Being able to hear and see a loud voice, as of a trumpet.
The loud voice of the trumpet is the shepherding Word that contains the weight of the teaching Word that is true, hard, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It is trusted by God to a pastor to be preached to the congregation faithfully, in order, continually, and repetitively, so it can sanctify and renew the congregation until perfect as Jesus (appearing as the shining golden lampstand).
Revelation 1:11
1:11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send itto the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
John the apostle is the servant of God used by Him to write the Word of God for the churches. He must be corrected by the Word of God and bear its weight first, so the written Word of God contains power to help the congregation.
If our life, marriage, and ministry are marked with flesh suffering because of Jesus, we will be able to hear and see the loud voice of the trumpet, to sanctify and renew our life until we become a shining golden lampstand.
The task of the shining golden lampstand is to testify and invite. If we keep doing this, we will reach the city of light, the New Jerusalem.
As experienced by John the apostle, we must also be corrected by the Word of God and bear its weight first, so our testimony and invitation become a blessing to the others and have God’s power to help them.
Acts 1:8
1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Mark 5:18-20
5:18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.
5:19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”
5:20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.
Who is used to testify?
All people who have experienced sanctification and life renewal by the loud voice of the trumpet will be used to testify.
What must be testified?
The level or direction of testimony is as follows.
Acts 1:8
1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The strength to testify is the power of Holy Spirit that will help our weak flesh so we can bear witness.
John 15:25-27
15:25 But this happenedthat the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’
15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
15:27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
Why do we need the Holy Spirit? Because we face the situation of the world that is dark and full of suffering, persecution, sadness, and crisis in each field. We also face gossips and false teaching, sins up to the peak of sin (sin concerning eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage). Flesh with all its weakness will not be able to testify, even will join the darkness of the world. Therefore, we need the Holy Spirit.
Why must we testify?
Thus, wherever, whenever, under any situations, we must become the shining golden lampstand by the power of Holy Spirit.
Matthew 11:2-9
11:2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples
11:3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
11:4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
11:5 Theblind see and thelame walk; thelepers are cleansed and thedeaf hear; thedead are raised up and thepoor have the gospel preached to them.
11:6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
11:7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
11:8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothingare in kings’ houses.
11:9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
Formerly, John the prophet was an upright reed. He acknowledged Jesus and testified about Him.
John 1:29,36
1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
1:36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
But inside the prison (the world full of sadness, et cetera), he doubts Jesus.
But through the teaching Word (the loud voice of the trumpet) and Holy Spirit, John the prophet becomes strong and of good courage until he is willing to be beheaded. He is increased more than a prophet, that is he becomes the bride of God.
Revelation 6:9-11
6:9 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.
6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
6:11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number oftheir fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were,was completed.
We also must not be doubtful but keep testifying by the power of Holy Spirit, until we become the bride of God.
Peter is a great servant of God, but at the end he denies Him. But after being fulfilled with Holy Spirit in the upper room of Jerusalem, he is not afraid to testify about Jesus anymore.
A Samaritan woman has married and divorced for five times and she is very unclean. But after meeting Jesus and receiving the living water, she can testify. A quenched lamp and broken reed can be helped by Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit is the Comforter. He comforts and strengthens us so we are not disappointed and desperate. We are not quenched in facing anything in this world.
Holy Spirit is the Helper. He helps us right on His time. He makes possible the impossible things.
Holy Spirit helps us so the lamp keeps burning until we can welcome Jesus’ second coming.
God blesses us.
Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1:9-20 is about the vision of John on Patmos island.
John the apostle was on Patmos island and experienced flesh suffering, not because of doing sins, but the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. As a result, he experienced some things as follows.
- He can enter the true fellowship with God and the others.
Revelation 1:9
1:9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. - [Revelation 1:10-16] He can hear and see a loud voice, as of a trumpet, that becomes two manifestations, that is seven golden lampstands (the perfect church of God, the Heavenly bride) and Jesus in glory as the Heavenly Bridegroom.
Revelation 1:10-13
1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
1:11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send itto the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
1:12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
1:13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands Onelike the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
ad. 2. Being able to hear and see a loud voice, as of a trumpet.
The loud voice of the trumpet is the shepherding Word that contains the weight of the teaching Word that is true, hard, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It is trusted by God to a pastor to be preached to the congregation faithfully, in order, continually, and repetitively, so it can sanctify and renew the congregation until perfect as Jesus (appearing as the shining golden lampstand).
Revelation 1:11
1:11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send itto the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
John the apostle is the servant of God used by Him to write the Word of God for the churches. He must be corrected by the Word of God and bear its weight first, so the written Word of God contains power to help the congregation.
If our life, marriage, and ministry are marked with flesh suffering because of Jesus, we will be able to hear and see the loud voice of the trumpet, to sanctify and renew our life until we become a shining golden lampstand.
The task of the shining golden lampstand is to testify and invite. If we keep doing this, we will reach the city of light, the New Jerusalem.
As experienced by John the apostle, we must also be corrected by the Word of God and bear its weight first, so our testimony and invitation become a blessing to the others and have God’s power to help them.
Acts 1:8
1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Mark 5:18-20
5:18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.
5:19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”
5:20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.
Who is used to testify?
All people who have experienced sanctification and life renewal by the loud voice of the trumpet will be used to testify.
What must be testified?
- We preach or testify what God has done in our life through the preaching of the Word of God as follows.
- The gospel Word or gospel of salvation.
Ephesians 1:13
1:13 In Him you also trusted,after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
We testify how God has saved us from perdition because of sins through the work of the gospel Word.
The signs of salvation are as follows.- Believing and having faith to Jesus as the only Savior.
- Repenting, stopping sinning to return to God.
- Water and Holy Spirit baptism, so we receive new life, that is living in righteousness.
- Believing and having faith to Jesus as the only Savior.
- The light of the gospel of the glory of Christ/ the true teaching Word/ Bride Tidings/ the loud voice of the trumpet.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
We testify how the teaching Word has sanctified and renewed our life to reach perfection.
- The gospel Word or gospel of salvation.
- Testifying about the mercy of God as the High Priest who has helped us from all problems even the impossible one.
The level or direction of testimony is as follows.
- Within the marriage.
Mark 5:19-20
5:19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”
5:20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.
We testify through our words and deeds within our household.
House also refers to the shepherding or church. We must also testify within it. - In front of all people.
- The light of the New Jerusalem or the light of the world.
Matthew 5:14
5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Revelation 21:9-10
21:9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”
21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Acts 1:8
1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The strength to testify is the power of Holy Spirit that will help our weak flesh so we can bear witness.
John 15:25-27
15:25 But this happenedthat the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’
15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
15:27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
Why do we need the Holy Spirit? Because we face the situation of the world that is dark and full of suffering, persecution, sadness, and crisis in each field. We also face gossips and false teaching, sins up to the peak of sin (sin concerning eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage). Flesh with all its weakness will not be able to testify, even will join the darkness of the world. Therefore, we need the Holy Spirit.
Why must we testify?
- Testimony beats Satan. If we do not testify, we will become accusers and blame the others.
Revelation 12:10-11
12:10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
12:11 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. - If we do not testify, sometime we will be disappointed and deny God.
Thus, wherever, whenever, under any situations, we must become the shining golden lampstand by the power of Holy Spirit.
Matthew 11:2-9
11:2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples
11:3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
11:4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
11:5 Theblind see and thelame walk; thelepers are cleansed and thedeaf hear; thedead are raised up and thepoor have the gospel preached to them.
11:6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
11:7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
11:8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothingare in kings’ houses.
11:9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
Formerly, John the prophet was an upright reed. He acknowledged Jesus and testified about Him.
John 1:29,36
1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
1:36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
But inside the prison (the world full of sadness, et cetera), he doubts Jesus.
But through the teaching Word (the loud voice of the trumpet) and Holy Spirit, John the prophet becomes strong and of good courage until he is willing to be beheaded. He is increased more than a prophet, that is he becomes the bride of God.
Revelation 6:9-11
6:9 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.
6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
6:11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number oftheir fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were,was completed.
We also must not be doubtful but keep testifying by the power of Holy Spirit, until we become the bride of God.
Peter is a great servant of God, but at the end he denies Him. But after being fulfilled with Holy Spirit in the upper room of Jerusalem, he is not afraid to testify about Jesus anymore.
A Samaritan woman has married and divorced for five times and she is very unclean. But after meeting Jesus and receiving the living water, she can testify. A quenched lamp and broken reed can be helped by Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit is the Comforter. He comforts and strengthens us so we are not disappointed and desperate. We are not quenched in facing anything in this world.
Holy Spirit is the Helper. He helps us right on His time. He makes possible the impossible things.
Holy Spirit helps us so the lamp keeps burning until we can welcome Jesus’ second coming.
God blesses us.