The Testimony of Jesus

As we arrive at the end of our brief look at the marriage supper of the Lamb, we come to a very ambiguous expression: “ … the testimony of Jesus.” This expression passes by unexplained, but it is precipitated by John’s improper reaction of worshipping the messenger. At the awe of the events unfolded before him, John bows before the messenger. In the Christian faith, there is no room for the worship of any creature … ever, in any way, for any reason. God and God alone deserves our worship.

When Wally Chung’s life was restored on the operating table from cardiac arrest, it was the work of a committed and aggressive surgeon. We have him to thank. But we also have God to thank. To thank one and not the other would be to skew the picture of reality. God saved Wally’s life … not the doctor. Life is in the hands of the Almighty, not in the finite fingers of His servants.

The servant, however, deserves honor and thanks. As long as the line between worship and respect is clearly drawn, honor and respect are to be held high. Some of my mentors demanded respect and deserved little, while others demanded little and deserved much. Respect is due faithful servants through whom God pours His grace to us. Worship is due the Almighty, no one else. The line between the two needs to be marked with a thick, heavy line.

One of the places where this line is commonly experienced is in music at a church service. For the most part, the individual is not an entertainer. This is not a performance, but rather it is worship. For the most part, we applaud the person who has practiced and disciplined themselves to prepare for leading the congregation in worship. Our clapping is our expression of thanks to the individual. There are occasions, however, when the music is of such an uncommon depth that the listeners are drawn into the presence of God with such intensity that the instrument is forgotten, and the mind is filled with His presence. In such circumstances, there is an awesome hush in the building, and the sound of clapping would damage the moment.

John is drawn into the reality of the revelation given to him so that he is not tempted to applaud, but rather he falls prostrate before the messenger. To this response, he is gently and lovingly rebuked. “God alone deserves our worship!” The messenger then identifies himself as a “fellow servant … of those who hold the testimony of Jesus” (19:10).

The Testimony of Jesus

Revelation 19:10

The testimony of prophecy [the spirit of prophecy]

A. The insignificance

B. The power

C. The comfort

The testimony which Jesus bore

A. The Person

B. The work

C. The comfort

The testimony borne to Him

A. The common

B. The completeness

C. The comfort