His Witnesses

Men redeemed by Jesus become a “Kingdom of Priests” tasked with bearing witness to a hostile world. For overcoming “saints,” persecution is not an aberration to be avoided, but an integral part of being a citizen of the Kingdom of God. To Persevere in the “Testimony of Jesus” in affliction is to follow the “Lamb wherever he goes.” All members of his Church are called to be his “Witnesses.”

This group is composed of men from every “nation,” “people,” “tribe,” and “tongue” redeemed by the death of Jesus. It has no national, ethnic, or cultural divisions. This priestly company mediates the light of the Gospel in a dark world.

[Photo by Travis Leery on Unsplash]

Jesus is the “Faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the Dead, and the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth.” His death is the basis of his present reign. Through his sacrifice, he freed his people from their sins and made them a priestly kingdom. The mission to be a light to the nations assigned by God to Israel has been taken up by the followers of the “Lamb” - (Exodus 19:4-6, Revelation 1:4-6, 5:10, 14:1-4).

The addressees of the Book are identified as the “servants” of God, namely, the “Seven Assemblies of Asia.” They were “fellow participants” with John in the “Tribulation and Kingdom and Perseverance in Jesus.” The Asian congregations faced hostility for their faithful testimony. In the city of Pergamos, for example, “my faithful witness, Antipas” was killed because he would not deny the name or faith of Jesus - (Revelation 1:8-9).

In Chapter 5, John saw a glorious figure sitting on the “Throne” and holding the Scroll sealed with Seven Seals. Only the sacrificial “Lamb” was found “worthy” to open the Scroll because “he was slain and redeemed for God by his blood men out of every tribe, tongue, people, and nation, and made them a KINGDOM and PRIESTS to our God” - (Revelation 5:9-10).

Everyone purchased “from the Earth” by his blood becomes a member of this company and is therefore called to persevere in the “Testimony of Jesus” no matter the cost.

When the Fifth Seal was opened, John saw the “witnesses” who had been slain for the “Word of God, and their Testimony.” Like the animals sacrificed in the Tabernacle, their lives were poured out at the base of the Altar because of their faithful testimony. Likewise, the “Two Witnesses” in Chapter 11 were slain by the “Beast from the Abyss” because of their “Testimony” – (Revelation 6:9-11, 11:4-7).

The Greek term translated as “witness” or ‘martur’ is the same word from which the English noun “martyr” is derived. Originally, ‘martur’ referred to someone who gave testimony, often in legal proceedings. Only later did it acquire the sense of “martyr,” though it begins to do so in the Book of Revelation.

HIS MARTYRS

In the Fifth Seal opening, the witnesses paid for their testimony with their lives. Similarly, the Greek noun translated as “testimony” throughout the Book is ‘martyria.’ It is from the same word group as ‘martur’. Those who have the “Testimony of Jesus” consequently face persecution by the “Dragon” and his earthly vassals.

In Chapter 12, Satan was expelled from heaven. Enraged, he gathered his forces to “wage war against the Seed of the Woman, those men who have the Testimony of Jesus.” The “brethren” overcame the “Great Red Dragon” by the “Word of their Testimony, and because they loved not their lives unto death.” They were willing to suffer death for his “Testimony.” In the paradoxical world of Revelation, martyrdom is victory, not defeat - (Revelation 12:9-17).

In Chapter 13, the “Beast that ascended from the Sea” waged war on the “saints” and killed them. This portrays the same reality as the war of the “Dragon” against those with the “Testimony of Jesus.” Because they persevered in their “Testimony” they were executed by the “Beast” - (Revelation 12:17, 13:1-10).

Humanity falls into two groups – Those redeemed by the “Lamb,” and the “Inhabitants of the Earth” who take the “Mark of the Beast.” Rather than the “Testimony of Jesus,” the second group venerates the Beast – “Who is like Beast, and who can make war with it?” - (Revelation 13:15-18, 14:1-5).

The saints purchased by Jesus “overcame” the Devil and his “Beast” by remaining faithful witnesses despite whatever Satan inflicted on them. Their praise and worship were for the “Lamb” alone. This was the “endurance of the saints.”

Babylon also persecuted the followers of the “Lamb.” In Chapter 17, the “Great Whore” was “drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the WITNESSES (‘martur’) of Jesus” – (Revelation 17:6).

[Channel Islands, Travis Leery, Unsplash]

Because of their faithfulness even “unto death,” the “Witnesses of Jesus” were standing before the “Lamb” and the “Throne” in “New Jerusalem,” having “come out of the Great Tribulation.” Martyrdom meant victory and guaranteed residency in the “Holy City” – (Revelation 7:15-17, 14:12).

From start to finish, the focus is on the company of saints redeemed from every nation by Jesus, and its mission to bear witness before the peoples of the Earth. All men and women purchased by “the blood of the Lamb” are tasked with persevering in the “Testimony of Jesus” regardless of the consequences.

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RELATED POSTS:

• Proclaiming the Gospel - (The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom to all Nations without exception until Jesus returns – Matthew 24:14)

• Age of Salvation - (The Gospel of the Kingdom announced by Jesus offers salvation and life to all men and women of every nation and people)

• The Redeemed of the Earth - (The one people of God is composed of the men and women purchased from every nation by the blood of the Lamb)