His Witnesses

The men purchased from every nation by the Lamb become his priestly witnesses who persevere in their Testimony of Jesus.

Men and women redeemed by Jesus join his “Kingdom of Priests,” which is tasked with reflecting his light in a hostile world. For overcoming “saints,” persecution is not an aberration, but an integral part of being a citizen of God’s Kingdom. To persevere in “the Testimony of Jesus” in affliction is what it means to follow “the Lamb wherever he goes.” Every member of his Church is called to be his witness.

This group is composed of men and women from every “nation,” “people,” “tribe,” and “tongue” who have been redeemed by the death of Jesus. His Kingdom has no national, ethnic, or cultural divisions or boundary lines on any map. This priestly company is sent by the Lamb to mediate the light of his Gospel in every corner of this dark world.

[Lantern - Photo by Alex Moliski (Salt Lake City) on Unsplash]

Jesus is “the Faithful Witness.” His death is the basis of his present reign and the foundation of his domain. Through his sacrifice, he freed his people from their sins and made them a priestly kingdom:

• “If you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you will be my own possession from among all peoples, for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be for me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation” - (Exodus 19:5-6).

• “You also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” - (1 Peter 2:5).

• “And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him who loves us and loosed us from our sins by his blood. And he made us a kingdom, priests for his God and Father. To him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” - (Revelation 1:5-6).

The mission of the Nation of Israel to be a light to the nations is now given to the followers of the “Lamb” from every nation and people, the Church of Jesus Christ. Where Israel failed, Christ’s people will succeed if they take up the priestly role and follow him - (Revelation 5:10, 14:1-4).

The recipients of the Book of Revelation are identified as “the servants” of God, namely, the “Seven Assemblies of Asia.” They are “fellow participants” with John in suffering for the Kingdom.

These congregations endured hostility because of their faithful testimony. In the city of Pergamos, for example, a believer named Antipas was killed because he would not deny Christ’s name. Like Jesus, Antipas is called a “faithful witness” because he gave his life for the Lamb:

• “I, John, your brother and fellow participant with you in the tribulation and kingdom and endurance in Jesus. I was on the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the Testimony of Jesus” - (Revelation 1:9).

• “I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast my name, and did not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells” - (Revelation 2:13).

In Chapter 5 of Revelation, John saw a glorious figure sitting on “the Throne” while holding a book sealed with Seven Seals. Only the sacrificial “Lamb” was “worthy” to open the book, 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 for our God” - (Revelation 5:9-10).

Everyone purchased “from the Earth” by the Lamb’s blood becomes a member of this priestly 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 – (Revelation 6:9-11).

Likewise, “the Two Witnesses” described in Chapter 11 were slain by “the Beast from the Abyss” because of their “Testimony” – (Revelation 11:4-7).

The Greek term translated as “witness” or ‘martur’ is the same word from which the English noun “martyr” is derived. It originally referred to someone who gave testimony in legal proceedings. Only later did ‘martur’ acquire the sense of ‘martyr’ as it is used today for someone who gives his life for a cause, though it begins to take on this meaning 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,’ which is from the same word group as ‘martur’.

Those men and women who have the “Testimony of Jesus” consequently face persecution by “the Dragon” and his earthly vassals. From his perspective, the Devil must not allow the followers of the Lamb to persist in their witness for Jesus.

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 this “Testimony” - (Revelation 12:9-17).

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

Humanity is divided into two groups in Revelation: The men 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, and those men who swear fealty to the Beast bear witness to its apparent power:

• “And they rendered homage to the Dragon, because he gave his authority to the Beast. And they rendered homage to the Beast, saying, Who is like the Beast, and who can make war with him?” - (Revelation 13:4).

The saints “overcome” the Devil and his “Beast” by remaining faithful witnesses despite what Satan inflicts on them. They are participants in “the tribulation and the kingdom and the endurance in Jesus.” Suffering for him is what it means to follow the Lamb “wherever he goes,” and to be a member of his priestly Kingdom:

• “Here is the endurance of the saints, the men who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” – (Revelation 14:12).

Babylon also persecutes the followers of “the Lamb.” John saw “the Great Whore drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses (‘martur’) of Jesus” – (Revelation 17:6).

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

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

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SEE ALSO:

• Preach 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)

• My Faithful Witness - (In the greetings sent to the congregations of Asia, Jesus is called the Faithful Witness because of his self-sacrificial death)

• The Final Sign - (The End will come only after the Gospel has been proclaimed in every nation and to every people - Matthew 24:14)

• Ses Témoins - (Les hommes rachetés par l'Agneau deviennent ses témoins sacerdotaux qui persévèrent dans le Témoignage de Jésus)