Testimony of Jesus

   "...For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19:10). In John 1:1, Jesus was given the title of the "Word of God" indicating that Jesus, the Messiah, was given words from His Father and came to share these words with the world; to reveal the instructions man needs from his Creator, Jehovah God, to all who would listen. The testimony of Jesus is the entire Bible; being the Word of God. Christ was the author by inspiration to all His chosen writers, from Moses to John, "A revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him to show to His slaves things which must occur quickly..." (Revelation 1:1). From Genesis to Revelation is a testimony to mankind from God's Son, through His chosen writers to educate us as to the messages from our Father, to warn us of things to come and to instruct us in the correct direction toward salvation. The Old Testament is filled with examples of man's natural weakness; it also outlines Jehovah's code of righteousness and Jehovah gave for us, prophecies of things that are to come, including the first arrival of His Messiah. The New Testament points the way to salvation, guidelines and prophecies for us to prepare ourselves for the judgment that everyone must endure. The Book of Life is a list of those who responded to God's warnings and to His invitation for our willing acts of righteousness, as we are lead to purification by the blood of the Lamb, those who kept the commands of God, "Here is the patience of the saints; here are the ones keeping the commands of God and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:12), and Christ did display His many acts of faith.

    The prophets of the Old Testament were a communication link between God and man, in both directions. God used His prophets to deliver information and instructions to man, and for those who would seek a seer (as prophets were sometimes called) to ask Jehovah as to what to do or not to do, Joshua and David both asked prophets if they were to battle with a nation or to forego. Also, God would contact a prophet to give a message to someone or a particular group. In effect, Jehovah's prophets were an acting mediator; a communication link between the people and God. Since Christ's first advent had not yet occurred, prophets were man's connection with God before Christ became our Mediator, Once Christ arrived He also became our advocate, "My little children, I write these things to you so that you do not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous." (I John 2:1) and Mediator, "For God is one, also there is one Mediator of God and of man, the Man Christ Jesus." (I Timothy 2:5). Unfortunately, this message and understanding has not been taken to heart by many Christians; a pope and priests have become mediators, along with a few denomination that have adopted writers as prophets of God. Do we need prophets as in the Old Testament? The Old Testament people had no books, just the written laws that God gave them, through Moses, which were read to the congregation on the Sabbaths by the priest in the temple. Since the appearance of Christ, He became our Mediator and Advocate and He sends His spirit to speak to each of us, to give us wisdom and understanding, if we would only ask and trust. Recently, since the invention of the printing press, we have the words of Jehovah in abundance, in an affordable book form, all given to us by Christ's inspiration to the many Bible writers, and Jesus; the Son of God delivered Jehovah's messages for us to consume, assembled into one Book, and Christ gave no words indicating that more messages from His Father were forthcoming, or needed. Therefore, our need for more prophets is void, with Christ as our Mediator? "In many part and in many ways of old, God spoke to the fathers in the prophets; in these last days, He spoke to us in the Son, whom He appointed heir of all; through whom He indeed made the ages." (Hebrews 1:1,2). Not to discourage anyone from reading what man writes about God's word or for writing what is on their heart to share with others, but only if the readers maintain the responsibility of testing what is given by men about God's word. If we put men's words in its proper place and consider as to what is consistent within the Bible, this can be a blessing. God's Book is the standard for all truth, without exception and it is wise to know all of His truth before venturing elsewhere in man's writings, considering that man is a useful tool in the hands of Satan and he often mixes a little error within much truth. We need to well know the truth, presented in God's word, so we can recognize error or we are at the mercy of Satan, who has no mercy; he wants us to join him at his final breath, in the Lake of Fire with his false prophets. His mission of deception will continue until Christ returns.

   It is the opinion of many, if not most all SDAs, that Ellen White was a prophet and most consider her every word to be inspired by Christ, and they label her words and writings the "Spirit of Prophecy" using Revelation 19:10 as a reference for this belief. The verse doesn't say, the spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus, clearly, it says, "The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy." the reverse isn't the same, nor is the reverse true. ”Truly, I say to you, Not has arisen, among those born of a woman any greater then John the Baptist..." (Matthew 11:11), and consider the verse after, "For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John." (Matthew 11:13), these verses imply that John the Baptist was the last of the human prophets because it states "all the prophets" that were before John. I don't know of any verse that indicates that there would be additional information forthcoming, and a need for another or more prophets to come. Consider this, after Christ's promise of the Comforter, especially after He assembled the Bible; to consider otherwise would indicate that Christ forgot some information, or that His spirit would need additional help in sharing any further messages for an awaking of our understanding. Further light was to be given for some closed prophecies but another prophet was not mentioned, nor would a prophet be needed, understanding that Christ's spirit is being sent for this purpose, to enlighten those who choose to seek God Jehovah through Christ's words of truth which will enlighten these with deeper understanding of His Father's messages. This does not exclude EGW or anyone wishing to share what they received from Christ's spirit, Any spirit other then Christ or Jehovah's, therefore, we need to be cautious and test every word from the many writers who share their thoughts about God and His word.

     Humans have no authority to declare who is a prophet. To consider a human's every word to be inspired by Christ is beyond presumptuous and dangerous. Every word of man must to be tested with God's word. The original church went down that road, adding to and changing God's word, and the damage is still in effect today, and some of these doctrines that were added back then, are still not recognized by Christian congregations as not being Biblical. The traditions of men, born from the thoughts of man, existed during Christ first visit and He warned us about relying on the traditions of men, but we still continue to rely on the words of man and our own exalted imaginations, too often even more then God's words. Visit a Christian bookstore and you can't avoid being overwhelmed by the quantity of books about God, Christ and the Bible. Few Christians have read the Bible from front to back, even just once, and once is certainly not enough, but these other books by man are usually read and completed, even reread. Do we not trust in God and His Son's spirit to bless us with correct understanding, that we feel a need to reach out to other men for their presumed wisdom and understanding? We can't follow any human to the gates of Heaven, only Jesus is our Way to the Father, "Jesus said to Him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6), and He gave us the path toward our future home in the written words of the Book He inspired, words that His Father gave Him to give to us, Christ is the last link to the Father, He came bearing God's messages and Christ put them in a Book, this is Christ's "testimony" as the verse states in Revelation 19:10. God didn't make His word difficult to understand, if we ask and rely on Christ's spirit to enlighten us, on His timing. We need to exercise our patience and know that He will give us the understanding to those who have asked and need His help. The "Testimony of Jesus" is at your fingertips, and if not, seek out a Bible that is as close to the original as possible.