“It’s important to realize that the famous last words of the prophets ancient and modern will always point us to Jesus”
Sent to Reconcile
What does it mean in Revelation 19:10 when the Bible states that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy? One way to understand this is to begin to look at the testimony of Jesus both when He walked on earth and today. We know from the John 14:10 that Jesus said that “the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” Jesus came to prophesy/testified to the good news that the Father sent Him into the world to reconcile man back to God. Perhaps one of the most remarkable prophesies that Jesus ever gave was when He stood up in the temple and read the words of the prophet Isaiah, which had prophesied of what the Messiah would do for His people:
So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
Luke 4:16-20 (NKJV)
Simeon Prophesied
Those who were waiting for the Messiah and recognized that the Spirit was bearing witness to (and through) Jesus would have been edified, exhorted, and comforted. Two instances of this were recorded in Luke chapter two. Simeon, a devout Jew was “waiting for the consolation of Israel.” The Bible says that Simeon was full of the Holy Spirit and that the Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before he saw Israel’s Messiah (Luke 2:25-26). As Simeon held the child, the Spirit fell on him and he prophesied:
29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation 31 which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 32 a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” 33 and Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.
Luke 2:29-33 (NKJV)
Anna Prophesied
There was also Anna who had been waiting in the temple for the Messiah to be born. She, upon seeing Jesus, “gave thanks likewise [the same as Simeon] to the Lord and spoke of him [Jesus] to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). Because of the oppression of the Jews, the words of both Simeon and Anna exhorted, edified, and comforted the people who would believe.
Express Image of the Father
Even after the resurrection of Jesus, the Spirit continued to inspire believers to establish the heart of the Father toward His Son. The testimony of Jesus was recorded by the writers of the New Testament as they encouraged believers regarding the divinity of Jesus. Hebrews 1:3 describes Jesus this way: “Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of His [the Father’s] person, and up[held] all things by the power of his word…” Because everything Jesus did and spoke prophesied to the Spirit of Christ and the heart of the Father, Jesus demonstrated the Spirit in the power His words and by the working of miracles. Not only while Jesus was on earth, but even now through us, the Spirit of Jesus is still bearing witness that He is alive! He is neither silent nor is He not without power in this world.
We Get to Reveal His Words & Power Through The Holy Spirit
Jesus still speaks His words and reveals His miracles through His children by the working of the Holy Spirit. In like manner, our words (prayers, thanksgiving, and declarations) are conveyed to us from Father God’s throne via the Holy Spirit!
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God:
Romans 8:16 (NKJV)
As well as—Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27 (NKJV)
The Spirit of Prophecy Points Back to God
In other words, the Spirit of prophecy has always pointed man to God’s goodness towards man and the good news that Jesus paid the price for our sins on the Cross. The Spirit of Jesus has, and will always, reconcile man to God. He does this by sending us words that exhort, edify, and comfort us; thereby revealing that the Father is good Father and that He has good plans for our lives. So, when you feel led to speak your words if they are inspired by the Spirit, they will always testify and manifest the heart of the Father that was revealed by His Son, Jesus.
Next week we will take a look at the perspective of the testimony as prophecy.