Testimony of the Word
The noun testimony means evidence based on observation or knowledge. To testify is to make a statement based on personal knowledge or belief: to bear witness. A witness is the one testifying or giving testimony. A witness knows, has been there or has gone through it. Sister White says that the Word testifies of Jesus. The Holy Spirit inspired it*. He knew Jesus very well. In talking about our attraction to Jesus, Sister White emphasizes the importance of the Word's testimony. Let us read,
"Only the beauty of heavenly truth must draw those who would follow Him. The character of the Messiah had long been foretold in prophecy, and He desired men to accept Him upon the testimony of the Word of God."—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 43.
John says in Revelation that "…the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Revelation 19:10). The term spirit could also be translated as essence. So the essence of Prophecy is to bear witness of Jesus.
One good example prophecy bearing witness of Jesus is in the book of Daniel. In fact, Jesus refers to Daniel at least twice as someone to read. In Matthew 24 Jesus is talking about the end times and states that, "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand …" (Mat24:15). You could also say that indirectly he was referring to Daniel when He told Peter how many times you should forgive your brother, "Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven" (Mat 18:22). This seventy times seven is quoted in Daniel 9: 24 – 27 as seventy weeks. Let us read the passage,
Dan9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Dan9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Dan9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Dan9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
This passage ties in to 1 John 5: 6 – 8 mention of witness of water and blood. Let us read it,
1Jn5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
1Jn5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
1Jn5:8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
Jesus' baptism, the event that was foretold by Daniel's prophecy in Daniel 9:24–26 as the coming of the Anointed, proclaimed the beginning of Christ's ministry on earth. This could be called "the testimony of water." Daniel's prophecy also spoke of when the Anointed One would be cut off (murdered on the cross) in the middle of the week, "the testimony of blood." We see that Jesus was right when He said, "the scriptures … testify of me" John 5:39. Therefore we should "search the scriptures." Are we searching?
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Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com
