Wednesday, July 19, 2017

The Testimony of Jesus

The Testimony of Jesus

Revelation 19:10
(10)  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Revelation 1:2 who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
Prophecy = speaks of the future
Testimony = speaks of the past
Calvary was the Lord’s trial, which the Gospels portray in detail.  The result of ultimate sacrifice is the Church – The book of Acts and the outpouring of the Holy Ghost and utltimately the Kingdom of God coming to the earth (Revelation 21-22 New Jerusalem). The epistles are the letters written to the Holy Ghost church, all scripture has prophetic significance.  But the prophetic text that describes the Victory of the Lord Jesus Christ has a special anointing on it, which the Lord referred to as the SPIRIT of PROPHECY!!!  The Revelation that was given to John, is specifically described as the Revelation of Jesus Christ. (Rev 1:1) which was prefaced in the OT prophets (Daniel is the backbone of Revelation). 
Daniel 11:32 and such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits
33  And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 
Studying and understanding the prophecies of scripture is a spiritual endeavor.  The understanding of the prophetic text is unveiled by the Holy Ghost – which is the Spirit of Jesus Christ. It is the Lord’s testimony culminating with the defeat of Satan, the antichrist, the false prophet, and ultimately ushering Jesus Christ as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  That my friend is Victory.  Calvary and the events of the Lord’s humble coming were the trial for Him – coming with ten thousands of his Saints – being crowned King of Kings – now that is TOTAL VICTORY!!!  Only those that are filled with His Spirit and baptized in His name shall truly being able to stand with Him on that day!!!  But that TOTAL VICTORY is put into the saints when His Spirit fills us!  We must stay in that VICTORY to see that day on the right side!
The LORD discussed this with his disciples – and we have it laid out with the events in order in the Olivet Discourse notice the highlight of the message:
Matthew 24:15  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:) (see also Mark 13:14)

Isn’t it awesome that the prophetic scripture of Daniel the man who wrote of the Messiah and prophesized of the testimony of Jesus Christ would be the reference point that Jesus used when discussing the events with his disciples?  This validates that much attention must be given to the prophecies of the book of Daniel!  It is the book that Revelation quotes from more than any other book.
So what is the abomination of desolation?
Overview of Daniel   
History tells us that Daniel was 15 years old when he was taken hostage and exiled to Babylon.  His age was 17 when he interpreted the first dream of Nebuchadnezzar, 49 when he interpreted the second dream (chapter 4), 81 years old when the handwriting on the wall was translated at Belshazzar’s feast, and 81-83 years old when he was thrown into the lion’s den, and finally 84 years old when he received the 70 weeks prophecy.
70 weeks prophecy
Daniel 9:24  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. 
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.  (7 + 62 = 69 weeks)
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. 

Prophecy split into three sections
Ezra 1:1-2 (commandment to restore and build Jerusalem)
7 weeks AND 62 weeks = 69 weeks until Messiah is cut off (483 years total)
1 week (7 years) remain that are yet to be fulfilled

Abomination of Desolation (Final 7 years)
Daniel 9:27  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. 

“He” of Daniel 9:27 is the ANTICHRIST – “the Prince that should come” and we know this conclusively because of other references:
1)      Daniel 11:31 speaks of the same event (Abom. Of Desolation), describing the Prince as “vile person” (v 21) and his heart is against the holy covenant (v 28) and have indignation against the holy covenant (v 30) and he will pollute the sanctuary of strength (v 31) and he will corrupt by flatteries (v 32). 
2)      Daniel 11:36 calls him a king and says he will exalt himself and magnify himself above every god.  He shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and (v 37) not regard the God of his fathers (must be a descendant of Abraham – possibly Islamic) he shall not desire women, nor regard any god – he will magnify himself above all!
3)      2 Thess 2:3-4 gives the same event as Daniel 11:36 and calls him the man of sin- the son of perdition, who opposes and exalteth himself above all that is called God or is worshipped – sitteth in the temple of God – shewing himself that he is God – the man of sin is the Antichrist!
How do we know that the seventy weeks are weeks of years instead of days?
The prophecy teaches the final week being 7 years.  Here are the verses that tell us that timeline:

1 + 2 + ½ = 3 ½ years (Half of 7 years)
The Antichrist is given power for 42 months (same as Rev 13:5)
Daniel 7:25  And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Daniel 12:7  And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

Israel is taken by the two wings of the eagle to the wilderness for 3-1/2 years
Revelation 12:14  And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

42 months (3-1/2 years, Half of 7 years)
The Gentiles tread on the court of the temple for 42 months
Revelation 11:2-3
(2)  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

The Antichrist is given power for 42 months
Revelation 13:5
(5)  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

1260 days (Jewish calendar 360 days, Half of 7 years)
1260 / 360 = 3.5 years
Revelation 11:3
 (3)  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Revelation 12:6
(6)  And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Conclusion
What is Jesus’ testimony?

The testimony of the Ancient of Days
Daniel 7:9
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
In Daniel He is referred to as the anciet of days in chapter 7 and also as the Stone “made without hands” that specifically comes and destroys the images (representing the kingdoms of this world) and the image crumbles and the STONE becomes a MOUNTAIN (Daniel 2) which filled the entire earth. 
Revelation 1:13-16
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.  (14)  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;  (15)  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.  (16)  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
Revelation  19:11-16
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (14)  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  (15)  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  (16)  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
What a testimony!  The Messiah was foreseen in Daniel and referred to as the Ancient of Days – the Son of Man!  (Also seen in the fiery furnace with Daniel’s 3 friends) but in Revelation John sees Him in TOTAL VICTORY!!!!  Flesh is covering Him – dipped in blood and His name is called The WORD OF GOD (John 1:1) His Saints are following him on white horses – clothed in fine linen, white and CLEAN!  The Word of God became flesh (John 1:14) and dwelt among us.  We beheld His glory as the only Begotten full of Grace and Truth.  He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.

Daniel 2:44  And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever
45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. 

The SEVENTH Trumpet
Revelation 11:15
(15)  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Zechariah 12:9-11
(9)  And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
 (10)  And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
(11)  In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.



This is why the Apostles asked the LORD in Acts 1:
Acts 1:6-8  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel
 (7)  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
(8)  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Revelation 1:5-8
(5)  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
(6)  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
(7)  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
(8)  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

The 1000 year Reign of Christ on the earth
Revelation 20:4-6
(4)  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (5)  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
(6)  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

We are currently spiritually living in the kingdom of God (Romans 14:17).  The events we have discussed here is the transition from the Spiritual reality into the Physical reality – WHEN THE FULLNESS OF TIME comes.  (Just like the first coming of the Messiah).  Rest assured in the Church under our great Pastor – we are right where we need to be to find ourselves on the right side of the events!


Galatians 4:1-7
(1)  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
(2)  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
(3)  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
(4)  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
(5)  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
(6)  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
(7)  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

We HAVE the testimony of Jesus Christ applied to us when we obey the gospel!  We are under tutors and governors right here in the Church!  When the Lord is going to come back to judge the world – He will put an end to the enemies of the Church.  He will restore the kingdom and He will rule the Earth for 1000 years!  We are being trained right now, under the authority of the Apostolic Ministry- we are being perfected to be the trusted servants and CHILDREN of the King of Kings!