THE ELECT HAVE IT, BUT WHAT IS THE "TESTIMONY OF YAHWSHUA"?
"THE TESTIMONY OF YAHWSHUA IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY"
After the Great Babylon's full demise (Revelation 17 and 18) the first "Halleluyahs" (i.e., "Alleluias") uttered in the Berit Hadasha are recorded (Revelation 19:1-6).
Few know that the Renewed Covenant doesn't have one "Halleluyah" in it until the infamous Great Babylon is destroyed! Do you find this interesting? If so, the next time you shout out a heart- felt "Halleluyah" think about Great Babylon's destruction!
But this is not the subject of this message that we are about to expound upon . . . it's the "testimony of Yahwshua" that concerns us here.
Revelation 19:10 "And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, 'See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony* (this points to John/Yahannan 19:35 in the Spirit Filled Life Bible and references a "word study" of the Greek word for "testimony") of Yahwshua. "Worship Yhwh! For the testimony of Yahwshua is the spirit of prophecy."
Dear brethren, let's examine what the Kingdom dynamics mentioned about this subject.
"In (Revelation) 19:10: The Holy Scriptures and the Spirit of Prophecy, PROPHECY. The entire Scriptures is a product of the Ruach Ha Kodesh, who is, not only 'the Spirit of truth' (John 16:13), but 'the spirit of prophesy' (derived from Greek preposition pro and verb phemi) means 'to speak forth before.'
"The preposition 'before' in this use may mean 1) 'in advance' and/or 2) 'in front of.'
Thus, 'to prophesy' is a proper term to describe the proclamation of Yhwh's Word as it forecasts events. It may also describe the declaration of Yhwh's Word forthrightly, boldly, or confrontingly before a group or individual--telling forth Yhwh's truth and will. So, in both respects, the Scriptures are prophetic: a set of Book that reveals Yhwh's will through His Word and His works, as well as a Book that reveals Yhwh's plans and predictions . . . this text defines the witness or testimony of Yahwshua Ha Mashiach Himself as being synonymous with, or at the heart of, the spirit of prophecy.
"These words not only define Scripture; they also confine all utterances that claim to be true prophecy: Yahwshua will be at the center of it all, as He is in the whole Torah.
1) The Tanak exists to reveal Mashiach (Luke 24:27; John 5:39; I Pet. 1:10-12); and
2) the NT is inspired by the Holy Spirit for the same purpose (John 14:26; 16:13-15)." (The Spirit Filled Life Bible, pp. 1987-88).
So we are persuaded of the very essence of prophecy:Yahwshua will be the center of it all! Let's continue reading:
John 19:35: "And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe." (Note: This is the New King James Version, the original King James Version of the Bible translates the word as "record" instead of "testified" and translates the word "testimony" as "record" as well; to wit: "And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true . . . . ")
"(Revelation) 19:35 testimony, marturia (mar-too-ree-ah): Strong's #3141: Compare 'martyr' Witness, historical attestation, evidence, judicial or general certification. The word describes a testimony based on what one has seen, heard, or knows. The English word 'martyr' comes from the Greek root, with the implication that a witness is willing to die for his belief"
Now, to keep things in their correct perspective--I hasten to add--that the use of the intense word "martyr" or "record" is used by John in the Gospel as follows: John 1:19, 32, 34; 8:13 (twice); 8:14 (twice); 12:17; 19:35 (twice), he uses it again in his First Epistle: I John 5:7, 10, 11 and in his Third Epistle: III John 12 (twice) and again in Revelation 1:2 (in all cases the KJV translate these two Greek words by taking the “stem” from the word "martyr" as "record."
The word is translated in the KJV as "testified," "testifieth," "testify," and "testimony" in the follow: John 4:39; 4:44; 13:21; I John 5:9; III John 3; John 3:32; John 21:24; Revelation 22:20; John 2:25; 3:11; 5:39; 7:7; 15:26; I John 4:14; Revelation 22:16; and 22:18; and finally, the word "testimony" is used in John 3:32, 33, 34; 8:17; 21:24; Revelation 1:2, 9; 6:9; 11:7; 12:11; 12:17; and 19:10 (twice).
We shall go into greater detail here, and although Shaul/Paul and others use this Greek word, its use by apostle John is most extensive. Now, what we are leading up to is the "general thrust" of why Yhwh's Kodesh Spirit uses this word throughout John's Revelation. The commencement of the Revelation of Yahwshua Ha Mashiach (Revelation 1:2 KJV) states: "Who bare record of the word of Yhwh, and of the testimony of Yahwshua Ha Mashiach, and of all things that he saw." Immediately, we are alerted to the intensity of the "testimony of Yahwshua Ha Mashiach" and what this Book of the Revelation of Yahwshua Ha Mashiach is all about.
Again, John declares in Revelation 1:9: "I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Yahwshua Ha Mashiach, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of Yhwh, and for the testimony of Yahwshua Ha Mashiach" (KJV).
Here, the association of "tribulation" and "testimony" is clearly made. John had suffered, and was in "tribulation" because of the "testimony of Yahwshua." Now, the association of such "tribulation" and "testimony" becomes much clearer as we read through the Revelation:
Revelation 6:9: "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of Yhwh, and for the testimony which they held."
Who are these "souls?" As one reads the remainder of Revelation 6 it is altogether apparent that they are the initial martyrs who have preceded the "tribulation saints" - to wit: "And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled" (Revelation 6:11).
Again, and in conclusion, the stress upon this "to die for" testimony is directly associated with such martyrdom and suffering of Yhwh's people--i.e., "fellow servants" and "their brethren, that should be killed as they were."
It is utterly inescapable that the "testimony of Yahwshua" can be separated from such an utter sacrifice and witness given by Yhwh's people during the Seventieth Week of Daniel and, for that matter, the entire history of the Ekklesia/Kehilah--THAT'S THE KIND OF TESTIMONY to which the apostle John alludes!