The statement that “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” comes from Revelation 19:10, where an angel tells the apostle John, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” This simple phrase is packed with deep meaning that sheds light on the nature and purpose of biblical prophecy.
To understand what this verse means, we first need to understand what “the testimony of Jesus” is. The testimony of Jesus refers to everything Jesus did and taught during His earthly ministry as recorded in the Gospels. It encompasses His life, death, resurrection, teaching, miracles, character, and purpose. As Hebrews 1:2 states, “In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” The testimony of Jesus is the ultimate divine revelation, superior to all previous prophecy.
Jesus Himself said, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44). Jesus declared that the Old Testament Scriptures testified about Him. He is the central subject and fulfillment of all biblical prophecy. John the Baptist declared that Jesus “bears witness to the truth” (John 5:33). The truth that Jesus bore witness to was the good news of salvation that came through faith in Him.
Therefore, when Revelation 19:10 states that the “testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy,” it means that the ultimate purpose and focal point of all biblical prophecy is Jesus Christ Himself. Old Testament prophecy looked forward to and anticipated the coming of the Messiah. Jesus is the culmination of messianic prophecy. New Testament prophecy looks back to Christ and His completed work. All prophecy bears witness to Christ. The spirit, heart, intent, and goal of prophecy is to exalt Jesus Christ.
Why is the testimony of Jesus equated with the “spirit of prophecy”? For a few key reasons:
- Jesus fulfills the prophecies of the Messiah in the Old Testament.
- Jesus proclaimed prophecies during His earthly ministry.
- Jesus is the subject of prophecies in the New Testament.
- Jesus inaugurated the new covenant prophesied by the Old Testament prophets.
- Jesus accomplished the central purpose of prophecy – to bring redemption through the Gospel.
So in summary, the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy because:
- Jesus embodies and fulfills the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament.
- Jesus Himself spoke prophecies and revealed the Father’s will.
- All biblical prophecy centers on the person and work of Christ.
- The ultimate goal of prophecy is to testify to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The purpose of prophecy is to point people to salvation in Jesus. As Revelation 19:10 goes on to say, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” has a two-fold meaning. First, it equates the testimony of Jesus with the spirit of prophecy. Secondly, it provides a reason for John’s inappropriate reaction to the angel. John had mistakenly fallen down to worship the angel who had been speaking prophetically to him. The angel quickly corrected John, saying “You must not do that!” He immediately points to the true object of worship – God. The angel is a created being through whom the Spirit of prophecy has spoken. Only Jesus, as the Son of God, is worthy of worship.
Therefore, the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy because:
- It reveals Jesus Christ and God’s redemptive plan in Him.
- It motivates worship of God alone, not created beings.
- It inspires reverence, obedience, and surrender to Christ.
To elaborate on how Jesus fulfills the role and purpose of biblical prophecy, we can highlight the following key truths:
1. Jesus fulfilled Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament.
There are over 300 prophecies about the coming Messiah in the Old Testament scriptures. Jesus fulfills every one with 100% accuracy. Some key examples include:
- The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) – Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
- The Messiah would be preceded by a messenger (Isaiah 40:3) – John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ.
- The Messiah would be rejected (Psalm 118:22) – Jesus was rejected by Jewish leaders.
- The Messiah would suffer and die (Isaiah 53:3) – Jesus died on the cross for our sins.
- The Messiah would rise from the dead (Psalm 16:10) – Jesus rose again on the third day.
Jesus’ life aligned perfectly with the Old Testament prophecies regarding the identity, purpose, and mission of the coming Messiah. This affirms that Jesus is the fulfillment of messianic prophecy.
2. Jesus Himself spoke prophecies and revealed the Father’s will.
Jesus was more than just the subject of prophecy. He also spoke prophecies as the Son of God. Jesus made predictions about future events that came to pass, demonstrating His divine knowledge and authority. Some examples include:
- Jesus prophesied His own death and resurrection (Mark 8:31).
- Jesus predicted Peter’s denial (Matthew 26:34).
- Jesus foretold the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (Matthew 24:1-2).
- Jesus prophesied the coming of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-15).
- Jesus predicted His second coming (Matthew 24:27-31).
Jesus revealed the sovereign plans of God. His prophecies unveiled mysteries about the future and the spiritual world. They give insight into His divine purpose and mission. Through His prophecies, Jesus testified to His identity as the Son of God.
3. All biblical prophecy centers on Jesus Christ.
While prophecy in the Old Testament anticipated Christ’s coming, New Testament prophecy looks back to His completed work. The book of Revelation focuses on the fulfillment of God’s purposes through Jesus. Revelation unveils Christ’s glory and sovereignty over history. Although Revelation contains prophecies about future events, its primary purpose is to reveal the preeminence of Christ and His triumph over Satan and evil. All roads of prophecy ultimately lead to the feet of King Jesus.
The apostle John called prophecy the “testimony of Jesus” because its fundamental aim is to testify about who He is and what He has accomplished. From Genesis to Revelation, biblical prophecy reveals how God’s redemptive plan culminates in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the long-anticipated Messiah who offers salvation to all who place their faith in Him.
4. Prophecy testifies to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Biblical prophecy does more than just point to future events – it proclaims the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament gave people hope that the Messiah would atone for sins and redeem God’s people. In the New Testament, apostolic prophecies declare that this salvation has been accomplished once for all through Christ’s perfect sacrifice on the cross.
As the fulfillment of prophecy, Jesus’ testimony calls all people to believe in Him and receive eternal life. The Gospel promises that just as Christ rose from the dead, all who trust in Him will also one day rise to live forever with God. The spirit of prophecy proclaims the saving work of Jesus and urges us to respond appropriately – with repentance, faith, obedience, and worship.
In summary, the Biblical prophets spoke by the Spirit of Christ even though they did not yet know Him. Their prophecies prepared the way for the coming of the Messiah. Now that Jesus has come, the spirit of prophecy points back to His redeeming work and the salvation believers have through His blood.
Therefore, Revelation 19:10 provides incredible insight about biblical prophecy. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy because prophecy is ultimately intended to:
- Reveal Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan.
- Prompt faith and worship of Christ alone.
- Declare the good news of salvation in Jesus’ name.
- Inspire reverent obedience to God’s Word until Christ returns.
In light of this key truth, studying biblical prophecy should increase our awe of Jesus and prompt greater devotion to Him. As the spirit of prophecy, Jesus’ testimony breathes life and power into God’s Word. It instills prophetically inspired passion to declare the excellencies of our Savior until He comes again.