Our Testimony

John has had a revelation, but he characterizes his sharing of it as “testimony” (2) and the content of it as God’s word and the “testimony” of Jesus—a major theme of the whole book. His letter-like greeting in vs. 4 and 5 invokes blessing from Jesus Christ, “the faithful witness.” (The words for “testimony” / “testify” and “witness” come from the same Greek root.) John’s testimony clearly arises from his personal experience. It is a “revelation” that has been given to him (1) and is not simply an exercise in doctrine. On the other hand, it is a testimony that focuses on God: it has been given by God, from Jesus, through his angel. Much of the content centers on the character of God, particularly as expressed in the Old Testament. The title “who is, and was, and is to come” is an adaptation of God’s name revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exod. 3:14), and the hope of his coming is expressed in verses from Daniel (7; Dan. 7:13).

John’s testimony connects the unchanging character of God with the situation of those he is writing to. Jesus is ruler over the “kings of the earth” (5). The main way of understanding Jesus’ death in Revelation is that he has defeated the powers that enslave us (5b), a powerful image in an empire where slavery was commonplace.

The power of all testimony is that it makes the truths about God accessible. By sharing our own experience of the grace of God, we can connect with the concerns of those who hear us.

Practice sharing your testimony, perhaps by writing it out. How does it connect the universal truth about God with the particular concerns of those you live and work with?