In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of the testimony of Jesus Christ as revealed in the book of Revelation. The speaker highlights that it is God's pleasure and duty to reveal his Son to us through the Holy Spirit. However, the speaker also points out that many people receive little of this revelation due to their lack of faithfulness. The theme of the book of Revelation is not just about future events, but rather the spirit of prophecy and the testimony of Jesus.

Will you please turn to the book of Revelation? Revelation chapter 1, verses 1 and 2. Revelation chapter 1, verses 1 and 2. Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him to show to his bondman what must shortly take place. And he signified it, sending by his angel to his bondman John, who testified the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, all things that he saw. Verse 9. I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and patience in Jesus, was in the island called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus. Chapter 6, verse 9. Chapter 6, verse 9. And when it opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. Chapter 11, verse 7. And when they shall have completed their testimony. Chapter 12, verse 11. And they have overcome him by reason of the blood of the Lamb and by reason of the word of their testimony and have not loved their life even unto death. Verse 17. And the dragon was angry with a woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, who keep the commandment of God and have the testimony of Jesus. Chapter 19, verse 10. And I fell before his feet to do him homage. And he says to me, See, thou do it not. I am thy fellow bondman and the fellow bondman of thy brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Do homage to God, for the spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus. Chapter 20, verse 4. And I saw thrones and they sat upon them and judgment was given to them and the souls of those beheaded on account of the testimony of Jesus and account of the word of God and those who have not done homage to the beast nor to his image and have not received the mark on their forehead and hand and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. I believe, brothers and sisters, you already know what we are going to share this evening. This word testimony or the testimony of Jesus is repeated nine times in the book of Revelation. I believe that as we draw nearer and nearer to the end of this age more people are being drawn to this last book of the Bible. It is the book of this day. But as we come to this last book of the Bible probably we are more interested in the prophecies. That is, the prophecies concerning the coming events. What things shall shortly come to pass? In a way this is natural because naturally we are all very curious. Curiosity is a natural trait. And this book fascinates us because it tells us of the things that are coming. And we would like to know them. But dear brothers and sisters, the theme of this book, the Revelation is not on coming events. The theme of this book, as we find in chapter 19, verse 10, is the spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus. In other words, the reason why God gave these prophecies the reason why these coming events are being predicted is not because of these events. It is because behind the prophecy behind these events there is a testimony. The spirit of prophecy. You know, often times we are so involved with prophecy that we lose the spirit of prophecy. Now, if we lose the spirit of prophecy, we lose all. Because the spirit of prophecy is the reality. It is that which God tries to show us. God is not trying to show us the coming events. God is trying to show through these coming events something more important. Essentially important. A testimony. And it is the testimony of Jesus. So in studying the book of Revelation if all that we find are just prophecies events and even if we are able to put all these events into orders which is very difficult it really means nothing. We miss the whole meaning of this last book of the Bible. As we study this book of Revelation we need to have, to see and to have the testimony. God is interested only in one thing. The testimony of Jesus. He is not interested in events. He is not even interested in prophecy. Because God knows all. Prophecy means nothing to Him. But there is one thing that really is interested by God. And God's interest is centered upon that one thing. And that is the testimony of Jesus. What is a testimony? A testimony is something which you personally have seen have heard have experienced and because you have that first-hand experience you are able to testify to the truth of it. If it is something that you hear indirectly if it is something that you haven't seen yourself but somebody tells you what has happened it is not a testimony to you. Because when you give that testimony it will not be accepted. You are not qualified to bear such a testimony. The court will never accept it as evidence. It must be something that you personally have experienced. You see it. You hear it yourself. And after you have done that you have a testimony. Now concerning the testimony of Jesus it is something that is beyond everyone. In other words, no one knows the Lord Jesus by himself or herself. The Lord Jesus said No one knows the Son but the Father. And no one knows the Father but the Son and to whom the Son will reveal. The Lord said no one knows the Son but the Father. Now do you agree to that? Probably you say no. Many people know the Son. Many people know Jesus. Many people know Christ. When our Lord Jesus was on earth many people saw Him. Many people heard Him. Many people touched Him. Some people lived with Him. They knew all about Him. Did they know the Son? Because of that? Not at all. Some say well who is this man? We know his brothers. We know his sisters. Where comes all this wisdom? Others say He is Jesus of Nazareth. A prophet. Some say He is Jeremiah. He is Elijah. He is John the Baptist. Resurrected. He is one of the prophets. Some say He is a good man. Others say He is mad. In one sense they all saw Him. They all heard Him. Some even touched Him. And yet no one knew the Son but the Father. Not until the Father revealed the Son He was unknown. Unknowable. Therefore humanly speaking no one can know the Son. But what the Father has revealed. And you remember when our Lord Jesus was in Caesarea Philippi He asked His disciples who the people say the Son of Man is. And of course all these disciples gave Him only the good reports. They were never there to tell Him the bad reports. Lots of bad reports, you know. Some say even He is demon possessed. But of course the disciples wouldn't report that such thing. So they gave Him all the good reports. You are Elijah. You are John the Baptist. You are the prophet that Moses prophesied in Deuteronomy. And this is what the people said about you. All good. But our Lord Jesus said What do you say that I am? You who have been with me for so long. And Simon Peter said You are the Christ. The Son of the Living God. And when Simon said this Our Lord Jesus said Simon son of Jonah you are blessed. Why? Because this is not something shown you by flesh and blood. No flesh and blood can ever show you this. It is my Father who is in heaven who has revealed to you. And because the Father has revealed the Son therefore Simon son of Jonah can say You are the Christ. The anointed of God. The one who is related to God's eternal purpose. The one who is to bring eternal purpose of God into being. You are the Christ. The Son of the Living God. You are the heir of all things. How did Peter know the Lord? The revelation of the Father. Without revelation no one could ever know the Lord Jesus. Never. Why? Because a testimony must be living. Must be real. A testimony cannot be something that is passed on second hand. A testimony is not a tradition. You can pass on a tradition from generation to generation. And after it has passed on for many generations it has antiquity there and there is a certain reverence in antiquity. But that is not a testimony. A testimony has to be something living and real. And when we come to the Lord Jesus that testimony can only come through revelation. One will not have the testimony of Jesus until the Father reveals the Son to him. No one knows the Son but the Father. And no one knows the Son but what the Son tells of Himself. You know our own testimony is not real. It is not true. If you speak of yourself if you testify of yourself no one will accept it. Why? Because we do not know ourselves. Sometimes we talk, we tell of ourselves too much, too highly more than what we really are. And sometimes we pretend to be very humble and try to testify of ourselves less than what we really are. Both are untrue. If you go to the court and testify for yourself it won't be accepted. And even our Lord Jesus said when people challenged Him, said now you testify of yourself and therefore your testimony is not true. The Lord Jesus said yes if I testify of myself my testimony may not be true. But when I testify there is another one testifying with me even my Father. And you say the testimony of two or three are true. And more than that when you go to the 8th chapter of the Gospel of John the Lord Jesus began to speak of Himself again and they again tell Him now you are testifying of yourself your testimony is not true. The Lord Jesus said even I am testifying of myself my testimony is true. Why? Because I know where I come from and I know where I am going. See that? When we testify of ourselves we are alone. Therefore the testimony of one person is not true. When we testify ourselves we do not know where we come from we do not know where we are going we do not know ourselves. Therefore our testimony is not true. But our Lord Jesus when He testifies of Himself the Father testifies with Him. It is the testimony of two. That is true. And even if He is testifying of Himself alone His testimony is still true. Why? Because He knows where He comes from and He knows where He is going. Dear brothers and sisters in the world if anybody testifies of himself it will not be accepted. Don't accept it. But there is one man on earth when he testifies of himself his testimony is true and must be accepted. And if you do not accept his testimony you will never know him. When our Lord Jesus was betrayed and taken before the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin many people witnessed against Him. False witnesses. And their witnesses, their testimonies conflicted with each other. But while they were accusing Him of many things our Lord Jesus did not say a word. He did not defend Himself. Until finally the high priest was exasperated. He did not know what to do. So he said in the name of God it's a form of swelling in the name of God tell us whether you are the Son of God. And our Lord Jesus opened His mouth. He said, you said it. And you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Father and coming in the cloud. And because He testified of Himself He was sentenced by the Sanhedrin. All these false witnesses they testified many things against Him. But no sentence could be pronounced. But when He testified of Himself that He is the Son of God He is the Son of Man immediately He was condemned. Then He was brought to the Roman governor the Pilate. And once again people tried to accuse Him of many things but our Lord Jesus kept quiet. He did not say a word. Let them say what they want to. Until finally Pilate was driven to the corner. So Pilate said, well are you really the King of the Jews? And the Lord Jesus said, you said it. I was born a king but my kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom is not of this world my people will rise up and defend me. I come for the truth. And do you know that our Lord Jesus was sentenced to death on that very testimony. He testified against Himself. It is because He testified for Himself and against Himself as it were. He was sentenced to death because there cannot be two kings. Caesar was there. Therefore Jesus must die. Dear brothers and sisters, here you will find it is the testimony of Jesus. Our Lord Jesus testified of Himself. And how strongly He testified. And because of His testimony He was condemned. So, the great Pharisee in one sense he knew all about Jesus. He heard about Him. He learned about Him. And he felt according to the best tradition of the Jews Jesus was an imposter of Judas. Therefore he persecuted the followers of Jesus. He thought he knew who Jesus was. He knew Him so well. He had to be wiped out completely. His name was not to be mentioned. But on the road to Damascus our Lord Jesus appeared to him. And when Saul said, Lord, who are you? He said, I am Jesus whom you persecuted. He testified of Himself. He revealed Himself to Saul. And because He revealed Himself to Saul Saul's life was transformed. And he became the Apostle Paul. Dear brothers and sisters, no one knows the Lord Jesus but what the Holy Spirit reveals. The Holy Spirit is given to reveal the Son to us. That we may know Him. Really hear Him. Really see Him. Really touch Him. Really experience Him. So here you find if it is not of God if it is not by the revelation of the Father if it is not by the self-revelation of the Son if it is not of the revelation of the Holy Spirit no one knows Christ Jesus. No one knows Him. We know about Him. We know tradition of Him. We know the teaching, the doctrine of Him. We know His history. We know all the theories. And yet we do not have the testimony. We may talk about Him. We may tell people of Him from the knowledge that we have accumulated through the years. But dear brothers and sisters the thing is if there is no revelation from above concerning Christ our testimony is not true. On the one hand it does not have the transforming power in our life. On the other hand it does not have the power. We are giving false. We are false witnesses. We do not know what we are talking about. You remember that incident in the book of Acts in Ephesus when the seven sons of the Jewish priest tried to use the name of Jesus the name of Jesus that Paul preaches to cast out the demon and the demon said Jesus I know, Paul I know but who are you? It is no use. Dear brothers and sisters there is one thing that is in the very heart of our God and that is the testimony. And it is for this reason that He reveals Christ to us. That Christ reveals Himself to us. The Holy Spirit reveals Christ to us. And as Christ is being revealed to us it becomes a testimony entrusted. You know, revelation is a tremendous thing. God never plays with people. When God reveals when Christ reveals when the Holy Spirit reveals He is committing Himself to us as a testimony for us to keep and to testify. How much do we know the Lord Jesus? How much of the testimony of Jesus we really have it depends on how deep is the revelation from above. In one sense there is no end to the revelation of Jesus. But in another sense there must be an increasing measure of having His testimony that we may testify more and more of Him. We should never be contented with knowing Him just a little bit. And if we know Him just a little bit through revelation then it is just that little bit then we can testify. There is power in it. There is reality in it. But if we have more revelation of the Lord Jesus if we know Him more in an experiential and living way then dear brothers and sisters you have more testimony of the Lord Jesus to give. And it is the desire of the Father that we should know Him. Therefore through the testimony of Jesus the basic requirement is revelation. We have to have revelation. In one sense when you come to the matter of revelation we are helpless. It has to be given by God. But on the other hand we do thank God because it pleases Him. It is the pleasure of the Father to reveal His Son. And it is the pleasure of the Son to reveal Himself to us. It is not only the pleasure but it is the duty, the responsibility of the Holy Spirit to reveal Christ to us. So in other words you find on God's side He is anxious to reveal. To commit Him and His testimony to us. But why is it that we receive so little? I think probably there are various reasons. One reason is He will reveal to those who really seek Him. If we really seek Him we really seek to know Him In other words we do not seek to know about Him. We do not just seek for some more teachings some more doctrines some more forms and ceremonies and systems and traditions. If we really seek Him with all our hearts He will not withhold Himself from us. He will be more than happy to reveal and to commit Himself. We need to seek Him. Another thing is blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Often times our heart is not pure. In other words we want Him, yes but we want something else too. We are double hearted. And if we are double hearted we cannot see Him. How we need to ask the Lord to purify our heart. That we may seek Him with all our hearts. That we may have a perfect heart before Him. Like David had a perfect heart. Now he was not perfect but he had a perfect heart. We are not perfect but at least God is looking for a perfect heart a pure heart. Certainly I think there is another reason. And the reason is revelation is never an isolated thing. Revelation is very costly. In other words if God shall reveal Himself He shall reveal His Son to us in a way. In the very revelation there is a demand. There is a cost to pay. Or may I put it in another way revelation is always associated with suffering. The reason why we do not know Him more is because when God reveals and the very revelation of the Lord Jesus in our lives demands something from us. But when the cross begins to work we are not able to pay the cost. We do not want to suffer. We do not want to deny ourselves and take up the cross and follow Him. Every revelation of the Lord Jesus demands the death of ourselves. And because God's people are not willing to pay the cost that's another reason why we do not have more revelation of the Lord than we should. But anyway brothers and sisters remember one thing. God is interested in the testimony. And all that He is looking in you is do you have the testimony? How much of the testimony of Jesus do you have? That is about everything. God is not interested in how much knowledge you have. Nor even interested how much you know about all the truth in the Bible. Now I'm not saying the truth in the Bible are not important. They are important. But I'm saying that God is not really interested in these things. God is not even interested in how much zealous you are. How much active you are. He is not interested. One day when we shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ the measure there is not these things. The measure there is the testimony of Jesus. How much you have the testimony and how faithful you hold that is the real question. You know when you really come to the testimony of Jesus I'm fearful that in spite of all the things that we know and have probably we have to acknowledge that we have just a little. Only a little is through revelation. Only a little comes through suffering. Only a little is real and living. There is power transforming power in our life. Only a little of the Lord Jesus that we can really stand up and testify because we know it. We have experienced Him in this way. Our Lord Jesus entrusts Himself to the church. The church is the copper vessel of the testimony of Jesus. And the church is the fullness of Him who fills all and in all. But dear brothers and sisters individually how little we have and corporately how much? How much of the testimony of Jesus is really upheld by the church of God? And that's the reason why there is so little impact. If there is the testimony of Jesus there must be impact. And the reason why the impact is so little in our lives and in our lives together it is because there is not much reality. The testimony of Jesus is not full. It's not full. It's not abundant. It's not rich. How we need to seek the Lord? That by revelation and by the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives that the testimony of Jesus may be increased in our lives. That we may have more testimony to give. That there may be more impact upon this world. Spiritual impact. And you know this testimony of Jesus is not a light thing. Why? Because John the apostle he was exiled to the island of Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus. And then in the sixth seal you find under the altar those who had been slain through the centuries that is those martyrs, Christian martyrs they had been slain through the centuries they are as naked souls under the altar. And why were they slain? For the testimony of Jesus. Dear brothers and sisters if we do not have the testimony of Jesus we may have everything of Christianity and Satan will not bother with us. It will not affect his kingdom in any way. On the contrary it helps his kingdom. But if any Christian if any assembly has the testimony of Jesus however little it may have Satan will contest that very little because that testimony is his death. Dear brothers and sisters the conflict through the ages in the spiritual realm is centered upon this one issue the testimony of Jesus. It is not centered upon any other issue or many issues not at all. It is centered upon just one issue the testimony of Jesus. Satan is watching. If he finds there is the testimony of Jesus he knows where the testimony of Jesus is there his kingdom shall fall. And he will contest it to the very end. That is the conflict of the ages. If you look back to your own spiritual life or if you look back into your life together I believe your experience will bear this out. The conflict is over the testimony of Jesus. But do we need to be afraid? Not at all. Why? Because our Lord Jesus has already overcome. There on Calvary's cross he has spoiled the principalities and authorities and he has made a public show of them. There on Calvary's cross the devil is cast out. There on Calvary's cross for death he has robbed the one who has the power of death its power. Our Lord Jesus has overcome. He said I am the first I am the last and I am the living one and I became dead and behold I live forever and forever and have the keys of death and of Hades. This is the testimony of Jesus. He is the first. The first in everything. It is God's will that he shall have the preeminence in all things. The first place in all things. He is the last. Why? Because he is the end. He is the very purpose of God. It is for him. All glory is for him. And he is the living one. It is life. It is life that has overcome death. It is life that is not afraid to die but it became dead and it is living now forever and forever. And not only that our Lord has in his hand the keys of death and of Hades. Dear brothers and sisters this is the testimony of Jesus. This is what he says of himself. And he has committed this testimony of himself. Do we have it? In Revelation chapter 12 you find the woman, Washington Dale going to give birth to a man child. And the dragon, Satan the accuser, the devil he was waiting before that woman. Why? Because he knew when that man child was born that would be his end. So he was waiting there for the man child to be born in order he may swallow him. But when the man child was born he was raptured to the throne. And then you say they overcome him. The brethren overcome the accuser by the blood of the lamb. By the word of their testimony. And they loved not their lives even unto it. Brothers and sisters, here you will find the conflict is here. But we do not need to be afraid. Why? Because we have the blood of the lamb. Oh how often Satan will come and accuse us. And unfortunately sometimes he has some ground to accuse. Even though he always exaggerate it. You are not perfect. How dare you? You think you can bear the testimony of Jesus? Who are you? You have failed. You have done something wrong. Oh brothers and sisters when such accusation come your mouth is shut. You dare not testify. You realize that you are not qualified. But if you do you fall into the trap of the devil. Why? Because we have the blood of the lamb. It is true we are not perfect. It is true we fall. It is true that we are not qualified in ourselves. But there is the blood of the lamb. We can claim the blood. The claiming of the blood. And that shut the mouth of the accuser. And open our mouth. Oh brothers and sisters in this spiritual conflict you will find more and more in our days. You will experience more and more in this area. Satan tries to shut you up. To pull you down. And say now you are not perfect. You cannot do it. Oh we overcome him by the blood of the lamb. And of course you know the familiar story about Martin Luther. When he was doing the work of reformation. One day Satan appeared to him. Satan brought a school to him. And the school was written inside and outside. Fine print. And there was the title of that school. The sins of Martin Luther. And Satan showed that school to Martin Luther and said dare you do the work of reformation. Who are you? And Martin Luther looked at that. He had to acknowledge that some of these are true. Now that's the problem. You know. Most of them are false. But some of them are true. But Martin Luther knows the Lord. He has the testimony of Jesus. So he took a red pen and wrote over it and said the blood of God's son Jesus Christ cleanses from all sins. And Satan disappeared. Dear brothers and sisters. Whoever has the testimony of Jesus will be contested by the enemy. But thank God we have the blood of the lamb. Do you think we have matured so much that we have gone beyond the need of the blood? Never. The more you know the Lord the more you see the preciousness of the blood. And then by the word of their testimony. Now what is their testimony? Their testimony is none other but the testimony of Jesus. You see. The testimony of Jesus becomes our testimony. We do not have any testimony to tell. We are not to testify of ourselves. Individually or corporately. No. We are to testify the Lord Jesus. The testimony of Jesus. He has committed himself to us. Now we have a testimony to testify. This is our testimony. The word of their testimony. What does it mean? It means that if you really have the testimony you can and you shall speak out. Declare it. If you do not have the testimony even if you shout it it will not work. There is no power there. No power there. But dear brothers and sisters if you do have the testimony of Jesus for instance the Lord said I am the first. Is he really the first? The first in your life? In everything? Do you really let him initiate all things? Or you start something? Is he the first? First in your life? Is he the first? Now if it is real that he is the first in your life then when you say it Satan will retreat. But if it is not real even you say it Satan will take a step forward and look at you and say who are you? Brothers and sisters it is the reality that counts. When you really enter into the spiritual realm it is the reality alone that counts. All the other things do not mean anything. But thank God they have the word of their testimony. They speak out. And when they speak out Satan flee away. Oh how often in our individual life how often in a meeting sometimes you find you are being oppressed for no reason. You cannot even breathe. Or the meeting is just heavy. What can we do? Dear brothers and sisters if there are a few who really have the testimony of Jesus and in their spirit they begin to declare it and they speak out Jesus is Lord the atmosphere immediately changes. The meeting is released. People are released. Why? Because the word of their testimony is there. But of course if anyone is to speak out he has to be ready to lay down his life. It is not cheap. The Lord speaks out and he is crucified. If we really speak out we have to be prepared to lay down our lives. So here you find they love not their lives even unto death. They are ready for it. And because they are ready for it Satan when Satan finds these desperate people he can do nothing to them. They are not afraid to die. For the testimony. All through the ages how many of God's people because they had the testimony of Jesus they were being attacked. Because they held faithful held faithful to the testimony of Jesus they were slain. But in their very death Satan received another blow of death. The testimony of Jesus one day as we find in Revelation chapter 20 there will be thrones. There will be thrones with the throne of the Son. And who will be those that sit on the throne? Those who were slain for the testimony of Jesus. They have completed their testimony. And because they have completed their testimony one day they shall be rewarded with the throne. You know one thought is very comforting. In Revelation chapter 11 you have the two witnesses. Now we do not need to really go into who these two witnesses are. But anyway you will find these two witnesses in the last days. And what a conflict they had. They were in direct conflict with the beast. And the kingdom of the beast. But no matter how the beast was not able to kill them until their testimony was completed. And after their testimony was completed they were killed. But only for three days. And then resurrection. So dear brothers and sisters I do believe if we have the testimony of Jesus and if we hold faithful to the testimony we may have to suffer for the testimony. And yet before we have completed our testimony Satan cannot touch our life. We will not die prematurely. We will complete the testimony. And when the testimony is completed we are ready to come. The Lord will see to that. That's the reason why when you come to the first three chapters of the book of Revelation you will find in the first chapter the vision of the glorious head. In other words here you will find the Lord Jesus reveal Himself to the church. Commit Himself as a testimony to the church. And then in chapters two and three He is walking through these churches looking for Himself. Looking for the condition of His testimony in these churches. To the church in Philadelphia the testimony of Jesus is shining bright. Full and bright. To the church in Sardis in Smyrna a suffering church. They are exhorted to be faithful. Ten more days. Ten more days. But to the rest in some the testimony of Jesus is flickering. In others it is dim. In others it is smoking. And if it does not repent the lampstand shall be removed. In other words here you will find what the Lord is looking for is His testimony. Based upon His revelation. And that is our responsibility. Thank God. He is also the High Priest. He is ever living making intercessions for us. A smoking flex He does not cringe. But He tries to restore. It is only if we will not be restored then the lampstand. So dear brothers and sisters tonight I have only one burden. And the burden is what about the testimony. If this is what God is concerned most should it not be our concern let other people be interested and occupied with many things. May God help us to fix our attention on one thing the testimony. Shall we pray. Our Heavenly Father do deliver us from many things that we may see the one thing that is upon Thy heart the testimony of Jesus. We ask Thee to examine us to see how much do we have the testimony of Jesus. How much is hearsay? How much is outside information? And how much is being revealed and wrought through suffering into our very fiber. The testimony of Jesus is committed. Oh Lord do examine us. Deliver us from being deceived ourselves. Deliver us from superficiality. Lord we want reality even if it means that we may be reduced and reduced and reduced. Oh Lord be Thyself a living reality to us that we may have a little power we may testify that indeed Thou art the first Thou art the last and the living one. Thou became dead and behold Thou are living forever and ever and have the teeth of death and of Hades. Oh that we may speak the word and it may have its impact in the spiritual realm. Oh Lord may Thy testimony be uplifted that many lives may be transformed and delivered and may Thy kingdom come. We ask in Thy precious name.