The Testimony of Jesus by George W. Reaser

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 27, 1912

The Testimony of Jesus

By George W. Reaser

VIII — The Twentieth Century Flooded with Prophetic Light

WHILE on earth, Christ still filled His office as prophet. The fact should not be overlooked that Jesus witnessed by the spirit of prophecy while a man among men. He began to bear witness in this manner immediately after the fall. One of His first prophetic utterances was that the Seed of the woman would bruise the serpent's head. Gen. 3:15. This prophecy, in brief, comprehended the whole plan of salvation. It meant that, by the triumph of Calvary, Christ would finally redeem man, win back the lost inheritance, and destroy Satan.

He continued to witness in His church whenever their backsliding and rebellion did not prevent, for nearly four thousand years; and as not all His people had apostatized, we still find two true prophets (Simeon and Anna) at the time of His birth. During His ministry He was constantly mindful of the fact that He had been given "for a witness to the people;" and as His chosen method of witnessing is by "the spirit of prophecy," we discover that the four Gospels abound in His prophetic utterances.

These include His betrayal by Judas, His denial by Peter, His trial, condemnation, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension, to be followed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon His apostles and disciples.

He foretold the arising of false christs and false prophets, He predicted wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, the destruction of Jerusalem, the great period of papal persecution, the proclamation of the Gospel of the kingdom in all the world, the signs and the event of His second coming, the resurrection, translation, and the home-gathering of His people of all ages.

Having Ascended to Glory, He Still Witnesses

After His ascension, when He occupied a seat at God's right hand, He was still true to His trust. Numerous true prophets are mentioned in the book of Acts; and about sixty years after His going back to glory, "to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass," He "sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John," and the result is that we have the book of Revelation, carrying us down through the stream of time, by numerous lines of prophecy, to the culmination of the world's history and the setting up of "the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ," in the earth made new. And lastly, we find Him witnessing by "the spirit of prophecy" in His remnant church.

Our Day the Focal Point of Prophecy

And thus it is that the twentieth century is flooded with prophetic light, for in our day we have the accumulation of practically all of "the testimony of Jesus," focused as a mighty search-light upon our pathway; and still Jesus is bearing witness in His church.

There are at least half a score of distinct lines of prophecy which clearly indicate that we are living in the closing days of this world's history; and if this is true, we are living in the time when all prophecy yet unfulfilled, and such lines of prophecy as are in process of fulfilment, reach their focal point.

While there have been prophecies given that were local, and in some instances personal, in their application, yet to a large extent the focal points of prophecy have had two events for their objective; namely, the first advent, and the second coming of Christ. The latter event has formed the stirring theme of all the "holy prophets since the world began." Acts 3:21. The reason for this is apparent, as upon these two events depends the plan of salvation; and as Heaven employs its most forceful manner of witnessing to prove these two events — namely, by the spirit of prophecy — how firm is their foundation!

Summary of Things Accomplished by Prophecy

A brief summary of the things accomplished by prophecy would include the following: It proves the existence of God. It proves the Word of God true, the Bible inspired, and thereby establishes faith therein. It proves Jesus to be the true Messiah, and all others who have made, or may yet make, that high profession, to be basely false. It proves the true religion of Heaven, and disproves the false, no matter tho it "masquerade in the livery of heaven." It identifies the true church, giving its unmistakable characteristics, and sets forth the errors of every false church and warns against their reception. As it warns against all fatally deceptive powers, it constitutes the safest of all safeguards. It gloriously portrays the second coming of Christ, and all associated events. It foretells the ultimate destruction of Satan, and the final overthrow of sin. Prophetic promises touchingly portray the future immortal life, when sin, Satan, rebellion, and death will be forever overthrown; and consequently a cleansed universe, when every creature will unite in "saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever." Rev. 5:13.

The Saviour's Precaution

with an appalling penalty attached thereto, in almost the final words of inspiration, adds tremendous force to the importance of prophecy, and constitutes a most forceful effort on the part of Jesus to preserve the absolute purity of His "testimony" throughout all time. Here is the warning: "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." Rev. 22:18, 19.

Mark that He does not lay guilt at the door of the one who explains the prophecies, or who makes their application to the things foretold, but rather to the one who adds to or takes away from them, and thus virtually nullifies them. Strange as it may seem, it is nevertheless true that a considerable number of professed ministers of the Gospel, in their teaching, literally "take away," or would sweep away, the entire prophetic book of Revelation, by saying that "it can not be understood," altho it is distinctly declared to be "the revelation of Jesus Christ."

How Opportune

that in the very last book of Holy Writ Jesus should send His angel to tell us that His chosen method of witnessing is by the spirit of prophecy! Is the church of to-day, altho lacking the numerous angelic appearances and the working of miracles, as in former times, less favored than were the people of God in the former days? — By no means. The concentrated light of practically all prophecy is shining upon the generation in which we are living, and fulfilled prophecy is the strongest groundwork for faith that Divinity has supplied to the human family.

The Remnant Church Has the Surest Guide

But why is it written that the last church to be upon the stage of action before the second coming of the Saviour will have "the testimony of Jesus," which is "the spirit of prophecy," manifested within its fold? Answer: The last church in point of time, because of certain conditions of unbelief, so-called "higher criticism," and multitudes of erroneous and seductive doctrines proclaimed, has special need of the safeguard of prophecy and of the gift of the spirit of prophecy, for there is no other way to be sure of our ground; and God has graciously supplied the need of the remnant church. Rev. 12:17; 19:10.

The Fatal Mistake

on the part of God's professed people at the first advent of Christ was that they "were willingly ignorant" of the prophecies which so clearly foretold His coming and minutely described the events connected therewith. Paul says of them, that because they knew not "the voices of the prophets," which were read every Sabbath day, they fulfilled them in condemning Him. Acts 13:27-30.

Jesus said of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that their terrible failure was in not knowing the things that pertained to their peace and the time of their visitation (Luke 19:42-44); hence instead of peace and prosperity, destruction and ruin resulted.

History Repeats Itself

from the fact that human nature is the same in one generation as in another. According to prophecy, when Christ's second coming is imminent many of His professed followers will fulfil prophecy in a way that means their eternal ruin, because they are willingly

ignorant of the things that belong to their peace, and thus know not the time of their visitation. No words can possibly give greater force to the importance of giving diligent heed to prophecy than these. Read in order 2 Peter 3:3-7; Rev. 14:9, 10; 13:8.

The individual and the church who are walking in the full light of prophecy know the things that pertain to their peace and the time of their visitation.

Let us, then, as believing in Christ, accept His own chosen method of witnessing, and recognize every line of prophecy as the direct effort of Jesus to bear mighty testimony to the truth of God, and thus supply the surest and safest possible foundation for faith. And let us agree that wherever in God's Word we find a true prophet, he was the mouthpiece of Jesus Christ; and wherever in that same Word we encounter a prophetic utterance or a connected line of prophecy, we come in contact with a definite effort of Jesus to bear witness to the ages of God's eternal truth.

Then from Enoch, who was the first of our race mentioned as a prophet, to the last Heaven-inspired prophet before Jesus comes again, and thus terminates in the world all necessity for prophesying,—for witnessing to God and His truth, for in that event faith will be swallowed up in sight,—"the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

If every professed Christian will recognize prophecy according to this inspired definition, it will at once command his most reverent respect, instead of being held by him in any degree of disrepute; and surely Jesus Christ, "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," has chosen the best possible manner of bearing unimpeachable witness to the ages, and we must freely concede to Him the right to choose His own method.

Thus it will be apparent that the text, "I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified," applies with equal force to the study and to the preaching of prophecy as to the preaching of the Gospel; and it should be of universal application as well in the experience of every professed minister of the Gospel to-day, as in the preaching of the apostle Paul. And therefore, when I preach prophecy as "the testimony of Jesus," no one can consistently reproach me. And thus have I purposed in my heart to present the prophecies.

Skepticism in Pulpit and College

To an alarming extent, the tendency of our modern educational system is toward skepticism and infidelity. The professor of the philosophy of religion in Chicago University asks the startling question, "May not one deny that Jesus lived, and yet be well-pleasing to God?"

The president of the prominent institution, Morningside College, located at Sioux City, Iowa, in a sermon at Kansas City, Missouri, emphatically denies that the Bible is the Word of God. In these days of growing skepticism, even in the pulpit, what is the mightiest magnet to hold the needle of faith true to God's Word? I answer, The testimony of Jesus, the spirit of prophecy. Each prophecy fulfilled, as well as each recurring morning, proves that God exists, and that His Word is true.

A Prophecy of Vital Importance for the Church of Christ To-Day

It is the firm belief of the writer that a prophecy of tremendous importance to the human family is now in process of fulfilment. It reads as follows: "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle." Rev. 14:6-14.

While it does not seem fitting to occupy space in these articles in expounding in detail this prophecy, yet we will note two or three things relative to it: First, that when this message is due, some one will understand it, and have the burden rolled upon his heart to proclaim it to the world; and surely He who had such an intense interest in the salvation of the human family as to give His only-begotten Son to die, would not bring the appalling penalty attached to this message upon those who reject it, unless He first gives every one fair warning. It must be possible to understand every question at issue in this message.

Second, the message involves a question of worship. On the one hand there is a rival of God, who invites worship to himself, while another class of people are true to God and His worship.

Third, so far as the writer's investigation goes, there is but one denomination that has any burden to preach this message.

No one can be absolutely certain that he is doing Heaven's appointed work in the last generation unless he is identified with that movement which is prophetically set forth as God's last message of mercy to the world. There is one church that feels called of Heaven to proclaim this message to all the world. The giving of this message closes with the glorious event of Jesus' coming, crowned as a king. Verse 14. Who can consistently claim that the event of Christ's coming is near, unless this message is now being proclaimed? And who would not desire to be connected with it and to share in its glorious triumph when its proclamation is completed?

The Church Safeguarded

Heaven foresaw all deceptions that would arise down the stream of time,—the false churches, the signs and wonders that would be wrought to "deceive if possible the very elect." To Jesus, by means of the spirit of prophecy, was entrusted the safeguarding of God's people from fatal deceptions throughout the ages. True to His sacred trust, He has given faithful warning in advance.

Satan, the rival of Christ, can not employ prophecy to deceive, because God's hand—even that hand which upholds the universe—is on the lever of events, and He "fashions all things according to the counsel of His own will."

A Few Prophecies Yet to Be Fulfilled

The scope of this brief treatise will not permit us to dwell in detail upon prophecies yet to be fulfilled. A brief outline of the thrilling and all-important events which are still before us would include the culmination of the tense social conditions which are daily developing in nearly all nations; the climax of the test between loyalty to God and worship of "the beast" (Rev. 14:6-12); then the outpouring of the seven last plagues, and the world-battle of Armageddon. Then follows the majestic appearance of Christ, with its associated events, concerning which "God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began." Next, the setting up of Christ's eternal kingdom, and then, E-T-E-R-N-I-T-Y.

The sands of time are sinking; the dawn of heaven breaks; The summer morn I've sighed for, the fair, sweet morn, awakes; Dark, dark has been the midnight, but dayspring is at hand; And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel's land.