Our Witness
As modern-day Israelites, we are called to be God’s witnesses, to declare the truths of the Bible. “And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.” Isaiah 44:7-8. We are to believe the Lord about his return and the coming kingdom and we are not to be afraid. Many false witnesses are in the world speaking of what they see for the future, but only the Bible is true.
As God’s witnesses we proclaim Jesus Christ as the coming king. “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:32-33. He said of himself, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Matthew 28:18. He is the Son of God and has the power to depose all earthly government and rule the world, but he follows God the Father’s Plan. God the Father is not in a hurry and does things in his own time.
It is our job to proclaim Jesus Christ as the Son of God. We have three witnesses to this fact in the Bible. “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.” 1 John 5:7-8. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary says that the witnesses on earth refer to Jesus’ works by the Holy Spirit, His baptism, and His death on the cross. The commentary also says that the work of the Holy Spirit has continued through the ages as a continual witness. John Wesley, in his commentary, refers to the same three works in Jesus’ earthly life, but goes on to say the three witnesses on earth are still active in the church as the Holy Spirit working in our hearts by the Bible and miracles, our baptism, and our participation in holy communion. John Wesley was a minister in the Church of England and stressed the importance of baptism and holy communion.
As we receive the three-fold witness to the person of Jesus Christ we also proclaim him. Therefore, we are his witnesses. I believe in the importance of baptism and holy communion. Concerning the communion service, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” 1 Corinthians 11:26. In the communion service we proclaim that Jesus Christ died for our sins and by his death we have received new life. By baptism we proclaim that our sins are washed away and we are children of God. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Galatians 3:26-27.
Much has been written about the two witnesses in the eleventh chapter of the book of Revelation. Some believe they are Israel and Judah, or church and state in Israel. Whatever the belief, they are of Israel. John S. Fox, in his book, “A Flood of Light Upon The Book of Revelation” wrote that in 1513 a papal bull was issued requiring Reformers to state their case before the Fifth Lateran Council. It was not answered by anyone, so the Roman Catholic Church declared the Reformation dead. But, three and a half years later Martin Luther nailed his “95 thesis” to the door of the church at Wittenburg. The witnesses came back to life and were symbolically lifted up to heaven. This agrees with the letter to the Ephesians. “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” Ephesians 2: 5-6.
We have been spiritually lifted up and our witness will continue until Christ returns.
