“The Testimony of Jesus”
/Dearest Ones,
I love you with an everlasting love, for you have accepted the challenge of being members of my last-day remnant people who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus. [Rev. 12:17.] Therefore, I would like to talk to you today about what the testimony of Jesus means in its fullest extent.
First, the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, as Gabriel said in Revelation 19:10. In all ages the spirit of prophecy has been operational through the prophets who spoke and wrote out the messages that I gave them for the people of their day, as well as for the people who live at the end of time. [Heb. 1:1, 2.] These communications are necessary because mankind is created to be in constant relationship with me and my Father through the Holy Spirit and the heavenly messengers, for there will always be a need for connection with the source of life, even in heaven, as is demonstrated by the need for the tree of life and the water of life. This preserves the free will of every person to choose life or refuse to partake of the life-giving power which these things provide. This is the reason why I met with Adam and Eve in the garden every evening after the day's work was done, in order to impart mental, emotional, and spiritual life through companionship and communication, as well as the sense of heavenly love that is imparted when my presence is near.
All this is contained in the concept of "the testimony of Jesus." Without this continual interaction and communication between man and his God, the mind attaches to other things to receive that which should come only from me. Knowing this, the devil tries to counterfeit this human need, and thus addictions develop for food, pleasure, sex, relationships, entertainment, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and all the other things that Satan has to offer. And although they please the carnal nature temporarily, there is no life-giving substance, and thus they lead to death. Nothing but life from heaven can give life on earth.
Therefore, I have covenanted with humanity to provide avenues to know me and my law, my character, and my will. These avenues are life-giving to the soul, and essential to preserving life until my coming destroys life as it presently is, and restores life eternal, unbroken, and undefiled as it was before sin entered. In the meantime, my avenue to earth's inhabitants is my testimonies through the prophets in Scripture, and through Ellen White to the final generation. To these sources people can come and eat and drink freely the words of life, and my life and thoughts and presence flows through the Holy Spirit from the pages as you read. Thus connection is made again with divine love, life, inspiration, and communion with me through the Holy Spirit, who takes the Word and applies it to every need that you have to know me and to receive the earnest of eternal life. [Eph. 1:12-14.] This is how the martyrs went to their death triumphantly, because I revealed myself to them and they responded to my love and my communications to them and were willing to give up their lives rather than give up this relationship with me.
Now the time has come for the final generation to complete the journey from earth back to heaven. You, too, must have direct communication with me through the avenues that I have provided. You must know me, experience my love, and hear my voice, through your own personal relationship with me. No one will be able to go through the time of trouble without this relationship with me. You must fortify your minds with truth, and solidify your moment-by-moment living connection with me. But just like the tree of life and the water of life, you must choose every day to connect with me - to partake of this relationship with me, for it cannot be forced or coerced, but forever you will be free to choose because you love me. Only those who have this relationship here will be allowed to have the right to the tree of life and the water of life in heaven.
So do you see how this applies to the idea of many people who are satisfied to have an "on again, off again" life of sinning and repenting, sinning and repenting, right up until my coming? It is exactly the same as eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Some of good and some of evil will not prepare a person to enter the kingdom of my glory where all is good, and there is no evil. Heaven's gates will not be open to those who remain in this condition. You must be wholly mine, or by default you will have chosen to be wholly for the devil. So the spirit of prophecy is the testimony of who I am, what I am thinking and feeling about every matter in your life. Read it, ingest it, and live by it through the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, for it is this daily Spirit baptism which brings your thoughts and feelings into harmony with mine. Then my Spirit can dwell in the temple of your heart, and cleanse it of every shred of disagreement with my life and my principles. Then you will be in perfect agreement and harmony with me, and the word of God with its cleansing power of love and truth will recreate you into my image and you will be a fit candidate for heaven.
Go now to the activities of your day, but keep your mind open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, for it is He who testifies of me, and through Him your life will be a living epistle, known and read of all men. [2 Cor. 3:2.] Lovingly, Jesus.
