As John watched a joyful reunion of the righteous with the Savior, an angel standing beside him commented, “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9). Overwhelmed with what he saw and recognizing this angel as a heavenly being, John fell down at his feet, intending to worship him. The angel immediately stopped him:
See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Revelation 19:10
What does it mean for the testimony of Jesus to be the spirit of prophecy, and what are the implications of this principle for us?
In order to understand this passage better, I looked at all appearances of these two phrases in the scriptures. This is what I found:
A few observations:
- In the Bible, these phrases are unique to the book of Revelation.
- Mormon tells us that Alma preached the gospel in the land of Gideon “according to the spirit of prophecy which was in him, according to the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Alma 6:8, italics added). So he also combines these two phrases.
- The spirit of prophecy is a major theme in the Book of Mormon. The Title Page tells us that it was written “by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation.” Repeatedly in Alma’s ministry, we hear that he knew things which the people around him didn’t know because he had the spirit of prophecy. His friends, the sons of Mosiah, received the spirit of prophecy through scripture study, fasting, and prayer, and they therefore “taught with power and authority of God” (Alma 17:3).
- In a vision about the glory we will receive in the next life, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery saw that “the testimony of Jesus” will be a key differentiator. Those who will inherit celestial glory “received the testimony of Jesus and believed on his name.” Those who receive terrestrial glory “are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus.” And those who receive telestial glory “received not…the testimony of Jesus.” (See Doctrine and Covenants 76:51, 74, 79, 82, 101.) Joseph F. Smith also described the spirits of the just as those who were “faithful in the testimony of Jesus” (Doctrine and Covenants 138:12).
- When John the Baptist conferred the authority to baptize upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in May of 1829, Joseph reported that, immediately after being baptized, they were filled with the spirit of prophecy. (See Joseph Smith—History 1:72-73.)
- Commenting on this experience, Oliver wrote, “The question might be asked, have men authority to administer in the name of Christ, who deny revelations, when His testimony is no less than the spirit of prophecy, and His religion based, built, and sustained by immediate revelations?” (Joseph Smith—History, footnote, paragraph 4).
After reviewing these passages, I’ve arrived at the following conclusion:
A testimony of Jesus Christ must be received by revelation. Therefore, those who have a testimony of Jesus are those who receive revelation.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught:
A testimony is a most precious possession because it is not acquired by logic or reason alone, it cannot be purchased with earthly possessions, and it cannot be given as a present or inherited from our ancestors. We cannot depend on the testimonies of other people. We need to know for ourselves….
The source of this sure knowledge and firm conviction is divine revelation, “for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).
We receive this testimony when the Holy Spirit speaks to the spirit within us. We will receive a calm and unwavering certainty that will be the source of our testimony and conviction irrespective of our culture, race, language, or socioeconomic background. These promptings of the Spirit, rather than human logic alone, will be the true foundation upon which our testimony will be built.
“The Power of a Personal Testimony,” General Conference, October 2006
Today, I will be receptive to the knowledge God is willing to share with me. I will be grateful that He is willing to provide knowledge to all of His children, and I will strive to be true to the testimony of Jesus which I have received.