Faithful Witness
Revelation 1:1-5
Acts 22:19-21
19 “But I said, ‘Lord, they know that in synagogue after synagogue I had those who believed in you imprisoned and beaten. 20 And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I stood there giving approval and guarding the clothes of those who killed him.’
21 “He said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
μάρτυς, martys
1. a judicial witness
2. a witness to a circumstance
3. a martyr
martyr- A witness to the truth of the gospel who gave his/her life for the gospel
Revelation 1:1-6
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatever he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near.
4 John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by his blood, 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
To be a faithful witness:
• To bear witness to the TRUTH
• Jesus is the standard we look to
• We are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14)
• Scripture is the faithful witness to the interactions of God with the whole creation (Isaiah 43:10-12).
• Jesus is the beginning of new life and the Amen (Revelation 3:14).
Isaiah 43:10-12
10 “You are my witnesses”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.No god was formed before me, and there will be none after me.
11 I—I am the Lord. Besides me, there is no Savior.
12 I alone declared, saved, and proclaimed—and not some foreign god among you. So you are my witnesses”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and I am God.
Revelation 3:14 “Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation:
Amen- "So be it."
To be trusted, to be reliable, sure
