What is 'the word of [our] testimony'?

Neil said something in a post recently, which has sparked these thoughts.

In at least one of his sermons (or Q&A sessions), Paul Washer describes a scenario when a group of workers might have been approached by a group of soldiers to be asked to swear that Caesar is god. If they don't they will be summarily slaughtered. Christians regularly failed this examination.

The other verse I thought of [Luke 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.] seems intense in its own way, but appears to imply that like Jesus often spoke to the Pharisees, and they didn't ask Him any more on that occasion, we too will be given wisdom beyond natural understanding, but not be facing imminent death. (However, perhaps we are being prepared for it further down the line.)

My question comes from Revelation 12:11

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

(I found the 'Testimony of the Blood', with extracts from Sparks, here: https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?viewmode=thread&order=0&topic_id=3270&forum=34&post_id=)

What is actually in 'the WORD of [our] testimony'?

Is it simply that 'Jesus Christ is Lord!' or, does it vary with the situation?

Normally, in the Revelation, it's called the 'testimony of Jesus', as you know and 'that' is defined as "the spirit of prophecy" at the last.

I'll quote just two Commentators for this question:

Albert Barnes: "And by the word of their testimony - The faithful testimony which they bore to the truth. That is, they adhered to the truth in their sufferings, they declared their belief in it, even in the pains of martyrdom; and it was by this that they overcame the great enemy - that is, by this that the belief in the gospel was established and maintained in the world. The reference here is to the effects of persecution and to the efforts of Satan to drive religion from the world by persecution. John says that the result as he saw it in vision was, that the persecuted church bore a faithful testimony to the truth, and that the great enemy was overcome."

Adam Clarke: "And by the word of their testimony - By constantly testifying against the errors and follies of mankind."

I left my computer to do things and this hit me.

Why were all our greats "killed"?

I believe that we've changed the meaning of this term over the centuries to mean, our personal testimony alone - ie - "I was all messed up on drugs but then I met Jesus."

I saw in my mind, those tied to the stake and so forth, and thought - "Why were they killed?" - those from the Apostles on ... as in the Foxes book of Martyrs - if not for standing against the Majority of "the religious system of their times" - and For the Truth of His Word.

He is The Word of GOD - so that is "the testimony of 'Jesus'" the spirit of prophecy. Not fortune telling but Biblical Truth opposed to the religious lies of their day - past, present and future tense.

Thanks for the replies. Interesting the emphasis on standing against things, Jesus-is-God. Maybe this varies with situations. It may be that a Christian would be standing for ... gentleness, love, mercy (and so on)... to incur the wrath of the world.

My inclination is towards that declaring the name of Jesus Christ is an essential component. To say (for instance), 'I serve the true and living God', may not be distinctive enough.

Also I feel there may be difference between what a person who dresses in a way that aligns him (or her) with Christianity - such as wearing a dog-collar, robes, Salvation Army uniform - may say, and how the words of the the rest of us (whose dress does not distinguish us from the world) are perceived.

Do you think it is speaking in the spirit, rather than the flesh? Trusting god.

Doug, I do get what you're saying, but many people who read here, have never heard of it, or, their theology would barely allow them to consider it is what we should expect to happen as we eat His flesh and drink His blood.

andie, I think it goes without saying we should speak in the Spirit, but I am interested to discover whether people feel that using the NAME Jesus Christ is dangerous, in that it may attract persecution. I suppose I'm also wondering whether we will be judged for NOT having used the name of Jesus, in order to deflect attention from ourselves as Christians. Iow, if our testimony doesn't include His name, can it be defined as 'testimony'?

Joan, thank you for the link, which supports your comments. I found a fascinating discussion under the first side menu link prefixed SBC, about the way a Greek word for 'head' has become imbued with the concept of authority, despite this being far from its common usage at the time the apostles were writing. You may be interested.

Joan posted

The WORD of our testimony, is the CHRIST of our testimony. It is the LOGOS, not rhema, of our testimony, as the Greek says.

I see that 'word' in Rev 12:11 is indeed 'Logos', but you go on to say

The power of our testimony lies there. Power that transformed us; power that convicts/transforms others; power that overcomes Satan. Paul would say "resurrection power."

3056 logos {log'-os}
from 3004; TDNT - 4:69,505; n m
AV - word 218, saying 50, account 8, speech 8, Word (Christ) 7,
thing 5, not tr 2, misc 32; 330
1) of speech
1a) a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea
1b) what someone has said
1b1) a word
1b2) the sayings of God
1b3) decree, mandate or order
1b4) of the moral precepts given by God
1b5) Old Testament prophecy given by the prophets
1b6) what is declared, a thought, declaration, aphorism, a
weighty saying, a dictum, a maxim
1c) discourse
1c1) the act of speaking, speech
1c2) the faculty of speech, skill and practice in speaking
1c3) a kind or style of speaking
1c4) a continuous speaking discourse - instruction
1d) doctrine, teaching
1e) anything reported in speech; a narration, narrative
1f) matter under discussion, thing spoken of, affair, a matter
in dispute, case, suit at law
1g) the thing spoken of or talked about; event, deed
2) its use as respect to the MIND alone
2a) reason, the mental faculty of thinking, meditating,
reasoning, calculating
2b) account, i.e. regard, consideration
2c) account, i.e. reckoning, score
2d) account, i.e. answer or explanation in reference to judgment
2e) relation, i.e. with whom as judge we stand in relation
2e1) reason would
2f) reason, cause, ground
3) In John, denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the
personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in
creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the
world's life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement
of man's salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the
Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth
conspicuously from His words and deeds.
++++
A Greek philosopher named Heraclitus first used the term Logos around
600 B.C. to designate the divine reason or plan which coordinates a
changing universe. This word was well suited to John's purpose in
John 1.

Therefore I wonder if when I asked the original question, I should really have asked how a TESTIMONY should be phrased in order for it to OVERCOME the enemy?

Hi Ben,

Thanks for your contribution, which is helping crystallise my sense of direction in this matter.

1 Cor 1: 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

It think also, I will take a look at the word 'overcome'. There are other verses, but these promises are quite an incentive -

Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it].

Revelation 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.