The Testimony of Christ

That the gifts of the Spirit, including the gift of prophecy, should be manifested in the church, even until the coming of the Lord, the apostle Paul bears testimony:TOJ 29.3

“I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in everything ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:4-8.TOJ 29.4

While this word of the apostle was spoken to the Corinthian church and evidently described the state of preparedness possessed by that church, we may also believe that the statement was of prophetic significance, that it describes the conditions of the church which will be actually “waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Of this church the apostle declares, “The testimony of Christ was confirmed in you.” What is the testimony of Christ which was to be confirmed in the church that was looking for the coming of the Lord? In the book of Revelation, John gives a definition of this term. When he was about to fall at the feet of the angel and accord to him divine worship, the angelic messenger said:TOJ 30.1

“See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, 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.TOJ 30.2