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Ellen G. White and Her Critics

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The Conclusions of Commentators

But let us notice also the testimony of others with reference to the possessive meaning of the expression “testimony of Jesus.” Though most Biblical commentators, with their view of the cessation of spiritual gifts early in the Christian Era, interpret the “testimony of Jesus” to be the testimony His people bear concerning Him, it is true that quite a few recognize the possessive force of the genitive, and hence give it the meaning of the witness Jesus bears in His own testimony through His servants the prophets. EGWC 553.2

W. Robertson Nicoll comments: EGWC 553.3

“For the testimony or witness of (i.e., borne by) Jesus is (i.e., constitutes) the spirit of prophecy.’ This ... specifically defines the brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus as possessors of prophetic inspiration. The testimony of Jesus is practically equivalent to Jesus testifying (xxii. 20). It is the self-revelation of Jesus ... which moves the Christian prophets. He forms at once the impulse and subject of their utterances (cf. Ignat. Rom. viii.; Eph. vi.).... Furthermore, there is an implicit definition of the spirit of prophecy ... in its final phase as a revelation of Jesus Christ. Even the O.T. prophetic books, with which the Apocalypse claims to rank, were inspired by the spirit of the pre-existent Christ.”—The Expositor’s Greek Testament (Grand Rapids, Mich.: W. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company), vol. 5, p. 465. EGWC 553.4

Dr. Friedrich Düsterdieck remarks: EGWC 553.5

“From the closing words of the verse, it might be inferred, that ‘they who have the testimony of Jesus’ are not believers in general, but only the prophets, so that the angel would call himself a fellow-servant only of the prophets, as Hengstenb. also (xxii. 6) understands by the äïõëïéòÜõôïõ [doulois hautou, His servants] only prophets.”—Critical and Exegetical Handbook to the Revelation of John. Translated by Henry E. Jacobs, in Meyer’s Commentary on the New Testament, Revelation of John, p. 456. EGWC 553.6

The writings of Mrs. E. G. White make clear her interpretation of the expression “testimony of Jesus” as “the spirit of prophecy” in Revelation 19:10. EGWC 553.7

“As the apostle beheld the final deliverance of the church, he was carried away with the glory of the scene, and with deep reverence and awe fell at the feet of the angel to worship him. The heavenly messenger instantly raised him up, and gently reproved him, saying, ‘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.’ The angel then showed John the heavenly city with all its splendor and dazzling glory, and he, enraptured and overwhelmed, and forgetful of the former reproof of the angel, again fell to worship at his feet. Again the gentle reproof was given, ‘See thou do it not; for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them that keep the sayings of this book. Worship God.’”—Early Writings, 230, 231. EGWC 553.8

“It was Christ that spoke to His people through the prophets. The apostle Peter, writing to the Christian church, says that the prophets ‘prophesied of the grace that should come unto you, searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.’ It is the voice of Christ that speaks to us through the Old Testament. ‘The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’”—Patriarchs and Prophets, 366, 367. EGWC 554.1