We sometimes think of the Book of Revelation as a mysterious puzzle or a terrifying forecast of the end of the world. But if we read it thoughtfully, this last book of the Bible is a spiritual treasure and a source of deep joy.
It’s not the easiest book to read, but it also has the capacity to give you the peace of mind that comes from having settled your eternal destiny.
Revelation also reminds us that the people of God are called to be witnesses to the life and light of God revealed to us in Jesus Christ.
Witness is not an optional activity for super-Christians or those set apart as evangelists. It is our vocation. It is who we are, what we do, and how we live until Jesus returns. In Revelation, John imagines each congregation as a lampstand shining the light of Jesus into the surrounding social, political and cultural darkness.
Our calling as apprentices to Jesus is to bear witness to the light that he gives in a world that often resists the light and looks for other forms of illumination that distract and disappoint and ultimately fail.
I want to suggest that we bear witness to the way of Jesus by sharing the good news, living holy lives, exuding a fragrant presence that draws people to Christ, and embodying mercy, empathy, and justice.
The Book of Revelation presents several powerful images of witness. Its first verse declares that what John is writing is “The revelation of Jesus Christ” – an unveiling, a disclosing, a clarifying of who Jesus of Nazareth really is, and what he has done, and what he will yet do.
In Revelation 1:5, Jesus himself is called “the faithful witness.” His life and death testify to the truth of God’s love. The church, following the Lamb, is called to carry that same witness into the world. In Revelation 11, we read of the two witnesses, symbolizing the prophetic role of the church. They speak God’s truth to human power, they suffer for their witness, but they cannot be silenced. In Revelation 12:11, the faithful triumph “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”
Witness is at the core of Christian discipleship. It involves words and deeds, courage and compassion, proclamation and presence.
1. Witness through sharing the good news
The first and most obvious form of witness is sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. John is writing a book about the revelation of Jesus – his victory, his glory, his kingdom. To witness is to tell that story. We do this by finding natural, humble, Spirit-led ways to share Christ with our family, neighbours and friends.
Our world is increasingly secular, diverse, and often suspicious of institutional religion. But people remain hungry for ultimate meaning, for hope, for a narrative that transcends consumerism and politics.
Witness begins with ordinary relationships. We share a meal, listen well, have fun together, lend a hand, offer to pray. Witness includes being willing at the right time to speak about our faith and hope – not just vague “spirituality” but finding the right context to speak about the crucified and risen Lord. It means being ready, as Peter says, to give a reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15). That’s witness.
In Revelation 14:6, an angel proclaims the eternal gospel to every nation, tribe, language, and people. That same gospel is entrusted to us. The vocation of witness means being heralds of Christ’s victory in every suburb, workplace, school, and university across this ancient land.
2. Witness through holy living
Words alone are not enough. Revelation calls believers to purity and perseverance. In Revelation 14:4, the 144,000 are described as those “who follow the Lamb wherever he goes” and who are “blameless.” Holiness is part of our testimony too.
In a culture where integrity is sacrificed for success, and where our digital devices offer enticing temptations and strong pressure to adopt consumer lifestyles, holy living is a powerful witness.
Holiness is not withdrawal but engagement with purity of heart. It shows in sexual integrity, financial honesty, and relational faithfulness. It involves resisting the idols that seek to capture our hearts, whether that is nationalism, money, comfort, fame, or power.
We bear witness when we are known as people of integrity in business, people of compassion in community, and people of faithfulness in marriage and friendships. Our holiness declares that Christ really is Lord.
3. Witness through a fragrant life
Revelation presents the prayers of the saints rising like incense before God (Rev 5:8; 8:4). Paul speaks in 2 Corinthians 2:15 of Christians as “the aroma of Christ.”
Witness is more than announcing good news; it is more than godly morality. The ministry of witness includes the unmistakeable fragrance or aroma of a life shaped by Jesus, honourable, compelling, inspiring – a life that draws others to Jesus.
Think of people in your networks who live this out: a neighbour who quietly serves in times of crisis; the teacher whose kindness to students shines beyond the classroom; the friend whose love for the marginalised speaks louder than sermons.
A fragrant witness is especially vital in a society where people have been hurt by religion or carry stereotypes of judgmental Christians who want to exclude and gain cultural power through force. Jesus invites us to embody a compelling counter-narrative: his own beauty and integrity, his own wisdom and compassion, written on your life.
4. Witness through mercy, justice and empathy
Revelation is filled with visions of divine justice. The cries of the martyrs rise before God (Rev 6:10). Babylon, the symbol of corrupt power, falls under judgment (Rev 18). And the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven as a city of healing where the nations are restored (Rev 22:2).
To engage in the ministry of witness is to embody God’s mercy and justice. We offer practical help, forgiveness, and compassion to those in need among friends and family, in our workplace and community.
We engage in advocacy for Indigenous reconciliation. We speak up for asylum seekers. We encourage stewardship of the natural environment. We support peace initiatives.
We stand with those who suffer, whether it be drought-stricken farmers, struggling families, or lonely neighbours. We ask, “What would Jesus do, if he were me?” And we step up and serve as Jesus served.
Encouragement for the task
There is a cost to the ministry of witness. We can lose friends. We can be misunderstood. It can be difficult to avoid hypocrisy and maintain our integrity in every situation. But God is with us, and it is the vocation of every apprentice of Jesus to speak well of him, to speak up for him, to share the good news about Jesus in whatever way God has designed you to share it.
The Book of Revelation shows that the people of God are distinctive. They will be opposed, sometimes persecuted, often ignored. But it also shows that the victory is assured because the Lamb reigns.
Our witness in this present darkness is sustained by three awesome realities:
1. Jesus is Lord: Revelation 1 shows Jesus holding the keys of death and Hades. He has fought the great battle of the ages, and has won. Jesus is seated on heaven’s throne.
2. The Spirit empowers us: as in Revelation 11, where the faithful witnesses speak by the power of the Holy Spirit. We have the same access to the same divine resource as we witness for Jesus.
3. The end is secure: the last two chapters promise a new creation where witness gives way to sight.
The day of reckoning is fast approaching. The time for witness will soon be gone. The day of rest is near. So let us persevere with courage, keenly aware that God is with us by his Spirit, that Jesus walks with us day by day, and that our labour for the Lord is not in vain (1 Cor 15:58).
Sermon 827 copyright © 2025 Rod Benson. Preached at North Rocks Community Church, Sydney, Australia, on Sunday 21 September 2025. Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from The Christian Standard Bible (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020).
Image source: Grace for the race
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