The Testimony of Jesus (Revelation 19:10)

In Revelation 19:10 we have a definition:

"the testimony of Jesus" = "the spirit of prophecy"

This is clearly stated in the verse:

"And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Rev 19:10)

And, in the same verse, we are told that John's brethren (think of the other apostles) also have the testimony of Jesus. John was faithful to share the testimony of Jesus (Rev 1:2) and was even sent into exile for doing it (Rev 1:9). The remnant - the church just before the Second coming - is described as also having the testimony of Jesus:

"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Rev 12:17)

Here is a similar passage to Revelation 19:10:

"And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God." (Rev 22:8-9)

This identifies John's brethren as prophets. Therefore the prophets are those who have the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy. That's logical, isn't it? - that the prophets would have the spirit of prophecy. The testimony of Jesus Christ is identified as a gift:

"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:" (1 Cor 1:6-7)

Perhaps not to every individual but the testimony of Christ was confirmed in or was present in the Corinthian church. The lists of spiritual gifts enumerated in 1 Cor 12:1,4-10,28 and Eph 4:8, 11-13 both include the gift of prophecy.

The testimony of Jesus seems to be connected with the belief that Jesus is the actual Son of God.

"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness (= testimony, Strong's G3141) in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record (= testimony, Strong's G3141) that God gave of his Son. And this is the record (= testimony, Strong's G3141), that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 5:10-12)

Here is a verse that helps to identify the role of a prophet. Note that it is not just a matter of telling the future.

"But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." (1 Cor 14:3)

Since the fully-obedient ("keep the commandments of God") remnant "have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Rev 12:17) and "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Rev 19:10) they will receive the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the gifts that go with that including the gift or spirit of prophecy. A person is not part of the remnant and considered to have the spirit of prophecy because they have some books about prophecy on their bookshelf. That makes no sense at all; owning books is not the criteria; it has something to do with full obedience.