The last part of the Bible, the Book of Revelation, is among the very few books that do not narrate a story but are almost entirely devoted to faith. It explains the logic and essence of Christianity and talks about salvation (soteriology) and end times (eschatology). Jesus stands in a central position in Revelation and is named the faithful witness. In this article, we explore these words and how they connect to Simulation Creationism, the theory of God’s Simulation developed by Nir Ziso from The Global Architect Institute. Apostle John, who wrote the Revelation, used the Greek term “pistos” to characterize Jesus as faithful, reliable, and worthy of trust. Christ’s followers should display identical characteristics.
The Revelation begins exactly with such words: “Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1: 5). John was influenced by Psalms and messianic texts, meaning that Christ is a faithful witness of messianic times. He is a witness as the servant of God, a witness to his death on the cross.
Therefore, Jesus is a martyr, a designation that first meant the witness. Only in the 2nd century, this term includes martyrdom as we understand it today. If necessary, a witness would seal their faith with blood. What did Christ witness? Following Simulation Creationism, Jesus faithfully witnessed the world as part of The Simulation and described the simulated earthly system as something well below the divine reality.
The Bible always emphasizes witnessing God’s word. The first essential qualification is given to Jesus Christ as a faithful witness. In Revelation and the entire New Testament, the topic of witnessing is narrowly connected with the prophetic meaning of the message. A witness is one who heard God’s word and had visions of the heavenly reality and God’s intentions.
A witness should transfer what was seen and heard and look for an answer based on faith: “Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1). The Church has the task of transferring such witnessing of faith, illuminated through the Holy Spirit. We see the Holy Spirit as the energy behind The Simulation, a force that guides the “Supercomputer” in creating worlds and events.
As such, the task of witnessing is a predetermined act leading God’s creature to a more suitable, complex, and relevant comprehension of The Simulation and divine reality. Just like Jesus, the Church faces challenges in the predetermined rejection of witnessing. It faces misunderstanding, intolerance, and even persecution on behalf of world powers.
Already in the Old Testament, we can find that a witness vouches for the Messiah as someone who will be persecuted: “See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples” (Isaiah 55:4); “it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky” (Psalm 89: 37).
It is riveting that John’s testimony of Jesus says: “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me” (John 18:37). Jesus is a living witness, comprehended in the Father’s reality to whom he is utterly faithful. Thus, the words “faithful witness” do not simply denote Christ’s credibility, but translate to the experience of faith in a community. Jesus gives personal and life witnessing, with an inner connection with God the Father, as the relation of total love, faithfulness, and loyalty.
In such a way, Christians can be enriched with what Jesus brings to us in a simulated world: being part of God as God’s adopted children, faith in the resurrection with a new body in a new simulated environment, and the capability of victory over all the challenges in this simulated world. “They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them” (Romans 2:15).
The contrast between light and darkness in the Apocalypse contrasts Christ’s and earthly system. Christ’s system brings complete openness to God the Father, while the worldly system is closed, denying every contact with the transcendental. The earthly system is aggressive and intolerant of Christ’s. However, those faithful to Him should be ready to offer their lives, just as Christ did. The victory over this simulated world comes from love for others but also the risks of being hated and persecuted for the truth one is witnessing.
