Revelation 1:9: I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
Ἐγὼ Ἰωάννης, ὁ ἀδελφὸς ὑμῶν καὶ συγκοινωνὸς ἐν τῇ θλίψει καὶ βασιλείᾳ καὶ ὑπομονῇ ἐν Ἰησοῦ, ἐγενόμην ἐν τῇ νήσῳ τῇ καλουμένῃ Πάτμῳ διὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὴν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ.
John found himself exiled on the island of Patmos when he had the vision behind the Book of Revelation. John calls himself “brother and partner.” He joined in his readers and shared with them in tribulation and suffering. This connection between John and his readers is a significant way to build rapport with his readers. It adds weight to his words. His words are not theory but apply to real life. John also shares with them the kingdom of Jesus. They share the same Lord and Master and are part of the same goals. This adds further weight to John’s words because it reminds the readers of their shared mission. Both tribulation and kingdom work require patience. Jesus is the source of this patience. We can look at his character to find this patience and experience it through his presence.
The reason John has been exiled is for his preaching of the word of God and his witness about Jesus. He is not a political prisoner but someone experiencing hardship because of his faith. There is a difference between the suffering we experience because of our political views and our suffering because of our faith in Jesus. Even some governments are confused about this. What is so threatening about the testimony of Jesus? Because people must bow down in humility before him, and they do not want to do that because of their pride. Jesus is threatening to some people because he will challenge the sovereignty of others. Jesus’ sovereignty is a key theme of the Book of Revelation.
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