A Companion in Tribulation and the Patience of Jesus Christ

“I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Revelations 1:9)

John also lived the Word of God and had the testimony of Jesus in his life. Because of this he was suffering persecution. The scripture teaches us that all who truly live for Jesus will suffer for it:

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12)

But listen especially to the very personal way that John speaks to us: “I John, who also am your brother…” He speaks to the reader of this book as being part of the same spiritual family – of course remember, he is speaking to the family of “servants” (as you will remember this noted back in an earlier post “To Shew Unto His Servants“. The Revelation message was addressed to only servants.) But John’s address also states another personal thing that is shared and common among the true spiritual family: tribulation “…and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ…”

And yes, it will also take exercising the patience of Jesus if we are to maintain our experience in the Kingdom of God while we are suffering persecution. Jesus also taught us this when he warned of persecution and the need to have patience to keep our souls spiritual life:

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake… …In your patience possess ye your souls.” (Luke 21:17-19)

John states that he “was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” John had been banished to the barren and desolate island of Patmos because of his love for living and preaching the word of God, and for living the full testimony of Jesus Christ.

It is very important to take note of these conditions under which John received the revelation. There is actually much in this revelation message that speaks to similar things to happen to the true servants of Jesus Christ. And so we also need to come to the realization of another condition which enables us to be able to receive and understand greater revelations of God’s great grace, mercy, and love. It is when we suffer persecution for his sake!

Are we willing to suffer for him, so that we may better understand and know him, and have the great revelation of the sacrificial love of the Lamb of God revealed to the very depths of our heart and soul? We must if we are ever to be used as a vessel to reveal Jesus Christ to others!

“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” (2 Corinthians 4:5-11)

“I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Revelations 1:9)