“The Churches, Seals, and Trumpets all have introductory passages. The Seals have two complete chapters (4 & 5). The Trumpets have only five verses (8:2-6). The Churches have as their introduction one half of Revelation’s opening chapter in which Jesus presents himself with all of those characteristics which will both comfort and strengthen the saints during all seven periods of the Church.
Revelation Chapter 1
VERSE 9 “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
I, JOHN:
JOHN comes from the Hebrew (Yehochanan) which means Yahweh Has Been Gracious. Throughout Revelation, John serves as a stand-in for the entire Church. That is to say John represents the Church, especially the last living members of this little flock found at the end of the age, the feet of him. What he sees and hears, we see and hear. As the messages to the Seven Churches are being introduced, John’s involvement becomes our involvement. True, he was the scribe of this prophecy, but symbolically WE ALSO WRITE. (See Rev 10:4 for an example of this concept) To write is to record for learning and profit.
When John is told to “write NOT,” it is the same as telling the Church not to get involved. The seven thunders —controversies in the world —which follow A.D.1799, are things which WE are to ignore even if they do so captivate the world. Therefore, when John writes, we (the Church) are making mental notes for our spiritual development and profit.
YOUR BROTHER AND COMPANION IN THE TRIBULATION AND KINGDOM AND PATIENCE OF JESUS CHRIST:
Here John is stressing what is mentioned above. He (regardless of his special station) is part of a body —all of whom are mentioned in this prophecy.
“Brother” stresses the unity of the body.
“Fellow partaker in tribulation” stresses that the whole Church must suffer.
“Kingdom” stresses the outcome of that suffering.
“Perseverance” encourages us to suffer so that we can, indeed, reign. This is the epitome of the book of Revelation encouragement to fellowship in sufferings and victory.
JOHN WAS ON THE ISLAND THAT IS CALLED PATMOS:
This was a penal colony.
If we knew the etymology (which the seminaries do not seem able to supply), we would be richer since places equal conditions in the Bible. Perhaps the Lord wishes us only to know the qualities of this place. We can deduce the conditions of separateness (island) of John (and, therefore, of us), and the conditions of rejection (a penal colony) which all of the Church experience at some time —“the wilderness.” The blessing, of course, is that, while there, John “hears” (Verse 10) something which is a great blessing. Thus our separateness brings revelations to us. (Some claim that in Israeli, Patmos means “mortal”.)
FOR THE WORD OF GOD AND FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST:
These are consistently the two things which set the true Church apart from the apostate church.”
In our next post we would like to present a little further insight in regards to this verse as taken from another brother’s perspective.
Revelation Chapter 1
VERSE 9 “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
I, JOHN:
JOHN comes from the Hebrew (Yehochanan) which means Yahweh Has Been Gracious. Throughout Revelation, John serves as a stand-in for the entire Church. That is to say John represents the Church, especially the last living members of this little flock found at the end of the age, the feet of him. What he sees and hears, we see and hear. As the messages to the Seven Churches are being introduced, John’s involvement becomes our involvement. True, he was the scribe of this prophecy, but symbolically WE ALSO WRITE. (See Rev 10:4 for an example of this concept) To write is to record for learning and profit.
When John is told to “write NOT,” it is the same as telling the Church not to get involved. The seven thunders —controversies in the world —which follow A.D.1799, are things which WE are to ignore even if they do so captivate the world. Therefore, when John writes, we (the Church) are making mental notes for our spiritual development and profit.
YOUR BROTHER AND COMPANION IN THE TRIBULATION AND KINGDOM AND PATIENCE OF JESUS CHRIST:
Here John is stressing what is mentioned above. He (regardless of his special station) is part of a body —all of whom are mentioned in this prophecy.
“Brother” stresses the unity of the body.
“Fellow partaker in tribulation” stresses that the whole Church must suffer.
“Kingdom” stresses the outcome of that suffering.
“Perseverance” encourages us to suffer so that we can, indeed, reign. This is the epitome of the book of Revelation encouragement to fellowship in sufferings and victory.
JOHN WAS ON THE ISLAND THAT IS CALLED PATMOS:
This was a penal colony.
If we knew the etymology (which the seminaries do not seem able to supply), we would be richer since places equal conditions in the Bible. Perhaps the Lord wishes us only to know the qualities of this place. We can deduce the conditions of separateness (island) of John (and, therefore, of us), and the conditions of rejection (a penal colony) which all of the Church experience at some time —“the wilderness.” The blessing, of course, is that, while there, John “hears” (Verse 10) something which is a great blessing. Thus our separateness brings revelations to us. (Some claim that in Israeli, Patmos means “mortal”.)
FOR THE WORD OF GOD AND FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST:
These are consistently the two things which set the true Church apart from the apostate church.”
In our next post we would like to present a little further insight in regards to this verse as taken from another brother’s perspective.
