1:9 I John, who also am your brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom ... of Jesus Christ, ... .
“I John.” ∼ The author begins his introduction to the seven churches by identifying himself. This is the third time in this first chapter of the Revelation for him to do so. As we have pointed out in the Vital Data, Concerning the Author, the naming of the writer in this apocalyptic work was of great importance. This was true because of the nature of the material; that nature being prophecy.
For the prophet, the publishing of his revelation was a matter of great concern. The law demanded the life of the person who spoke in the name of God a thing that failed to come to pass: "But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, … even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.” (Deut 18:20-22)
Therefore, a prophet would be expected to stand by his predictions with his signature. By doing so he or she is saying, “I stake my life on the veracity of my words – literally.” John does just that; three times in this first chapter (vv1, 4, and 9), and once in the final chapter (22:8).
“Your ... companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.” ∼ Along with the authors name, we are given (in v9) three of the main themes of the book in the words: tribulation, kingdom, and patience.
Tribulation
The theme of tribulation surfaces in 2:9-10, 22 and again in 7:14. John identifies with the seven churches in the fellowship of “the” tribulation. He writes that he is their companion in “the tribulation” (the Grk here is: tē thlipsei). The use of the article here indicates that this is the “Great Tribulation,” predicted by Christ some 40 years earlier, and recorded by Matthew 24:21, 29. The article is used to designate persons, places, or things, apart from others of the same kind. Thus, “the” tribulation designates this tribulation from all other tribulations. The word used here for companion is “sugkoinōnos” and means: co-participant. That “the tribulation,” of which John spoke, was not of the garden variety (John 16:33) is illustrated in the rest of the verse, where he gives his address as the Isle of Patmos (a penal colony) “for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Namely, for the testimony he had borne of Christ. The tribulation in view here, and 2:9, in the city of Smyrna, and that which produces the “great multitude, which no man could number, … clothed in white robes” (7:9-14), is no doubt the “Great Tribulation” prophesied of by Christ Himself, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matt 24:21)
And again,
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:” (Matt 24:21). (A parallel passage to this is found in Mark 13:24.)
The language of Jesus in v21 (i.e. “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be”) is an echo of Daniel’s words “… And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time” (Dan 12:1). Further, it is this time of tribulation which is referenced by Jeremiah and called “Jacob’s trouble” (Jer 30:7).
Having, thus, established the commonality of all these passages which have a “great tribulation” in view (and since there could not be two such times in which both are “the worst that ever has been”), it must follow that Jesus, Daniel, and Jeremiah have the same time of tribulation in view. This being true, it is possible to isolate a window of time in which the “great tribulation” prophesied of by both Daniel and Jesus (Dan 12:1 cf. Matt 24:21, 29), was to be fulfilled. This window of possible fulfillment is given in Matthew 24:34 where Jesus says (just after predicting the “great” tribulation), “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”
This window of opportunity was the generation that was contemporary to Christ. This “time of Jacob’s trouble” saw Jerusalem destroyed and the Temple razed—in A.D. 70; just forty years after the prophecy of Jesus was given. During the last seven years of this time the Apocalypse was written, both Peter and Paul were killed, John was exiled to the island of Patmos (a Roman penal colony), a war of extermination (ethnic cleansing) was prosecuted against the Jews, and the Church saw great tribulation – all under the rule of Caesar Nero, whose name has the numerical value of 666: “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” (13:18)
Kingdom
The second apocalyptic theme found in v9 is that of the “Kingdom.” Kingdom references in the Revelation are found at 11:15; 12:10; 16:10; 17:12, 17-18.
The “kingdom” theme of the Revelation is the kingdom of the Lamb (11:15 and 12:10) versus the kingdom of the Beast (16:10 and 17:12, 17-18). The visions of the book concern themselves with this struggle throughout the ages, and presents the message of victory for the Lamb and those who follow Him (17:14): who are the called, and chosen, and faithful.
John presents himself as being a companion with the seven churches of Asia (v4) in the “kingdom … of Jesus Christ.” He speaks of the present kingdom, not a future one. Now, Christ is the Grk for Messiah; this Kingdom, then, is the Kingdom of the Messiah. This being true, all the wealth of prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the Messianic Kingdom find their fulfillment in the Kingdom of the Church, in which both John and the Seven Churches were co-participants. The weight of this argument is that we must speak of the Messianic Kingdom in present terms. To bring this imagery into sharp focus notice its development, beginning from Daniel ch 7.
The book of Daniel introduces the idea of the kingdom of men being represented by beasts. In ch 7 of his prophecy, Daniel has a dream in which he saw four “great beasts,” “coming up from the Sea,” different “one from another.” Daniel tells us that “the first” beast “was like a lion,” the second “like a bear,” the third “like a leopard;” and the fourth beast he does not name but identifies as “dreadful and terrible and strong exceedingly… diverse from all the beasts that were before, and it had ten horns.” These beasts are representative of kingdoms that will come upon the earth in the order they appeared to Daniel. The character of each kingdom is represented by the nature of the beast named for it. It has long been understood that the beasts announce the kingdoms of Babylonia, Medo/Persia, Greece, and Rome respectively. Daniel’s “night visions” continue: he sees a fifth kingdom represented by a man. Verse 13 says, “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man” (literally–“one like a human being”)… “And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” (vv13-14). (The KJV’s use of the term “Son of man” in this passage, should be understood in the usage of the same term by the prophet Ezekiel, i.e. a human person.) In this sense, Daniel’s fifth kingdom is represented by a human being, as opposed to the first four which were signified by beasts. The message here is the difference in character between the kingdoms of men (as the beasts) and the Kingdom of God’s Messiah (i.e. human).
Daniel’s vision of a human being receiving the kingdoms (that once belonged to the Beast) was fulfilled in the person of Jesus the Messiah (Christ). Even the casual reader of the Gospels cannot help but notice that Jesus appropriated the title “Son of Man” for himself. His every move, his every word and deed was announcing that he had come to establish the Kingdom that Daniel foresaw established in the Son of Man.
The Gospel of Jesus was the “Gospel of the Kingdom” (Matt 4:23). The Sermon on the Mount was the Manifesto of the Kingdom (Matt ch’s 5, 6, and 7). He taught the mysteries of the Kingdom (Matt 13:11). He proclaimed the Kingdom to be at hand (Matt 4:17-10:7). The coming of the Kingdom was to permeate the disciples prayers (Matt 6:10), of whom he chose twelve—the number of government. He, as King, appointed a prime minister in the person of Peter, by giving him the Keys of the Kingdom (Matt 16:19). His parables spoke of one who would go away to receive the Kingdom and would return (Luke 19:11). He told the high priest that he would, himself, see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom (Matt 16:28). The apostle Paul wrote to make the mystery plain by saying that God “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, (kingdoms of the beast) and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” (Col 1:13). Thus, John can, here, write of his companionship with the saints in the Kingdom of the Messiah.
To be continued.
To be continued.
Apostolically Speaking,
☩ Jerry L Hayes
After spending over forty years in the dispensational doctrine, and having raise my children in that theological framework, I became a convinced adherent to a "kingdom" theology that recognizes the Church as the Israel of God, and that the first century actually saw the fulfillment of most of Matthew chapter 24. "Letters to My Children on Apostolic Kingdom Theology" is a compilation of twenty four letters written to my children explaining my journey. These "Letters" provide a systematic approach to Apostolic Eschatological study of Scripture. It is sure to interest all students of Scriptures
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT BY PURCHASING MY BOOKS FOR YOUR LIBRARY. -JLH
Order your personal copy today from the link provided here:
https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Children-Apostolic-Kingdom-Theology/dp/1482716712/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?keywords=Letters%2C+Bishop+Jerry+hayes&qid=1558365492&s=books&sr=1-2-fkmrnull
The Apocalypse, is the introduction to the biblical book of Revelation. Here Bishop Hayes also gives a verse by verse commentary of the first three chapters of the Apostle John's Revelation of Jesus Christ, covering the letters addressed to the seven churches of Asia Minor. The Bible student will thrill at the Bishop's easy evangelistic style of presenting deep and unique truths never before published. In this study a wealth of information will be shared with the disciples of Christ on each verse of this great manuscript.
Own your personal copy of this enlightening work by ordering at the link provided here:https://www.amazon.com/Apocalypse-Introduction-Epistles-Seven-Churches/dp/1686423152/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Bishop+Jerry+Hayes%2C+Apocalypse&qid=1568308793&s=books&sr=1-1
The Apocalypse, is the introduction to the biblical book of Revelation. Here Bishop Hayes also gives a verse by verse commentary of the first three chapters of the Apostle John's Revelation of Jesus Christ, covering the letters addressed to the seven churches of Asia Minor. The Bible student will thrill at the Bishop's easy evangelistic style of presenting deep and unique truths never before published. In this study a wealth of information will be shared with the disciples of Christ on each verse of this great manuscript.
Own your personal copy of this enlightening work by ordering at the link provided here:https://www.amazon.com/Apocalypse-Introduction-Epistles-Seven-Churches/dp/1686423152/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Bishop+Jerry+Hayes%2C+Apocalypse&qid=1568308793&s=books&sr=1-1
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT BY PURCHASING MY BOOKS FOR YOUR LIBRARY. -JLH
Be sure to listen and subscribe to the Bishop's Podcast: Apostolic Bishop, at:
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