,, 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. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send [it] unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”
Rev. 1: 9-11
In this introduction, John seems to wonder and say, "I am John," am I something special, so God reveals things like this to me. trouble, "Here John does not say," I John who am an apostle, who am above you or something like that "here John says" brother "so John is a brother and not something more than a brother, John shares good and evil with his brothers. He suffered with his brothers when the church was persecuted. John did not exalt himself above the brothers as some do today by declaring themselves super saints or something like that. If we think humanly, John had elements to "say something about himself" but he did not for this reason he puts himself on the same level with his brothers and it shows how spiritual and humble John is. The truth is that John was an apostle chosen by God, he even had special privileges to be close to Jesus, he was also in a narrow circle of privileges with Peter and James, was given the grace to write the Gospel of John, the three Epistles as well as Revelation is in which he saw something that probably no one before him.But John does not mention any of it or uses privileges in people to prove himself he simply says ,,,, I John, who am both your brother and friend in trouble, and the kingdom and suffering of Jesus Christ, "
Here we see John saying in the "kingdom" and this refers to the spiritual kingdom that began and in which Jesus reigns, it is the church of God that we read about in the sixth verse
,, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father…”
Rev. 1: 6
Of course, this is also by grace, because this is unthinkable for us humans. We know what we are like and what we like to do, but still God does not act on us according to our mistakes, but makes us kings and priests.
,, But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
1 Pet.2: 9
We have therefore become the king's priests and now we all have direct access to God based on the merits of the Lord Jesus. John encourages the brothers here and says, "I am like you a humble servant of Christ's kingdom. Jesus redeemed us and now reigns in our hearts."
And the last thing John mentions at the beginning of this verse is "and the suffering of Jesus Christ." We know that the church went through the roof of great trouble and torment and that a large number of believers ended their lives by martyrdom and a common characteristic permeates it all. , suffering "and waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ..John writes about this now.He says" I John "humble brother ,, I have the great privilege to write you the revelation of the eternal God to the very end" which will confirm the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in glory to set up an eternal kingdom.
He goes on to say, "I was on an island called Patam, for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." John tells us that he was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God, and in the last part we see that he preached the second coming of Christ. Jesus Christ "and the explanation is in
,,… for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Rev. 19:10
When John was sent to the island he was about ninety years old and was there among criminals and political prisoners because the Roman government designated the island of Patmos for those categories. The island was isolated and everyone who was on this island lost their civil rights as well as their own. possessions and towards the prisoners they were extremely rude in addition to giving them very little food and they did very hard work while sleeping in a cave.
John also went through these sufferings, but it is not written in which group he was assigned because he was neither a criminal nor a politician, he was there because of the word of God and now in the midst of those sufferings on an isolated island, God appears to him.
"I was in the Spirit on Sunday" John says that he was in the Spirit which means that John was outside the normal senses we use on earth he was in the Spirit. So God unnaturally gives him revelation in the Holy Spirit on Sunday. John continues "And I heard behind me a voice as great as a trumpet sounding."
This voice of God is also:
"... God answered him with his voice."
Exodus 19:19
,, Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire.”
,, And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, …”
Rev.21: 3
This voice that John hears with instructions on what to do is the voice of God, the voice of the Authority, the voice of the One who is Almighty, the voice of the One who has no beginning or end, the voice of the One who is Alpha and Omega, the voice of the One who is First and Last.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last; And whatsoever thou shalt write, write it in a book, and send it unto the churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamum, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.
The Lord Jesus tells John to send a book with what he sees in the seven cities where the churches were in the order given from Ephesus to Laodicea and back to Ephesus. The local churches were independent and each had its own preacher who was under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ because He is the head of the church.
,,… Christ is the head of the church:…”
Eph.5: 23
good job bro..keep it up