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Revelation 1:9
As the Apostle John begins to write this letter(s) as directed by Jesus Christ, he notes that he is a, “brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ…” This signifies being a “brother” in Christianity as we refer to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. But he notes not simply being a brother in Jesus Christ but a brother in (1) the tribulation of Jesus Christ. This is referring to the day-to-day sufferings that we face in this world as Christians. (2) A brother in the kingdom of Jesus Christ. This is referring to the reward of blessings that will come to all believers in Jesus Christ for (3) exercising patience during the time of suffering to endure it until that day comes. The Apostle Paul declares in Philippians 3:14 (NKJV), “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” This is not an endurance and patience by our own strength our understanding, but an endurance and patience that comes through our striving for obedience through our salvation in Christ Jesus and our adherence to following His will for our lives.
John also discloses in Revelation 1:9 that he was on the island of Patmos during this time as he was (as we can best determine historically) placed there for preaching the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in his keeping with the Great Commission given to he and the other disciples in Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15: Luke 24:46-47: John 20:21; and Acts 1:8.
This is the declaration of the Apostle John in his calling and fellowship in Christ Jesus.
The Apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” We do not compete against one another to obtain the prize, but that through our salvation in Christ Jesus – by following in His footsteps in obedience to His teachings – “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:11-12).
We are not excused from participating in the sufferings of this world through our salvation in Christ Jesus, but that He will see us through them and into spiritual eternity in heaven that will then be free from suffering. Jesus teaches us in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Dear LORD,
One of the main purposes of this ministry is to help everyone realize and understand that we all are running the race of life, but that the only way to victory is through putting our faith in Christ Jesus, professing Him our Savior, and believing that You raised Him from the dead in victory over sin, death, and Satan (Romans 10:9-10). This is not a race that we can obtain the prize by our own striving to do so, but only through striving to follow in the teachings of Jesus Christ – the Savior of the world! Please let it be so LORD in all our lives that we would realize this great truth in Jesus Christ and put our faith in Him to lead us and to guide us to obtaining the prize of everlasting life. In Jesus name I pray, amen.