Revelation 1:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

NIV: I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

NASB: I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

CSB: I, John, your brother and partner in the affliction, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

NLT: I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: 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.

This is the second time in chapter 1 that John identifies himself directly. The first time (Revelation 1:4) he simply gives his name. Now, in verse 9, he writes that he is his readers' "brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus."

Although John could have called himself an apostle in verse 9, he chose to call himself simply a brother. The choice shows John's humility and is a strong indication that he and his readers shared an equal standing in God's family. Further, they were partners in suffering, as are all who live a godly life (2 Timothy 3:12). John tells his readers that he and they were patiently enduring tribulation with the hope of Christ's kingdom in their hearts.

Tradition holds that the Roman Emperor Domitian had banished John to Patmos around AD 95. Later in that exile, also according to tradition, John was forced into hard labor in the mines. Finally, Roman officials sent him to an ancient version of a concentration camp, where God communicated the book of Revelation to Him.

Because of his proclamation of God's Word and his witness about Jesus, John was banished to lonely Patmos, but the Roman Empire could not silence John. His testimony about Jesus continued in the form of the inspired book of Revelation. By faithfully writing Revelation, John reached more people with the good news about Jesus than he could have if he had continued his pastoral ministry at Ephesus.

Revelation 1:9–11 explains why John is on the island of Patmos: ''the word of God and testimony of Jesus,'' likely referring to some kind of persecution. He further explains that he was ''in the Spirit.'' This possibly refers to a spiritual state of mind, a sense of being controlled by the Holy Spirit, or a feeling of overt communication from God. While in that condition, John heard the Lord command him to write on a scroll what he saw, and send it to seven churches existing in that era.

The Roman government had banished John to the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. While John was at Patmos, the risen, glorified Son of God appeared to him and commanded him to write ''the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this'' (Revelation 1:19). John pronounces blessings to those who read and obey Revelation, and then he greets his readers warmly and describes Jesus' appearance.

The apostle John begins this chapter by stating that he received the revelation of Jesus Christ by divine activity. God sent this vision to John while he was on the island of Patmos, likely as a punishment from the Roman government. This book follows John's four prior messages contained in the New Testament: the Gospel of John and the letters 1, 2, and 3 John. Chapters 2 and 3 tell what Jesus dictated to seven churches in Asia Minor, while the rest of John's message concerns future events.

The word ''revelation'' means ''an unveiling or disclosure.'' This writing unveils future events such as the rapture, three series of judgments that will fall on the earth during the tribulation, the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and her amazing revival, as well as Jesus' second coming with His saints to the earth, the judgment of Satan and his followers, and finally, the eternal state. This content, combined with the original Greek term apokalypsis, is why we now refer to an end-of-the-world scenario as ''an apocalypse.''