Disciples Digital Library

Exiled on the isle Patmos, John is a “fellow-participant” in the tribulation, the kingdom, and the endurance, in Jesus  –  Revelation 1:9 .  John identifies himself as the “ fellow-participant ” with the churches in  “ the tribulation and kingdom and endurance  in Jesus .” He was banished to Patmos for his “ testimony ” for Jesus, and like the “ seven churches ” on the Asian mainland, he endured “ tribulation ” for the sake of the “ kingdom ” of God and his witness.

On the isle of Patmos, John found himself “in the Spirit” and projected to the “Day of the Lord”  –  Revelation 1:9-10 .  While exiled on  Patmos , John came to be “ in the spirit ” and found himself “ in the lordly day ” where he received visions about the churches of Asia. Though his visions concerned events that commenced in the first century, they also culminated in the final judgment, the “ Day of the Lord ” when the wicked are punished and the righteous vindicated.