Fellow Participant in the Kingdom
Exiled to the isle of Patmos, John was a “fellow-participant” in the tribulation and endurance with the churches of Asia – Revelation 1:9 . At the start of the first vision, Revelation introduces John, who was exiled to the isle of Patmos for the “ testimony of Jesus .” Rather than point to his apostolic credentials, he identified himself with the plight of the “ seven churches of Asia .” Although isolated on the small island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, he was a “ fellow-participant ” with the “ churches ” in the “ tribulation and endurance in Jesus .”