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.
Revelation 1:9
TRIBULATION - 2347 thlípsis – properly, pressure (what constricts, rubs together in a narrow place that "hems in"); tribulation, focusing on internal pressure that causes one to feel confined (restricted, "without options")./thlipsis brings the challenge of also coping with the internal pressure caused by the tribulation, especially feeling there is "no way of escape" because "hemmed in." HELPS WORD STUDIES
Two thoughts I’d liked to address from this verse are “partner in tribulation” and “patient endurance”.
I’m finding these are days that are demanding “patient endurance” with a greater dependency on the Holy Spirit work to produce His wisdom and His fruit in and through our lives.
I find it interesting that John writes about the partnership he has with others who are “in tribulation” and reminds them first, that this is common in “the kingdom” they share.
The kingdom of God suffers violence .... thus the need to endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ Jesus.
Through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom, strengthened and encouraged as disciples, to enter in through faith...Acts 14:22. Not seeing, yet believing, we consider the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed in us. We continue to hope for the unseen, and wait for it with patience....(Romans 5.19-25)
The Apostle John reminds us that he too was a partner in tribulations that we all experience in life and from Jesus ~
“.....in me you may have peace, in the world you will have tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world”. John 16:33
The proper response to the tribulation is patient endurance, not an effort to avoid. While we would all love to never suffer hardships and pain, there are things we never learn or develop in our lives without the conflict of pressure.
Ellicott’s commentary notes that this patience brings experience because it is in Jesus. It is not patience that is looking and waiting for Jesus. It is not the patience of Jesus but patience that draws its life and energy of endurance from Him.
The apostle Paul wrote in Php 4: ~
11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content :12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need :13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Literally ~ infuses strength into my inner man”.
Romans 5:3 Paul’s reminds us “but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance” and we are exhorted from Romans 12:12. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
If Jesus had to learn obedience from the things he suffered don’t you image there are things that we too will learn and develop while going through our own particular adversities?
I love Johns greeting to the churches in Revelation 1:4 where he writes ~
“ Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of Kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priest to his God and father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold he is coming with the clouds…”
A good reminder to live with the awareness of our need for patient endurance through these days.