The apostle John also suffers for the Gospel. The government exiles John to Patmos, an island near Ephesus. While there, John receives the message called Revelation. Jesus addresses this book to seven churches of Asia, beginning with the church in Ephesus.
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…. [Jesus said], “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” (Revelation 1:9,11).
John writes as “your brother” who shares “the tribulation” and “the kingdom.” The kingdom is a present reality for John. It is just as present, just as real, as the suffering they all endure for God’s word. (“The tribulation” can also be translated “the suffering.”)
But John uses the plural “churches.” Does this imply a change, as if “the church” had split into many pieces? No. In the Greek language of the New Testament, the word “church” means “assembly” or “gathering.”24 All the people God gathers to Himself are His one great gathering, His one church. Yet the members live in many parts of the world. In each place they gather to serve their Father. The New Testament calls these local gatherings “churches” or “congregations.” They are the assemblies (“the churches”) that make up God’s one great spiritual gathering (“the church”). His Revelation is sent to seven local gatherings of His one family.
Revelation addresses seven congregations in Asia Minor, beginning with Ephesus. Jesus pictures the struggles they must endure, and also their complete victory. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus promises to build His church, and that death (Hades) would not overcome it. He paves the way by entering death (Hades), defeating it, and rising again.25 Now Jesus’ spiritual family must travel the same road. They too face terrible trials and cruel deaths.26 Jesus trains them to “overcome,” to be victorious.27 He promises the final destruction of Hades.28 His family will enjoy eternal life, free from any threat of sadness, pain or death.29
24. See Study Note Three: Ekklesia
25. Revelation 1:18; 2:8; Acts 2:24
26. Revelation 2:10,13; 6:9-11; 13:10
27. Research subject – To overcome, to win: Revelation 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21; 12:11; 14:12; 17:14; 19:11-16; 21:7
28. Revelation 20:13-14; 1 Corinthians 15:24-26,51-54
29. Revelation 7:16-17; 21:4; 22:1-5
Picture: Map of Western Turkey, showing the cities of the seven churches of Asia to which Revelation was addressed (Revelation 1:11). Revelation was written from Patmos.