“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.” Revelation‬ ‭1:9‬.

     How is it that John, a brother in the kingdom and in the patience of Jesus Christ, can also be a companion in the tribulation? For does the great tribulation not speak of a time and a sign that will occur “at the time of the end”? For did Jesus not prophesy of the great tribulation in the Olivet discourse two thousand years ago? Did He not say, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” Matthew 24:21? And was not John one of His disciples that walked with Him two thousand years ago?

     So how then, being one who walked the earth with his Master two thousand years ago, could John then write in the great prophecy of Revelation two thousand years ago that he is both a brother and a companion of the tribulation? For does the book of Revelation, which is the revelation of Jesus Christ, not say that Jesus entrusted John to write down all that is recorded as the book of Revelation? “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,” ‭Revelation‬ ‭1:1‬. And did John not write it almost two thousand years ago?

     Does Jesus not speak of a great mystery in Matthew 16:28 that likewise also explains how John can be both a brother and a companion in the tribulation? Does it not say, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those standing here who shall not taste of death until they have seen the Son of Man coming in His kingdom”? And is it not written in Isaiah 55:11, “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Was not John one of those standing there when Jesus spoke those words? And is not John the highly beloved friend of Jesus? Is it not written, “Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved“ John 13:23?

     In John 21:18-19, Jesus is speaking to Peter and He tells Peter that in his old age he shall die and in what manner he shall die. And following that comment, Peter turns and sees John, being identified as John because it says Peter “saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following”. And then in John‬ ‭21:21-23‬ it says, “Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?””

     For we shall soon see a great thing unfold before our very eyes. For when the last days prophetic company rises up, all those who Jesus spoke of who will not die, who have been hidden, will come out of hiding to walk together with the last days company. For they have been hidden for such a time as this. To be “a companion” to all those who seek the face of the LORD during the great tribulation, and to be “a witness” unto the second coming of the LORD. For is it not written that even those who pierced Him will see Him? “BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen“ Revelation 1:7? And if Jesus could keep those hidden alive for two thousand years, what does that say of what Jesus is able to do for those who when the great tribulation is upon us who are hidden in Christ? For when You promised to never leave me nor forsake me, it was not into my ear that You whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips that You kissed ... But my soul.