The term prophets
is (as in Revelation 22:6) a reference to Old Testament forecasters such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and Zechariah. By placing the words your brothers
beside these Old Testament giants, the angel is telling John that God has privileged him in the same way he privileged those men, that is, as links in a chain whereby the Lord would bring his word to his people. As transmitters of the word, John and his Old Testament predecessors (and the angel himself) are merely fellow servants
of one and the same God—a privilege though that status is.
9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”