John identifies himself with his readers as “your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patience endurance that are in Jesus.” As their brother and partner, John indicates that they and he are in identical circumstances. The circumstances are described in three terms: “the tribulation and the kingdom and the patience endurance.” The first and the last of these three terms point to some level of oppression, not just for John but also for his readers in the seven churches that are in Asia. Wedged in between these references to oppression is the victorious word kingdom, a term recalling Revelation 1:5 where Jesus Christ is called “the ruler of the kings on earth” and Revelation 1:6 where the saints are called a kingdom. Overriding the troubles Christians experience on earth is the reality of “the kingdom,” as will become more evident in the course of the Revelation.