Curious and curiouser

I decided to take a look at Revelation since I hadn’t read it on my own for awhile and we were thinking about doing a Sunday school unit. I like that right up front the purpose of the epistle is stated. But after that, it’s no ordinary epistle. :)

If you take verse 9 of chapter 1, for example, the wording is rather unusual.

I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

This is like that game, What Doesn’t Belong?

Suffering and patience…yes, go together.

Kingdom and power (and glory)…go together.

But suffering, kingdom, and patient endurance? Doesn’t it seem like an odd juxtaposition? To me it is so interesting how the different Gospels and Epistles have different associations with Christ. To some He is the Shepherd or more often the King or the Son of God. Here, He is the One for Whom we suffer, from Whom we inherit the Kingdom, for Whom we endure. Perhaps it isn't the most poetic of statements, yet speaks volumes.