Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 1:9

9 I John who also am your brother f and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ , was in the isle that is called Patmos , for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ .

The same mentioned, v. 4. the Apostle of Jesus Christ, yet he disdaineth not to call those his Brethren, whom his Lord so called.

The Pagan-Persecutions were now begun. Nero first began them about 23 years after Christ was ascended into Heaven, but he died within three years time after he had began that Course. Then the Christians had some rest for 12 years, by reason of the short reigns of Gal[illegible: 1 letter]a, Ot[illegible: 2 letters], and Vitel[illegible: 1 letter]us, and the Kindness of Flavius, and Titus [illegible: 1 letter]espasianus, but about 82 years after Christ, began Domitian to reign, and to persecute the Christians about the year 9[illegible: 1 letter]. He lived not long, for he was slain, Anno 97. but in those seven years he put to death, imprisoned, and banished many. Iohn is said to have been banished by him, Anno 91. and to have had this Revelation 94, and 95. Domitian lived but four or [illegible: 1 letter] years after this. After his Death Iohn is said to have come back to Ephesus, and to have died there three years after, about the year 98. But for five years Iohn was the Christians Companion in Tribulation.

Either the Kingdom of Grace, a Member of the Christian Church, or the Kingdom of Glory, which is to be arrived at, both by patient waiting, and by patient Suffering for Jesus Christ, or waiting for the second Appearance of Christ, in order to his glorious Kingdom.

This Island, Geographers tell us▪ was an Island in the Icarian, or Aegean Sea, about 35 Miles in compass, (one of those 53 Islands called the Cyclades.)

He tells us how he came to be in Patmos, viz. for preaching the Word of God, and those Truths to which Christ had given Testimony: He did not voluntarily go thither to preach the Gospel (for those Isles have in them few Inhabitants) but he was banished thither by the Emperor Domitian's Officers. Banishment was a very ordinary Punishment amongst the Romans, in case of what they would call Sedition. Eusibius tells us, that one Flavia Do[illegible: 2 letters]illa, tho she was Neece to the Consul, was banished upon the same account at this time.

Marginal references: Phil. 1.7. & 4.14. 2 Tim. 1.8.; Rom. 8.17. 2 Tim. 2.12.; Chap. 6.9.