Disclosure notices persistent perseverance seven times. At the book’s starting, John sets the tone by presenting himself as “I, John, your sibling and sidekick (sharer and participator) with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patient perseverance [which are] in Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:9, Amplified Bible). The development here is exceptional, however, John utilizes three words to depict a certain something—in particular, the tribulation that is associated with the Kingdom and which requires tolerant perseverance (see Acts 14:22; II Timothy 2:11-12).

In the letters to the seven places of worship, a few repeating expressions or topics show up. They all contain “I know your works” and “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the houses of worship.” Five letters contain the charge to atone, and “tolerance” seems four times in three of them, a … Read the rest