He's Still Lord

Jesus, the Faithful Witness
REVELATION 1:4-8
John wrote the book of Revelation—as he received it from God—to encourage Christians who were being heavily persecuted by the Roman emperor Domitian. Approximately 25 years earlier, Rome had destroyed Jerusalem and taken away whatever rights the Christians actually had at that time. Many believers felt like slaves and were beginning to question, "Where is Jesus? Is He still the Lord?" So the main purpose of this letter was to remind them that Jesus Christ was indeed alive and that, although He was allowing them to undergo these trials, He still remained the same loving, all-powerful Lord.
We can likewise be encouraged simply by remembering who Jesus is. When we realize He is perfectly trustworthy and praiseworthy, we will be able to persevere through difficulties with confidence and joy. Revelation 1:5 reminds us that Jesus is the faithful witness. We can rely on every single thing He says—not only are His words true; He Himself is the truth. (John 14:6) If He says that He will do something, we can trust it will happen. The early church desperately needed to know that Jesus' promise to return meant He would indeed come back.
Similarly, we can trust His statement that life on earth isn't all there is, and that He will be with us forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Jesus proved His words by conquering death through the Cross and His resurrection—He became "the firstborn of the dead" (Revelation 1:5) and prepared the way for all who trust in Him. He is our hope and the guarantee of our own resurrection. - Charles Stanley