5–6 The original readers were greatly encouraged in their struggle against persecution by these three aspects of Yeshua the Messiah: (1) He is the faithful witness (or “the faithful martyr”; see 2:13&N). He witnessed unto the point of his own death, and especially through his own death, that God is in control of history. Compare Yn 1:18, “the Only Son … , the one at the Father’s side—he has made him known”; and Isaiah 55:3–4, “ … the sure mercies of David. Behold I have given him for a witness.”