MrZ

The list of countries where Christians are presently experiencing persecution or tribulation is long (and I'm not sure I could name them all), but certainly many places in the Middle East and Africa, esp. in Muslim countries make the list. Sometimes persecution is nationwide and overtly supported by the government, and other times it is limited to regions that are controlled by factions or tribal groups, but it is real and widespread.

The father is eternal (Alpha and Omega) and omnipotent (Almighty). In v. 17 Jesus speaks of himself in the same terms (the First and the Last). He is God. He and the Father are one.

Testimony and witness are important in encouraging those under intense persecution because the alternative, hiding one's faith, is to forsake one's faith. Jesus as the faithful witness should encourage us because he has overcome sin and death. This means that any type of persecution in this life, even to the point of death, is not final. We have eternal victory in Christ. It is often actually easier to compromise when the stakes are not as great. Under intense persecution, there is a sense in which you have nothing more to lose.