18 Words by JI Packer

 

I John, who also am your brother, 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. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet. – Revelation 1:9-10

 

The book of Revelation is written to John when on the prison island of Patmos.

If anytime we should have sympathy with John it is now. He was in isolation. He was under persecution (although Western Christians feel persecuted, it is our brothers and sisters in many asian and African countries that experience harsh persecutions).

John had his isle of Patmos. Paul had his Mamertine Prison. John Bunyan, a middle aged Baptist pastor was imprisoned in Bedford Gaol, located in the walls of a bridge over a river,  for 12 years.

There are problems that beset us, causing us to feel isolated, alone and even forsaken by God.

 

Paul had his “thorn in the flesh,” and we are going to have adverse circumstances and situations.

Like John, we can discover in the book of Revelation the last book of the Bible, hope and confidence that can take us through times of isolation.

 

Patmos is a barren, rugged chunk of land to this day. Ten miles long and six miles wide, it is located a few miles off the Asia Minor coast of the Mediterranean. It is desolate, uninhabited and mountainous.  Not a place to escape from, not a place to live on. The Romans used it as a penal colony — a place to exile hard-core convicts, revolutionaries and the insane and the murderous .

 

The Roman Caesar considered himself a god, constructing statues of himself and having them placed in worship areas throughout the Empire. By imperial edict the people were supposed to worship the images or statues and cry out loud, “Caesar is lord.” If people refused, they met a terrible fate. Polycarp, the pastor of the church at Smyrna, was burned at the stake. Ignatius, the pastor at Antioch, was torn apart by wild beasts. With the exception of devout Christians, the majority of Roman subjects bowed down and worshiped Caesar. Innumerable followers of the Christ were brutally tortured and murdered merely because they would not repeat the phrase, “Caesar is lord.” Their rebuttal, “Jesus Christ is Lord.”

 

John’s surroundings were adverse, his situation was adverse. Surrounding Patmos was the vast sea.

John had to scrounge for food.  A cave was the night time refuge, it is believed, of this man in his eighties. The cold dirt was his resting place.

 

John Reminds Us Of The Powerful Presence Of God

God neither slumbered nor slept but kept watch over him. God is a very present help in the time of trouble

John Reveled In The Providential Purposes of God.

God was in control.. At least 60 years before, Jesus had spoken these prophetic words to his followers: “3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away¹  and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13  But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:3-14.

 

But, as in the Olivet Discourse recorded in Matthew 24, the Lord went  on to tell His disciples about the adverse circumstances that would proceed towards the end of the age, and in fact signal the beginning of the end of the age.

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place ( let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17  Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23  Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27  For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” Matthew 24:15-27.

 

He had spoken of a time of great tribulation. We should not be surprised that the Revelation God gave to John speaks of “the Great Tribulation” (Rev 7) as well.

 

And, as in the revelation to John, so the Lord also spoke of His return to His disciples when He was on the Mount of Olives.

 

John Rejoiced In The Promise Glorious Return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Just as the Lord Jesus spoke of His return so John will lift our hearts in rejoicing as we look forward to that time when our Saviour shall return for His people.

“29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:29-31.

 

 

Are you living on Patmos? Do you feel limited? Isolated and cut off? I beg of you not to fall into a Patmos fixation. God is on the throne, even on your Patmos. With all of the limitations, it is easy for us to forget that Jesus is Lord.

His Presence is even there.

His Providence guides all history.

One day He shall return  in Glory.

Loneliness

Patmos was lonely, but it was. John probably had few companions. He was surrounded by human jackals, hard-hearted men who probably left John to himself. John must have longed for his family and friends and for his brothers and sisters in the church at Ephesus.

People all around us are living on a Patmos.

They are isolated. They feel alone.

Perhaps it is family problems. Perhaps it is church problems.

Some have eyes only for Patmos. They never look beyond the rocks and the sea. Their eyes are riveted on their problems and not their possibilities. Loneliness looms large.

Over these next few months we shall explore the Book of Revelation.

We shall discover afresh the Presence of the risen Lord Jesus Christ, not only on the island of Patmos, but alive as your Lord and Saviour, Your Sovereign and guide.

We shall discover afresh the Purposes of God, as the Lord gives us insight into how his plan for the ages will unroll. We shall be encouraged to know that there is nothing that catches God by surprise. In fact, the machinations of evil men and nations, of supernatural powers are all held under the Sovereign hand of our God to work His purposes as we move towards the end of the age.

Please join me each week.

These studies will be developed on each new page on this blog.

Study 1 will introduce us to Revelation 1.

I will provide a link to the Youtube preaching of each passage. I will provide he transcript for each chapter on each page. And I shall provide questions  that you can discuss together either around the family table, or if you wish, on a zoom bible study evening meeting, or a zoom bible study day time meeting.  

If you wish to join together (God permitting under Covid restrictions) in a small group in your location, I will endeavour to assit you to meet with other like-minded people.

 

Thank you for joining me on this journey. If you have friends htat would like to participate at any time, they are welcome to join. If you wish to use these materials for a home bible study or church, you are very welcome.

Every Blessing,

Steve