20161104 Friday, November 4 2016
Revelation 01: The LORD's Letter From Patmos

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John ... 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"

The island of Patmos is today a territory of Greece (see also Paul's First Mission To Greece and Daniel 8: The Ram And He Goat Of Persia And Greece). It is located in the Aegean Sea (see also The Aegean Connection) near the west coast of Turkey (Turkey was known as "Asia Minor" in the Bible; see also The Return Of The Home Town Apostles).

Patmos is a relatively small member of the Sporades group of islands, measuring about 10 by 16 kilometers (6 by 10 miles), with a very irregular coastline.

The apostle John was rare among the apostles in that he survived to old age, for a purpose, while the others were martyred. John's longevity may have been itself prophesied by the risen Messiah, to Peter, as recorded by John.

"21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. 21:23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" (John 21:22-23 KJV)

John was nevertheless persecuted for the Truth - by religious unbelievers, as well as politically by the imperialistic Romans who viewed John's preaching of the coming Kingdom of God (see What Gospel Did Jesus Preach?) as a threat to their hegemony ("The dominance or leadership of one social group or nation over others") of the "world." It was for that reason that John was made a political prisoner of the Romans on Patmos, being held, with intended effect, incommunicado ("Without the means or right to communicate"). The Roman effort at silence and censorship failed however when the LORD dictated to John the letter that has become known as the "Book" of Revelation.

"1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." (Revelation 1:1-3 KJV)

The LORD's prophetic letter was addressed to seven of the church congregations of the true Church of God which were located near Patmos, on the mainland of Turkey.

"1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia:

Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.

Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:4-8 KJV)

So it was that John was given to see what he was then commanded to record in writing: "What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea."

"1:9 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. 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." (Revelation 1:9-20 KJV)

Fact Finder: Why is the letter, or book, of Revelation also called the "Apocalypse"?
See Apocalypse Now