The Isle of Patmos for God's Word and Jesus' Testimony Revelation 1:9

John the apostle shared in his introduction of the book of “Revelation”, “Behold, he comes 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”, and he added, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” In chapter one and verse nine of Revelation, John shares how he, “was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ” where we read:

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 verse begins, “I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, ...” John began with the words, “I John” which means “John the apostle himself whose name means Jehovah is a gracious giver”, “who also” or “that even and indeed” “am your brother” which means “is the people to whom he is writing's fellow believer united to another by the bond of affection”, “and companion” or “partaker and joint partner” “in tribulation” or “in oppression, affliction, pressure, distress and straits”, “and in the kingdom” or “within the royal power, kingship, dominion and rule” “and patience” which means “steadfastness, constancy and endurance” “of Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “Christ” which refers to “the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God”. John made reference to himself as a “fellow believer and joint partner” with his readers in “afflictions and distresses” as well as in Jesus Christ's “royal power and rule” and “steadfastness and endurance”.

The verse continues, “... was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” John added the words, “was in the isle” or “was located in the island” “that is called” which means “that is named” “Patmos” which means “my killing” and was “a rugged and bare island in the Aegean Sea ”, “for the word” or “because of that which is uttered and declared that embodies a conception or idea” “of God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”, “and for the testimony” or “and because of the record, report and witness” “of Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “Christ” which refers to “the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God”. John was exiled on the island of “Patmos” because of God's word and his “witness” concerning “Jesus Christ”.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we see how he identifies with his readers within the seven churches in Asia. He too experienced “suffering and tribulation” within God's “kingdom” and “patience” of Jesus Christ as he was “banned” and “deported” to the “Island of Patmos” because of his testimony concerning salvation through Him. God allowed John to suffer these things including being “boiled in oil” during his lifetime, however it lead him to write the words in “Revelation”. God's purposes are “eternal”, and though people may suffer for a while, God knows things they do not know and He has plans of which they are unaware. Let all who read these words be as John and no matter what happens in their lives, “let them be a witness for Jesus Christ”.

Next time we shall see John share how he, “was in the Spirit on the Lord's day”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.