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In the Book of Revelation, we find John talking to Jesus. The revelation that Jesus gives to John contains two sections. First, in chapters two and three, we read seven letters to seven churches in Asia.
Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea (Revelation 1:11, ESV).
And second, beginning in Revelation 4, to all believers about the end times. (We will discuss this section in a later Interruption.)
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things” (Revelation 4:1).
Now, back to chapters three and four, where we find the seven letters to seven churches. Let’s play cartographer and examine the Isle of Patmos in reference to the Seven Churches mentioned in Revelation.
If you are an expert cartographer, you would note that I’ve had Alice, my AI assistant, make the Island of Patmos larger (and make it red) than it would appear on other, more accurate maps. One, so it would stand out better on the map, and two, from this little island came the only accurate, true foretelling prophecy in history of the end times.
If islands could brag, move aside, Maui, and bow down to Patmos!
An extensive prison system didn’t exist in Rome; a prisoner experienced a trial and then one of three outcomes: acquitted, executed, or banished. Paul and Peter were both executed after their last trial. But the prophecy of Jesus in John 21:20-23, that John wouldn’t be martyred, held true as he was banished.
The Isle of Patmos existed as a “banishment” island, and those sent there had relative freedom to roam about and receive friends (who could get to the island). For many years prior to his time on Patmos, John was the leader of the church in Ephesus, with a close association with the churches in Asia (then called Asia, now modern-day Turkey).
I imagine John spent many days walking and praying for fledgling Christianity and the churches of Asia while on the Isle of Patmos. John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10), probably worshipping and praying for his flock (the seven churches of Asia), when Jesus dramatically decided to answer by asking John to be His personal assistant and to copy a letter to each of the churches.
We should all learn to be in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day.
And if I could imagine what God/Jesus was thinking (please Lord, withhold lightning bolts), He thought, “Well, while I’m giving my servant John seven letters, I might as well give him the rest of the story of human history.” Paul said that God often does exceedingly abundantly beyond what we ask or even think (Ephesians 3:20), and this was definitely one of those times!
All I can think is, “Praise God!”
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!