Tour

Apostle John received the revelation from Jesus in the island of Patmos.

The Island of Patmos is a volcanic island which is about 34square-kilometres and it is made of small islands. The island is connected by two strips of land called the Isthmus. It is shaped like a sea-horse. It enjoys 4 seasons. Not far from island of Patmos, it is the country of Turkey. Apostle John was exiled into the island of Patmos.

Who is Apostle John? In Mark 10:35, Luke 5:10 > he is fisherman, the youngest and he is the brother of James. The letters 1,2,3 John, Revelation and the gospel of John was written by John. Emperor worship was common and Emperor Domitian proclaimed himself as Lord and God. He persecuted many Christians. During the 14th year of Emperor Domitian, John was exiled.

Skala village is the main port of Island. Chora village is near the port and it is a beautiful place. The main monastery of Saint John is the main attraction of the island. It looks like a fortress and has a very library which contains a lot of manuscripts like the gospel of Mark. Many believed that Apostle John received the vision from the cave of Apocalypse.

Revelation 1:1-3 NKJV

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must [a]shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

At the cave, there is a picture where it shows John writing the book of revelation and passing it to Procorus who is believed to be one of the 7 deacons mentioned. The cave has 7 lamps and the largest one with the rock below is believed to be the place John rested. When John heard the voice of God, the rock above spilt into three fissures which is said that to present the Holy Trinity.

I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying,“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”  Revelation 1:9-11

What is the relation of the 7 churches to us today?

In systematic theology, the study of end times, interprets the 7 different eras from the apostolic period starting from 30 A.D till today. To the first three churches, Jesus did not make mentioned about His return. To the fourth church Thyatira, Jesus said: “Hold fast till I come.” Revelation 2:25 To the fifth church Sardis: “You will not know what hour I will come”- Revelation 3:3. To the sixth church He said: “Behold I come quickly.”. To the seventh church, Laodicea: “Behold, I stand at the door.” (Revelation 3:20) This seems suggest that the 7 churches represent different eras.

Around AD 31-100, the church was concerned about organization and doctrine and became legalistic. Around AD 100-313, Smyrna was during the time of persecution where many followers of Christ were martyred. AD 313-538 -Pergamos was during the time where Emperor Constantine was converted and during his reign, he mixed church practices with worldly practices. Thyatira era was the time where the church has fallen deeper, conforming with the works of the demons and the church rejects the law of God. Sardis: refers to the dead church/sleeping church. It is an era of Reformation where things seems alive but it is actually dead inside. Philadelphia refers to a time where missions came alive and were sent out all over the world. Laodicea: it presents our current era-selfishness, self seeking and lukewarm.

Some say that these types of churches can represent some churches above. The main point is to be alert and reflect which “Church” do you relate to and how can you pay attention to God’s word and repent?

 

Sermon

The island of Patmos is a beautiful place now. However, in the past, it was a place for prisoners in the past and we wouldn’t want to be there.  Today, I would like to ask you the question: Where are you today? Spiritually, where are you today?

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.-1 Corinthians 13:13

I would like to remain you no matter where are you today or what circumstances you are facing, choose love. Apostle John is an apostle who reminded us about love in his gospels and letters. John wasn’t like that in the beginning. He was special as Jesus kept mentioning John and he was there in many important occasions. Do you know in the past, John was called the son of thunder (Luke 9:51-56)? Why? In Luke 9:54, James and John saw that the Samaritans did not receive Jesus, they wanted to command fire to consume the Samaritans. He knows that Jesus love him deeply though He rebuked them. They also wanted to sit next to Jesus in heaven. As John grew in Jesus more and more, John started to decrease and Jesus started to increase. “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Remember, Even if the circumstances of where we are may not be favorable, but it is what we do and who we are in that circumstance that is the most important.  Wherever you are today, choose love.  How?

Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second its like this “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Its not easy, that’s why we need the Holy Spirit.

John was exiled to the island of Patmos and was waiting for the return of Christ for almost 60 years. All the hope was the return of Jesus as he has suffered so much from persecution. He is the only apostle left too.

What plague most in our life? Disillusion, discontentment, deception ….Billy graham puts it “when we come to the end of ourselves, we come to the beginning of God.” We can simply rest in the love of Christ and surrender to Him.

When the voice of God broke the silence in his exile, John was in awe and he fell. He heard Jesus assuring him not to be afraid. Let His small still voice speak to you. How can we hear from God? Seek and encounter God. It is more than an experience. Take time to seek him.Meditate on His Word, read His word and listen to Him. Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, [a]the Beginning and the End,” says the [b]Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:17-18 Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of [b]Hades and of Death.

Why do God repeat 3 times? God wanted to remind John that He is in control. John should place his hope on God. Romans 5:5 and Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

God love us and His love in our hearts. It is my prayer that when we remember the island of Patmos, we will always choose love, to seek Jesus and encounter Him. Remember Jesus is faithful and promised that He is first and the last. Circumstances of where we are may not be favorable, but it is what we do and who we are in that circumstance that is most important. Cast your cares on Jesus.