The Apostle John in Exile

The wonderful success which attended the preaching of the gospel by the apostles and their fellow-laborers, increased the hatred of the enemies of Christ. They made every effort to hinder its progress, and finally succeeded in enlisting the power of the Roman Government against the Christians. A terrible persecution arose, and many of the followers of Christ were put to death.

The apostle John was now an aged man, but his zeal and success in the cause of Christ were unabated. The bitterest hatred was kindled against him for his unwavering fidelity. He was the last survivor of those who were intimately associated with Jesus; and his enemies decided that his testimony must be silenced. If this could be accomplished, and the new sect were treated with severity, they thought the doctrine of Christ might soon die out of the world.

John was accordingly summoned to Rome to be tried for his faith. His doctrines were misstated. False witnesses accused him as a seditious person, who had publicly taught theories that would subvert the nation. The apostle presented his faith in a clear and convincing manner, with such simplicity and candor that his words had a powerful effect. His enemies were astonished at his wisdom and eloquence; but the more convincing his testimony, the more intense their hatred against him. They could not controvert his reasoning, nor match the power which attended the utterance of truth; and they determined to silence its faithful advocate. By the decree of the emperor, John was banished to the Isle of Patmos, condemned «for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.»

Patmos, the place of John’s exile, was a barren, rocky island in the Aegean Sea, which had been chosen by the Roman Government as a place of banishment for criminals. In former years his life had been spent among wood-covered hills, green valleys, and fruitful plains; now his lonely home was amid scenes of desolation that to many would have appeared gloomy and uninteresting. But to him it was otherwise. Although shut away from the busy scenes of life, and from active labor as an evangelist, he was not excluded from the presence of God. He could commune with the King of kings, and study the manifestations of divine power as revealed in the book of nature, and on the page of inspiration. He had delighted to trace the wisdom and skill of the Creator in the beauties of his handiwork; and now he could see tokens of the same divine Architect in the rocky wilds of Patmos.

In the surroundings of his island home, the exiled prophet held communion with his God. The blue heavens that bent above him on lonely Patmos were as bright as the skies above his own loved Jerusalem. The words of the psalmist seemed appropriate: «The heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord; thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. For who in the Heaven can be compared unto the Lord? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.» In the glory of the heavens man sees an illustration of the greatness of the Creator, and is made to feel his own littleness. If he has cherished pride and self-importance because of wealth, talents, or personal attractions, let him here learn to humble his proud spirit as in the presence of the infinite One.

In the sound of many waters,—deep calling unto deep,—John heard the voice of the Creator. The sea, lashed to fury by the merciless winds, represented the wrath of an offended God. The mighty waves, in their most terrible commotion restrained within the limits appointed by an invisible hand, testified of an infinite power controlling the deep,—of One who speaks to the proud ocean, «Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further,» and the waters are prompt to obey his word. In contrast with the power and majesty of Him who holds in his hands the great and wide sea, how feeble is puny man, who glories in his wisdom and strength, and sets his heart against the Ruler of the universe!

By the rocks John was reminded of Christ, the Rock of his strength, in whose shelter he could hide without a fear. They also called to his mind the rocky Horeb, where God spoke his law in the hearing of all the people. The divine Legislator proclaimed his law amid thunders and lightnings, and the thick cloud that hung over the mountain, with a voice as the voice of a trumpet, exceeding loud, that Israel might be impressed with his power and glory, and fear to transgress his commandments. John remembered that one of these ten precepts called upon him to «remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.» And the Lord’s day, the day on which Jehovah rested after the great work of creation, and which he blessed and sanctified, was as sacredly observed by him upon the lonely isle as it had been when he was among the churches, worshipping with them on that holy day.

The rocky waste around him spoke eloquently of the unchangeable character of the divine law; for it testified of the flood which God brought upon the earth because of the transgression of its inhabitants. The rocks thrown up from the great deep, or rent from the solid earth, by the breaking forth of the waters, brought vividly to his mind the terrors of that awful outpouring of God’s wrath, and reminded him that it is no light matter for man to sin, to set his perverse will in opposition to the will of his Maker.

Even in this world obedience is for man’s highest good; and it is surely for his eternal interest to submit to God and be at peace with him. Of all the creatures that God has made on the earth, man alone is rebellious; yet he alone possesses reasoning powers to understand the claims of the divine law, and a conscience to feel the guilt of transgression and the peace and joy of obedience.

As John became more intimately acquainted with the divine character through the works of creation, his reverence for God increased, and he was overwhelmed with the thought of his majesty and greatness. God is not dependent on man for honor. He could sweep every mortal from the face of the earth in a moment of time, and create a new race to people it and glorify his name. The apostle often asked himself, Why do not men, who are wholly dependent upon God, seek to be reconciled to him by willing obedience? He is infinite in wisdom, and there is no limit to his power. He preserves in perfect harmony the grandeur and beauty of the things which he has created. Had sin never entered the universe, there would have been no discord in Heaven or in earth. Disobedience to the law of God has brought all the misery that has existed among his creatures. Then why will not man submit to a Ruler who is so great and powerful,—a Being who is so wise and kind?

In his exile, John calls to remembrance the wonderful incidents that he has witnessed in the life of Christ. In Imagination he again enjoys precious intercourse with his Lord; and his heart is comforted. Suddenly his meditations are broken in upon; he is addressed in tones distinct and clear. He turns to see whence the voice proceeds, and lo! he beholds Jesus, whom he loves, with whom he walked and talked, and whose sufferings on the cross he witnessed. But how changed is the Saviour’s appearance! He is no longer «a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.» He bears no marks of his humiliation. His eyes are like a flame of fire; his feet like fine brass, as it glows in a furnace. The tones of his voice are like the musical sound of many waters. His countenance shines like the sun in its meridian glory. In his hand are seven stars, representing the ministers of the churches. Out of his mouth issues a sharp, two-edged sword, an emblem of the power of his word.

John, who has so loved his Lord, and who has so steadfastly adhered to the truth in the face of imprisonment, stripes, and threatened death, cannot endure the excellent glory of Christ’s presence, and he falls to the earth as one stricken dead. A divine hand is laid upon the prostrate form, and he hears the words, «Fear not, I am He that liveth and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.»

John is strengthened; and there are presented before him in holy vision, the purposes of God for future ages. He is shown the history of the church down through the centuries; he sees her feeble and struggling, almost overborne by her enemies; he sees her wading through bloody persecutions, then emerging from the darkness of papal error, drawing nearer and nearer to the clear light of truth, until at length she looks forth «fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.»

Nor is this all. The attractions of the heavenly home are made known to him. He beholds the beautiful city with its glittering battlements and many mansions. He is permitted to look upon the throne of God, and the white-robed throng of redeemed ones. He hears the music of angels, and the songs of triumph that rise from those who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. His heart is filled with longing for the uninterrupted presence of his Lord. To the cheering promise, «Surely I come quickly,» he responds with a glad, «Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.»

Thus highly favored was this hero of the Christian faith. On the desolate isle, and with the deep sea moaning about him, he was shut in with God; and his gloomy abode proved to him the very gate of Heaven. His enemies thought to silence a faithful witness for Christ; but from the place of exile came the most wonderful revelations, the most thrilling truths ever presented to man. And the promise of God was verified, «Them that honor me, I will honor.» —