Follow Me... Beyond Our Personal Patmos

The apostle John was in exile on the island of Patmos when he received the vision he recorded as the book of Revelation. His glimpses of heaven reveal an important key for dealing with the problems we face on earth.

The visions that the apostle John received on Patmos not only revealed the future but help focus on mind and thoughts on Christ.

Source: Lars Justinen/Goodsalt

Most of you are familiar with the opening lines of the Lord's Prayer: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew:5:9-10[9] Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.[10] Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.). These words, taught during Jesus Christ's Sermon on the Mount, may match our sincerest desire, but too often the sheer gravity of circumstances here below can draw our attention away from remembering Jesus' admonition as to where to focus our attention.

It's often been said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." When our life seems derailed by trials, it can hinder our vision of God sitting on His throne, transcendent above our overcrowded fishbowl down here. It's all too easy for our hearts to become isolated from God's promises for our ultimate spiritual well-being.

The last book of the Bible shows that we must keep our focus in the right place to bear with the hardships of this life and ultimately experience the wonderful blessings God has in store for us.

Exile and revelation

The apostle John was present when Christ taught about prayer during the Sermon on the Mount, and he was reintroduced to the power of Jesus' words in his time of need nearly 60 years later. Toward his life's end he wrote in Revelation:1:9I 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., "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."

Most reliable sources indicate that John was exiled on this tiny Aegean island off the western coast of modern-day Turkey during the turbulent persecution of Christians under the cruel Roman Emperor Domitian.

Consider for a moment what may have been running through his mind as he looked down a craggy cliff to the churning waters crashing against the rocks below. Here he was, isolated on this remote island, unable to carry out the duties committed to him by his beloved Lord and Master decades earlier.

What thoughts did John have as he considered his state? Did he wonder where God was, if he had been abandoned to end his days in exile after giving so much of His life to serving His Master and spreading the gospel?

Perhaps you've had similar questions plaguing you at times. It may seem that at times we're also cut off and alone, exiled to our own personal Patmos!

Whether such questions were on John's mind then or are in yours right now, we do know that John was given reassurance about the future—reassurance that through him has also been given to us: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God [the Father] gave Him [Christ] to show His servants—things which must shortly take place" (Revelation:1:1The 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:).

Christ was going to share with John the broad sweep of events that the world and His Church would experience in the time ahead, culminating in the climatic appearance of "a new heaven and a new earth" (Revelation:21:1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.).

Much of this heavenly vision would be unfathomably joyous, while other portions could cause utter heartache as Christ reveals what would happen to God's true servants in this age. So He lays a foundation of hope lest this astonishing disclosure be devastating to John and to others receiving the message.

Gaining a heavenly perspective first

Christ knew how to best reveal to John how His Father's will would "be done on earth as it is in heaven." Before revealing the future, He gives John a glimpse of what "in heaven" entails, opening a window on something wonderful to anchor our existence below.

This was to be the foundation of all revelation that would follow. That is, "first things first." It was as if Jesus, the risen Christ, was saying "Follow Me" not only by teaching us what to pray, but what to experience with our entire being when approaching the presence of "our Father in heaven."

God invites John to gain a heavenly perspective of what's ageless beyond our fleeting human existence and trials (compare Colossians:3:2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.; 2 Corinthians:4:17-18[17] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;[18] While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.; Romans:8:18-23[18] For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.[19] For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.[20] For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,[21] Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.[22] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.[23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.). Let's follow along and understand how we might move beyond our "personal Patmos" that may be isolating us not merely from others, but from God.

The revelation commences with the sound of "a loud voice, as of a trumpet," declaring, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last" (Revelation:1:10-11[10] I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,[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.).

Jesus Christ begins to unveil what the Father gave Him to communicate by personally disclosing His eternal existence—encompassing everything that has been, is and will yet be. He and the Father had no origin but simply exist, beyond the bounds of time and space, and are the Source of all other life.

In this vision, Jesus appears in the midst of the seven lampstands (Revelation:1:13And 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.) symbolizing the churches that were being challenged in the first century, as well as all God's people who would follow down through the ages to our time. He's not an absentee savior or cosmic bystander, but as the Good Shepherd He is in the midst of His spiritual flock even when we are unaware of His presence.

A snapshot of the roles of Christ

Here we are given a snapshot of God's heavenly throne with a description of Jesus as "One like the Son of Man" wearing a garment that reached down to His feet, a golden band encircling His chest (Revelation:1:13And 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.).

It's here that God wants us to accompany John and approach His throne with the picture firmly in mind of One who has been like us in the flesh (as the Son of Man), but is now garbed in a gleaming robe that points to His role as our King and High Priest and God's ultimate heavenly Messenger.

This picture of God's throne above describes Christ as One who has "in his right hand seven stars, [and] out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength" (Revelation:1:16And 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.). The stars signify angels or messengers of God's people (verse 20), the sword is God's Word (see Hebrews:4:12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.), and His blazing brilliance is the radiance of divine glory (see Hebrews:1:3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;).

Here John—and we—face the reality that God has placed Christ in absolute control of the universe. He has a grasp of all and has the power to carry out divine judgment on His Father's behalf.

Notice also that the first words Christ mentions after revealing Himself are some that we can never hear enough: "Do not be afraid" (Revelation:1:17And 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:). He says this as He lays His right hand on John, showing deep personal care and friendship.

Why are we to not be afraid? He goes on to declare again: "I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore . . . And I have the keys of Hades [the grave] and of Death" (Revelation:1:17-18[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:[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.).

It is a claim that He alone can make, having existed in both worlds of life and death and now owning both! He's no stranger to the gravity of the world's pulls and the isolation of abandonment.

This claim echoes what He had declared as the God of Israel in the Old Testament (see John:1:1-3[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.[2] The same was in the beginning with God.[3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made., John:1:14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.; 1 Corinthians:10:4And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.), stating then: "Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure' . . . Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it" (Isaiah:46:9-11[9] Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,[10] Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:[11] Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.).

Approaching the unapproachable

The great Revelator, Jesus Christ, continues in Revelation 4 to open up God's throne room to John and to us. John describes the vision: "Behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald" (Revelation:4:2-3[2] And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.[3] And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.).

Here the power, glory and holiness of God's nature and attributes are captured in a scene of precious jewels that dazzle and shimmer so brightly as to be nearly blinding—described elsewhere as "unapproachable light" (1 Timothy:6:16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.).

It is the same throne David prayed toward when He said of God: "You are very great; You are clothed with honor and majesty, who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, who stretch out the heavens like a curtain" (Psalm:104:1-2[1] Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.[2] Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:).

Notice that John's vision of this scene "in heaven" is stamped with a rainbow, which may harken back to the rainbow after Noah's Flood (Genesis:9:11-17[11] And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.[12] And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:[13] I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.[14] And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:[15] And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.[16] And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.[17] And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.), perhaps signifying God's promise of tempering His judgments in the harrowing prophecies being revealed to John (and see Ezekiel:1:28As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.).

Revelation concludes with the establishment of "a new heaven and a new earth" in which there is "no more sea"—no more of the barrier that had kept John confined on Patmos—with God the Father and the New Jerusalem coming down to the new earth (Revelation:21:1-3[1] And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.[2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.[3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.).

Ultimately there will be no barriers between God and those who truly seek Him as their Heavenly Father, who hallow His name by what they do and not merely by what they have heard, and who yearn for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

This same passage captures God the Father declaring, in similar manner to Christ's opening words in Revelation: "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts" (Revelation:21:6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.). Indeed, God sees things He has planned as if they already are (compare Romans:4:17(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.), and He sees you in that picture with Him.

The invitation is at hand for you as much as for the apostle John. Christ clearly states: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and He with Me" (Revelation:3:20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.).

The key to keeping that door open is found in Jesus' opening words, which reveal that we heed His call of "Follow Me" by first focusing our attention on "our Father in heaven" before looking around down here. It's the key that opens up the book of Revelation. It's the key that helps us to, in the words of Hebrews:4:16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need., "come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Heavenly vision! May we be partakers of the revealed bliss of heaven. It takes life of holiness, strong faith in Christ Jesus and His Grace, far beyond what we have heard in sermons and personal assumptions to get there.

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