Revelation: The Isle of Patmos

This is the Revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave Him

So that He might show His servants what must

Very soon take place.  He made it known by

Sending His angel to His servant John,  

Who is the witness of all that he saw –

The message of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:1-2

The Isle of Patmos is a barren volcanic island in the Aegean Sea, about 10 miles long and 6 miles wide at its widest part.  The Romans used it to house a penal colony.  The Apostle John was banished to this island in the time of Domitian, about A.D.95, but is thought to have been released in A.D.96 under a change in Roman leadership.  According to tradition, after his release, John resided in Ephesus until his death..

John and his brother, James, were the sons of Zebedee,  Because James is usually mentioned first when the names of the two disciples appear together implies that John was the younger of the two.  Regardless of age, he and his brother were in the close inner circle of Jesus, and became leaders in the new Christian church. 

Imagine finding shelter in a cave on a barren island, then receiving from God the visions that make up the bulk of the book of Revelation.  How he managed to write them down and then take them with him when he was released is a story for the ages to come.  God’s Word will go where He sends it – regardless of the difficulty involved.