Focus on Jesus • Devotion 6

John on Patmos
Larry Gabbara

The Roman government banished John to the Island of Patmos. According to most biblical historians, he was exiled as a result of persecution under the Roman emperor, Domitian. This happened in the last years of his life. John was believed to be the last living disciple. While on the island, John received a vision and Jesus instructed him to write down everything he saw.

The book of Revelation is a warning. It was a warning that was first circulated to seven cities in the Roman province of Asia Minor and the warning is just as relevant for us today. Revelation 1:17-20 says, “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.’”

When John saw Jesus, it was both terrifying and awesome. The Scripture tells us that John fell at Jesus’ feet. John saw Jesus in His true form, full of majesty and glory. Jesus comforted John with His touch. Jesus told John that He is alive forever and ever. Jesus had conquered death. He is the living God. Jesus has total authority over Hades, the entire world, and all of creation. Jesus decides who lives with Him forever and who will spend eternity in Hell separated from Him forever. If we have confessed Jesus as our Lord and Savior and asked for forgiveness of our sins, our sins are forgiven, and death has no hold over us. As believers, we now belong to Jesus and will live with Him forever.

Jesus commands John to write not only all the things that he saw, but things happening and things that will happen. Jesus is and always will be. The things John heard and saw were for him then, for us now, and for the future. These verses of the book of Revelation give us an indication of our future with the Lord. We have the opportunity through the free gift of salvation to someday see Jesus face to face as John did and to spend all eternity with Him.
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