第166章

Patmos.

More than half a century had passed since the organization of the Christian church.During that time the gospel message had been constantly opposed.Its enemies had never relaxed their efforts, and had at last succeeded in enlisting the power of the Roman emperor against the Christians.

In the terrible persecution that followed, the apostle John did much to confirm and strengthen the faith of the believers.He bore a testimony which his adversaries could not controvert and which helped his brethren to meet with courage and loyalty the trials that came upon them.When the faith of the Christians would seem to waver under the fierce opposition they were forced to meet, the old, tried servant of Jesus would repeat with power and eloquence the story of the crucified and risen Saviour.He steadfastly maintained his faith, and from his lips came ever the same glad message:

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;...

that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you.: 1 John 1:1-3.

John lived to be very old.He witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem and the ruin of the stately temple.The last survivor of the disciples who had been intimately connected with the Saviour, his message had great influence in setting forth the fact that Jesus was the Messiah, the Redeemer of the world.No one could doubt his sincerity, and through his teachings many were led to turn from unbelief.

The rulers of the Jews were filled with bitter hatred against John for his unwavering fidelity to the cause of Christ.They declared that their efforts against the Christians would avail nothing so long as John's testimony kept ringing in the ears of the people.In order that the miracles and teachings of Jesus might be forgotten, the voice of the bold witness must be silenced.

John was accordingly summoned to Rome to be tried for his faith.Here before the authorities the apostle's doctrines were misstated.False witnesses accused him of teaching seditious heresies.By these accusations his enemies hoped to bring about the disciple's death.

John answered for himself in a clear and convincing manner, and with such simplicity and candor that his words had a powerful effect.His hearers were astonished at his wisdom and eloquence.But the more convincing his testimony, the deeper was the hatred of his opposers.The emperor Domitian was filled with rage.He could neither dispute the reasoning of Christ's faithful advocate, nor match the power that attended his utterance of truth; yet he determined that he would silence his voice.

John was cast into a caldron of boiling oil; but the Lord preserved the life of His faithful servant, even as He preserved the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace.As the words were spoken, Thus perish all who believe in that deceiver, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, John declared, My Master patiently submitted to all that Satan and his angels could devise to humiliate and torture Him.He gave His life to save the world.I am honored in being permitted to suffer for His sake.I am a weak, sinful man.Christ was holy, harmless, undefiled.He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.

These words had their influence, and John was removed from the caldron by the very men who had cast him in.

Again the hand of persecution fell heavily upon the apostle.By the emperor's decree John was banished to the Isle of Patmos, condemned "for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." Revelation 1:9.Here, his enemies thought, his influence would no longer be felt, and he must finally die of hardship and distress.

Patmos, a barren, rocky island in the Aegean Sea, had been chosen by the Roman government as a place of banishment for criminals; but to the servant of God this gloomy abode became the gate of heaven.Here, shut away from the busy scenes of life, and from the active labors of former years, he had the companionship of God and Christ and the heavenly angels, and from them he received instruction for the church for all future time.The events that would take place in the closing scenes of this earth's history were outlined before him; and there he wrote out the visions he received from God.When his voice could no longer testify to the One whom he loved and served, the messages given him on that barren coast were to go forth as a lamp that burneth, declaring the sure purpose of the Lord concerning every nation on the earth.

Among the cliffs and rocks of Patmos, John held communion with his Maker.He reviewed his past life, and at thought of the blessings he had received, peace filled his heart.He had lived the life of a Christian, and he could say in faith, "We know that we have passed from death unto life." 1 John 3:14.Not so the emperor who had banished him.He could look back only on fields of warfare and carnage, on desolated homes, on weeping widows and orphans, the fruit of his ambitious desire for pre-eminence.

In his isolated home John was able to study more closely than ever before the manifestations of divine power as recorded in the book of nature and in the pages of inspiration.To him it was a delight to meditate on the work of creation and to adore the divine Architect.In former years his eyes had been greeted by the sight of forest-covered hills, green valleys, and fruitful plains; and in the beauties of nature it had ever been his delight to trace the wisdom and skill of the Creator.He was now surrounded by scenes that to many would appear gloomy and uninteresting; but to John it was otherwise.While his surroundings might be desolate and barren, the blue heavens that bent above him were as bright and beautiful as the skies above his loved Jerusalem.In the wild, rugged rocks, in the mysteries of the deep, in the glories of the firmament, he read important lessons.All bore the message of God's power and glory.