Video Transcript: Patmos

The island of Patmos is certainly the best known of the Dodecanese islands in  the southeastern Agean Sea. This group of islands belongs to Greece and is  comprised of 15 large islands and 150 small islands. Patmos is famous because it was in this island that the apostle John wrote the book of Revelation, the  apocalypse, the island of Patmos is a jewel in the Agean. This small island  combines the charm and beauty of a typical Greek island with the tranquility and reverence of a sacred space. There are no sizable towns though, just the  picturesque little harbor community of Skala and the labyrinth like whitewashed  village of Chora. Patmos still abounds in barely disturbed bays lined with sand  and pebble beaches, lulled by placid waters and overlooked by pine clad  Heather coated hillsides. Even the cruise ships seem to come and go without  troubling the essential, timeless mystery of an island that remains steeped in  history. The quest for answers looking for the first followers of Christ in Turkey.  Patmos the northernmost island of the Dodecanese islands is some 55  kilometers off the southwest coast of Asia Minor and about 75 kilometers from  the ancient port of Ephesus. The small and mountainous island of Patmos is  about 12 kilometers long from north to south, and at its widest is 10 kilometers  from east to west. With an area of 35 square kilometers and a circumference of  37 kilometers. The volcanic island presents a largely Rocky and treeless  landscape the most picturesque village is Chora with white houses, paved paths and a great view of the Agean Sea. Skala is also a nice place with many tourist  facilities and restaurants. Due to the port Skala is the busiest spot on the island.  beautiful beaches are located on the northern side of the island, such as Agrio  Livadi and Livadi Geranou, which are developed tourist areas offering many  services. There are also many secluded beaches on the island which are perfect for privacy. Visitors to Patmos arrive at the port of Skala. For those making a  one day visit to the island by cruise ship or by excursion from a neighboring  islands such as Samos. The most important places to visit are related to the  apostle John, the Monastery of St. John and the Cave of the apocalypse.  Constructed by Christodoulos in 1088. With walls 15 meters high, it was built  like a fortress because of the threat from pirates. The monastery was built on top of the remains of a fourth century AD church and an earlier Temple of Artemis.  An inscription that mentions the Temple of Artemis is displayed in the  monasteries Museum. The highlights of the monastery include a library  established by Hosios Christodoulos and the museum located next to the  bakery. The library includes 2000 volumes 13,000 historic documents, and 900  manuscripts. And 30 of these manuscripts were bequeath to the monastery by  the successor of Christodoulos. Other prized possessions include Savens the  collection of Nikiforos Laodikias, works of various Church Fathers, biographies  of saints and others. About halfway up to the Monastery of St. John on Patmos  is the Cave of the apocalypse. This sacred grotto is believed to mark the spot  where St. John received his visions from Christ that he recorded in the Book of 

Revelation The place is also known as a holy Grotto and is an extraordinary  example of a traditional pilgrimage center of outstanding architectural interest.  The cave entrance is marked with the mosaic portraying the visions of John and  inside the small grotto, you can see the nightly resting place of John's head  fenced off and outlined in beaten silver. The cave is 6.6 meters long and 5.5  meters wide, and has been encased within a sanctuary. Seven silver lamps  have been hung in the cave, the largest of which hangs above the place where  St. John slept using a rock as his pillow. Presently a monk or a spiritual leader  sits on the rock and tells tourists the story of the Apocalypse, and how the book  was written. The cave has a niche and the stone where John rested his head.  Also, a triple fisure can be seen where the apostle John supposedly heard the  voice of God. It is said that this triple fisure represents the Holy Trinity. Let's turn  to the apostle John, who received the visions of the apocalypse here in Patmos.  The apostle John was one of the first disciples chosen by Jesus. John was a  member of the inner circle of the three who complained Jesus, even when the  others were upset. Paul called John, one of the pillars of the Jerusalem church.  He had the distinction of being a beloved friend of Jesus Christ. He is credited  with the writing of the Gospel of John, the letters I John, II John, and III John  and the book of Revelation. John was a son of Zebedee and Salome, and the  brother of James, Zebedee and his two sons were fishermen by trade and  reasonably prosperous. John enters the gospel narrative in John 1:35-40 as an  unnamed disciple among the throng listening to John the Baptist by the River  Jordan. In that case, he and Andrew Simon Peter's brother, were the first of  John the Baptist's disciples to follow Jesus. Together, James and John were  called by Jesus Sons of Thunder, which gives us some insight into John's  personality. Both brothers were characterized by zeal, passion, and ambition. In  his early days with Jesus at times, John acted rashly, recklessly, impetuously  and aggressively. John's zeal for Jesus was also influenced by his natural  ambition, as seen in his request through his mother, that he and his brother  James might be seated on Jesus right and left hands in the kingdom, an incident that caused a temporary rift between the brothers and the other disciples.  During his association with Jesus, John seems to have yielded himself fully to  the softening subduing influence of the Savior, with the result that his character  was transformed. Apparently, he entered into a fellowship with Jesus deeper and richer than that of the other apostles. at the Last Supper, he occupied the place  next to Jesus. When Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane, John followed him into the palace of the high priest, where he seems to have been known and later to  Calvary. At the cross, Jesus entrusted his mother Mary to the loving care of  John. Early Sunday morning, upon hearing the report that Jesus tomb was  empty, John and Peter went together to the sepulcher to investigate and  became witnesses of the fact that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead. On the evening of Christ's resurrection, John was in the upper room with the other 

disciples when the living Christ suddenly appeared to them. John was also in  the upper room when Jesus appeared to the disciples a week later. In addition,  John was with the disciples who had gone fishing on the Sea of Galilee, when  Jesus appeared on the shore at dawn, after Christ's ascension, John remained  with the other 10 apostles in the upper room at Jerusalem, and subsequently  joined with Peter and missionary labor in the city of Jerusalem. Despite  imprisonment, both apostles witness boldly to their faith in Jesus later Peter and  John went to Samaria to assist Philip. John was possibly among the apostles  and elders which were at Jerusalem for a number of years, according to  Irenaeus, Eusebius, Jerome and others, and applied by Revelation 1:11. During the later years of his life, John was in charge of the churches in the Roman  province of Asia Minor, with headquarters at Ephesus. From there he was  banished by Domitian to the island of Patmos. Evidence indicates that the  islands of the Agean were used for the banishment of prisoners. Since  Christians were likely a political threat to the Empire. John may have been a  political prisoner. John says that he was on the Isle of Patmos not as a traveler  or a visitor, but because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.  Apparently, the Asian authorities had interpreted his preaching as seditious and  removed him from the mainland in an attempt to inhibit the growth of the early  church Tertullian's statement about John being exiled to Patmos by Domitian  after suffering no hurt from being plunged in boiling oil is legendary. At best,  Jerome says that John was banished in the 14th year after Nero and liberated  on the death of Domitian. This would mean that he was banished to Patmos in  about 94 AD and liberated in 96 AD when Nerva became emperor. According to  tradition, Polycarp, Papias, and Ignatius were pupils of John Following his  release, we understand that John resided at Ephesus and died during the reign  of Trajan 98-117 AD. 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. I was in the  spirit on the Lord's Day. And I heard behind me a loud voice, as if a trumpet,  saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. And what you see  write in the book and send it to the seven churches, which are in Asia, to  Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands. And in the midst of the seven lampstands, one,  like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girded about  the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white  as snow, and his eyes like a flame of fire. His feet were like fine brass, as if  refined in a furnace, and his voice as the sound of many waters. He had in his  right hand, seven stars, out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword. And his countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw him, I fell  at his feet as dead. But he laid his right hand on me saying to me, Do not be 

afraid, I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades, and of death, write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which  will take place after this, the mystery of the seven stars, which you saw in my  

right hand, and the seven golden lampstands. Seven stars are the angels of the  seven churches. And the seven lampstands, which you saw, are the seven  churches, Revelation 1:9-20. And now what? John is the only disciple who is still alive, he's an elderly man suffering with a pain and scars of age, but also from  persecution and isolation on the island of Patmos. Although what would happen  to him? What would happen to the followers of Christ? What would happen to  the mission? Jesus hasn't come and the future does not look so bright what  now? The hope to see Jesus before his own death is fading away. Probably he  had been impacted with the belief that Jesus will come before his passing. He  and many other followers as well held this belief because they have  misunderstood the statement made by Jesus Christ. Peter, seeing him said to  Jesus, But Lord, what about this man John? Jesus said to him, If I will, that he  John remained till I come. What is that to you? You follow me? then this saying  went out among the brethren, that this disciple John would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him, that he would not die. But if I will, that he remain till I come, what  is that to you? This is the disciple who testified of these things, and wrote to  these things, and we know that this testimony is true. And now what? There are  so many questions, so many uncertainties. At this point, while John was at  Patmos, he received a vision of bright and promising vision. In this experience,  at first he hears a trumpet like voice behind him, he pays attention to the  message of the vision, a message to write to some of the churches he was  familiar with. But something struck him more than anything else. Even though it  was surrounded by power and magnificence. He was able to identify that  familiar voice that he had heard so many times. Could it be him? After so many  years? Could it be the master? He's afraid of more disappointments, but he  grasps the strength that is left and turns to see the person who is speaking with  him, turning, he sees seven golden lampstands and standing among them was  one like the Son of Man. He does not have words to describe what he is seeing.  And so he borrows them from the prophet Daniel, the resplendent figure with  face shining like the noonday sun is dressed in priestly garments. He has snow  white hair, blazing eyes, and feet light bronze. John cannot believe what his  eyes are seeing. The resonant voice is the voice of Jesus, standing before him  is his loving Lord in all his glory. Instantly John fell prostrate at the feet of Jesus.  Then Jesus laid his right hand on John, he felt that loving touch once again, oh,  how he'd missed it. Then Jesus shares the heart of his message to John, the  main teaching of the book of Revelation, the theme that should drive off any  uncertainty. An admonition that would impact not only John but the followers of  Christ everywhere to the end of time, Jesus reassuring words were, do not be 

afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives and was dead and behold,  I'm alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of death. Do not  be afraid. Never be afraid to trust an unknown future, to a known God. That is  the heart of Revelation's message. No matter what we will face God is with us.  John sees what is happening to the local congregation at his time. But he  foresees what will happen with the world and with Christ followers, until the  establishment of God's kingdom. The message for yesterday, today and  tomorrow is Fear not for I am with you, Be not dismayed for I am your God, I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right  hand. That is the message that John receives to share with Christ's followers.  He writes to local churches in light of the immediate historical crisis, in which the first century church found itself. So in order to understand the message of  Revelation, we must understand the communities that the Revelation was  addressed to in the initial messages for each of the seven churches described in Revelation 2-3. This is the focus of part of the series The quest for answers,  looking for the first followers of Christ in Turkey. However, although the seven  messages were initially planned for the church of Asia in John's day, they  transcend time and place limitations. They are in a sense descriptive of the  whole church or individual congregations at any time during its history. That  would be a second interpretation of the letters. Some expositors understand the  seven messages of Revelation 2-3 to be the predictive prophecy of the seven  successive periods of Christian history, running from John's day to the Second  Coming. In this avenue of interpretation. Ephesus represents the Church of the  first century of the Christian era. Smyrna the period of persecution of the second and third centuries. Pergamum the church of compromise of the fourth and fifth  centuries. Thyatira the Church of the Middle Ages. Sardis the Reformation and  post Reformation era from the 15th through the 18th centuries, Philadelphia, the church of missionary movements of the late 18th and 19th centuries and  Laodicea the church at the time of the end. At the same time, we could apply the message of each church as being a personal message from God to each person according to the season of their journey with God, suffering, compromising,  working, etc. What season are you living in right now? Though each one of the  seven proclamations is addressed to an individual Christian congregation in  southwestern Asia Minor. They were intended to be read together and heeded  by each of the congregations. This is clear from the stereotyped formula found  at the end of each proclamation. Let the one who has an ear hear what the Spirit declares to the churches, and also by the statement in Revelation 2:23. And all  the churches shall know that I am the one who searches both mind and heart  and analysis of the internal structure of the seven proclamations indicates that  they share common stereotypical features. Bible scholars offered many  structural patterns for the letters. For this series we will highlight how Christ  describes himself to each church, what Christ knows about each church, in his 

comments, rebukes and councils, we will conclude with Christ promises for the  churches. Dear friend, the message of Revelation is that you are not alone. You  don't need to be afraid. God is with you throughout your journey. During the  seasons of your life, no matter what it may look like. God is at work at all times  to save you. He is with you when you're open to him, and he is after you when  you are far from him. And soon he will come to take us home and will fulfill his  promise of a new home for you and for me, a place where there shall be no  more pain, suffering tears or death. And then we will realize it was well worth the wait. If you have ever felt alone, if you are tired of so much pain, if you believe  by faith, rather than if you've prayed with all your heart, if you have dreamed of  heaven above. If you have cried and not given up. If you have wished to see  your loved one for love I will fulfill my promise. I'll give you all the keys. Enter the gates of My Kingdom. Welcome to my loving home. starting right now and  forever I will always be with you. every time you are smiling for now forever. You  will realize it was well worth if you have praised me through the pain, if you have walked the narrow road, if you deny yourself, carried your cross, if you have  follow me and if you have heard me call your name. If you have opened up your  heart, not said no for me, Opened your heart for me, if you decided to wait, I will  fulfill my promise. It was well worth the wait. Let's pray Our Father and our God,  we give you thanks for the assurance today that you know all about us and you  still love us and Lord as we seek to embrace this journey looking at the seven  churches and the messages you have for these churches we pray that You  would help us to take these messages to heart we pray that our our lives will be  changed on this journey. Lord, we are grateful for the assurance that you are  with us through all the seasons of our lives. Continue to shape us continue to  work in us what is pleasing to you. Forgive us for our sins Lord and shape us for that moment when we will spend eternity with You. We pray in Jesus name,  amen. Dear friend, thank you so much for watching us today. Don't forget to  share with your friends and relatives. The quest for answers looking for the first  followers of Christ here in Turkey and Greece. Please visit our website. On our  website. You can leave us a message, your prayer request and order a copy of  today's show or the complete series. If you want to support our ministry, you can donate through our website as well. I hope to see you soon again