Patmos
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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
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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.
All around him the apostle beheld witnesses to the Flood that had
deluged the earth because the inhabitants ventured to transgress the law
of God. The rocks thrown up from the great deep and from the earth
by the breaking forth of the waters, brought vividly to his mind the
terrors of that awful outpouring of God’s wrath. In the voice of many
waters—deep calling unto deep—the prophet heard the voice of the
Creator. The sea, lashed to fury by the merciless winds, represented
to him the wrath of an offended God. The mighty waves, in their
terrible commotion, restrained within limits appointed by an invisible
hand, spoke of the control of an infinite Power. And in contrast he
realized the weakness and folly of mortals, who, though but worms
of the dust, glory in their supposed wisdom and strength, and set their
hearts against the Ruler of the universe, as if God were altogether such
a one as themselves. By the rocks he was reminded of Christ, the Rock