Revelation
383
But the Lord’s hand was moving unseen in the darkness. In the
providence of God, John was placed where Christ could give him a
wonderful revelation of Himself and of divine truth for the enlighten-
ment of the churches.
In exiling John, the enemies of truth had hoped to silence forever
the voice of God’s faithful witness; but on Patmos the disciple received
a message, the influence of which was to continue to strengthen the
church till the end of time. Though not released from the responsibility
of their wrong act, those who banished John became instruments in
the hands of God to carry out Heaven’s purpose; and the very effort to
extinguish the light placed the truth in bold relief.
It was on the Sabbath that the Lord of glory appeared to the exiled
apostle. The Sabbath was as sacredly observed by John on Patmos
as when he was preaching to the people in the towns and cities of
Judea. He claimed as his own the precious promises that had been
given regarding that day. “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,” John
writes, “and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying,
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I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.... And I turned to see
the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden
candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks One like unto
the Son of man.”
Revelation 1:10-13
.
Richly favored was this beloved disciple. He had seen his Master
in Gethsemane, His face marked with the blood drops of agony, His
“visage ... marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons
of men.”
Isaiah 52:14
. He had seen Him in the hands of the Roman
soldiers, clothed with an old purple robe and crowned with thorns.
He had seen Him hanging on the cross of Calvary, the object of cruel
mockery and abuse. Now John is once more permitted to behold his
Lord. But how changed is His appearance! He is no longer a Man of
Sorrows, despised and humiliated by men. He is clothed in a garment
of heavenly brightness. “His head and His hairs” are “white like wool,
as white as snow; and His eyes ... as a flame of fire; and His feet like
unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace.”
Revelation 1:14, 15, 17
.
His voice is like the music of many waters. His countenance shines
as the sun. In His hand are seven stars, and out of His mouth issues a
sharp two-edged sword, an emblem of the power of His word. Patmos
is made resplendent with the glory of the risen Lord.