John in Exile
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the terrors of that awful outpouring of God’s wrath.
But while all that surrounded him below appeared desolate and
barren, the blue heavens that bent above the apostle on lonely Patmos
were as bright and beautiful as the skies above his own loved Jerusalem.
Let man once look upon the glory of the heavens in the night season
and mark the work of God’s power in the hosts thereof, and he is
taught a lesson of the greatness of the Creator in contrast with his own
littleness. If he has cherished pride and self-importance because of
wealth, or talents, or personal attractions, let him go out in the beautiful
night and look upon the starry heavens, and learn to humble his proud
spirit in the presence of the Infinite One.
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 most terrible commotion restrained within the limits
appointed by an invisible hand, spoke to John of an infinite power
controlling the deep. And in contrast he saw and felt the folly of feeble
mortals, but worms of the dust, who glory in their wisdom and strength
and set their hearts against the Ruler of the universe, as though God
were altogether such a one as themselves. How blind and senseless
is human pride! One hour of God’s blessing in the sunshine and rain
upon the earth will do more to change the face of nature than man
with all his boasted knowledge and persevering efforts can accomplish
during a lifetime.
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In the surroundings of his island home the exiled prophet read the
manifestations of divine power, and in all the works of nature held
communion with his God. The most ardent longing of the soul after
God, the most fervent prayers, went up to heaven from rocky Patmos.
As John looked upon the rocks, he was reminded of Christ, the rock
of his strength, in whose shelter he could hide without a fear.
A Sabbathkeeper
The Lord’s day mentioned by John was the Sabbath, the day on
which Jehovah rested after the great work of creation, and which He
blessed and sanctified because He had rested upon it. The Sabbath
was as sacredly observed by John upon the Isle of Patmos as when
he was among the people, preaching upon that day. By the barren