Last Sunday I began a new message series on the Book of Revelation.  This is not a ‘verse-by-verse’ series, but in-depth none the less.  There are so many questions that arise when you study this book.  In all honesty, way more questions appear than answers found.  But it’s such an intriguing book!  I’m not totally sure how long this series will last, but I’m certain that it will last much longer than a typical four week series.

As I study the wealth of information that’s found in this book, I’m continually drawn back to the author himself.  John is such an interesting character.  The Bible paints a portrait of him as such a warm, loving man that had a relentless passion for Christ.  Please don’t confuse this John to John the Baptist.  This John, sometimes referred to as John the Revelator, or John the Apostle, is the brother of James and the son of Zebedee.  A commercial fisherman by trade with his brother James, and possibly business partners with Simon and his brother Andrew.  Of all of the twelve disciples, Jesus seemed to have three of the twelve that were closer to Him.  We see that in many instances in the New Testament, and none quite as visible as the night that Jesus was arrested when He and these ‘specific three’ were in the Garden of Gethsemane.  These three consisted of Peter, James and John…but it was John that seemed to migrate closer to Christ than the others.

I’ve wondered many times if it was this unique closeness that was the primary reason that John was the chosen one to receive this amazing revelation of Jesus.

Ever wondered what his thoughts might have been while he was exiled on Patmos?  I would imagine that he thought often of the couple of years that he spent with Jesus.  And about the arguments that he had with James as to ‘who was greater’.  Do you think though, that he missed the friendship and the community that he had with the other disciples?  These were just twelve ordinary run-of-the-mill guys, literally nothing special about any of them.  So you know those men had some incredible conversations together during their journey with Jesus.

It’s easy to think that John’s last years on Patmos was lonely.  After all, the island was basically a rock, and nothing has ever been mentioned of anyone else present.  So here he was, all alone with nothing but his memories to pass the time away.  Then, that one Lord’s Day, he was given a glimpse of something so special that the rest of mankind has been trying to predict but will never even be able to comprehend.  John saw the end of time with all the heartache and destruction, yet he saw without question the final hope and ultimate victory of Jesus Christ.

John saw the end of the book.

He saw his Jesus come back in power and authority.

John saw the King of Kings return and cast satan forever into the lake of fire, nevermore to return.

He saw the final victory!

And he had no one on that island to tell, yet, he’s still telling people today.