God is telling his redemptive story through real people in their time and places. To understand any biblical account, we need to explore the characters, the cultures, the time period, and the places in it. Christians today often skim over names of places because they are foreign to us. We can still get a level of meaning from the Spirit without researching a place, but when we do some research, we often find complexities and lessons for our lives beyond the surface level narrative.
The Isle of Patmos is such a place. Mentioned in reference to one book, the Bible doesn’t tell us the meaning behind this island. But when we do a bit of digging, we find even more revelation from God.
The final book of the Bible, Revelation, mentions the Isle of Patmos. Revelation 1:9 states, “I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” A disciple of Jesus, and likely the apostle from the Gospels, John had been exiled to Patmos because of his faith.
Roman authorities sent John to Patmos due to his preaching about Jesus Christ and because he refused to worship the Roman emperor. During the reign of Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96), Rome persecuted and punished Christians who wouldn’t worship the emperor. The imperial cult had a rule—people had to honor the emperor as a divine figure. Historians believe Domitian saw Christianity as a political threat since believers wouldn’t do this. In fact, they gave testimony to Jesus Christ as the only divine human. Such bold preaching angered Roman officials and led to John’s exile.
Rome didn’t want to execute every person who offended the worship of the emperor, so the imperial officials would exile people to a remote island. Exile removed them from society but prevented them from becoming martyrs and inspiring others. Patmos was extremely isolated and difficult to escape. The Romans strategically used exile against popular figures, people who would be seen as martyrs but needed to be silenced due to their great influence. They typically exiled leaders, orators, and writers rather than ordinary citizens. This builds support for the author John to be the apostle in Revelation, since he had extensive influence among the churches across the Roman empire.
As he does, God redeemed this exile. Instead of silencing John, God used this isolation to give John a sweeping vision regarding the end times. John would write this vision down. God even gave messages to contemporary churches, which implied the Lord would see John get off the island, which church history tells us did happen, spreading this book among all believers. The exile backfired. Rather than ending John’s voice, Patmos became the place God revealed more details about the future and final victory of Christ, the defeat of empires and evil, and the hope of a new heaven and earth. Christians today read Revelation for encouragement and hope.
Patmos is a small, rocky island in the Aegean Sea near modern-day Turkey. It has an area of around 13 square miles, and its rugged terrain doesn’t have much fertile ground or life. The island also lacks a major river. Therefore, agriculture is difficult. Some early peoples developed small farms, fished, or traded with other islands. The remote location made it a perfect place for Rome to send exiles.
Thousands of years ago, Patmos had a sparse population. Archaeological evidence suggests some early inhabitants in the Bronze Age. By the later Greek or Hellenistic times, Patmos wasn’t very important compared to larger islands like Rhodes. But it did share ties with Greek culture and their city-states.
By the time of Jesus, Patmos had become part of the Roman Empire. The Romans used isolated islands like this to exile political and religious threats to the emperor. Other well-known figures, like the Roman poet Ovid, also faced exile during the first century, showing us how common the Roman exile strategy was.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Patmos remained isolated and obscure. In the Byzantine period (4th-15th century), the island became a refuge for Christian monks, obviously due to its history and connection with the Book of Revelation. In 1088, Saint Christodoulos, a monk, founded the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian. They built this monastery on a hill, and it became the religious center of the island. Monks and scholars traveled there, making Patmos an important pilgrimage destination.
During the Ottoman Empire (16th-20th century), Patmos had some independence because of the monastery and universal Christian importance. It remained a monastic community. Greece officially incorporated Patmos in 1948, following the end of World War II. Today, Patmos continues to be a spiritual and tourist spot. With the monastery and the Cave of Apocalypse, the historical and religious connections make the Isle of Patmos a great tourist destination.
While exiled on the Isle of Patmos, John received amazing visions from God concerning the end of the world, Christ’s return and final victory, and the culmination of the Father’s redemptive plan. John saw Jesus in his glorified form and recorded Christ’s messages for the seven churches in Asia Minor. These visions showed God’s judgment upon the world and evil empires, tribulation for believers, and the ultimate new creation.
God revealed how the return of Jesus would lead to the end of history as we know it. Through the book, Jesus and angels open seven seals, sound seven trumpets, and pour out seven bowls of wrath. John witnessed the future rise of the Antichrist and how evil empires and leaders would persecute believers. However, the difficult days would only last for a while. There would be a final battle between Christ and the forces of evil. Jesus returns and conquers all as the King of Kings. Sin and death are defeated forever.
Much of Revelation is dark and disturbing, showing God’s judgment, but the book ends with hope. John saw the remaking of all creation in the new heaven and new earth. As the New Jerusalem descends from heaven to our final home on earth, God dwells with his people and wipes away every tear, removing pain and suffering forever. The church (born again believers) are the New Jerusalem, a city and temple where Christians will intimately fellowship with God forever.
Revelation serves as the final book of the Bible because it completes God’s written revelation, showing the final arc of all human history. It brings together promises from both the Old and New Testaments, a completion of God’s redemptive story. In addition, Revelation 22:18-19 contains a warning against adding or taking away from the book, a temptation many face when trying to interpret prophetic visions. This sobering thought concludes the biblical canon.
Revelation reminds believers in this age to stay faithful with hope, discern the spiritual forces at work, and look forward to Christ’s return for his glory and our good.
Beyond the lessons within the book of Revelation, which are many, John’s experience on Patmos teaches us a great deal, even today.
First, we should boldly proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom to the world. John was exiled because he preached this Good News, but he didn’t shy away from the truth, even when it led to suffering. Revelation details a cosmic battle expressed between two main kingdoms: Babylon and the Kingdom of God. The heavenly reality versus this world’s kingdoms and empires. As believers, we should expect opposition when we stand for Christ. Jesus himself warned of this in John 15:20: “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” It’s no different today. The philosophies and governments of this world persecute believers, but we should stay true to the message of Christ because Revelation makes it clear. The King of Kings and his Kingdom will win in the end and rule forever.
Persecution, then, isn’t a sign of failure but faithfulness. When we endure all kinds of hardship for the sake of Jesus, we share in his suffering. And as he is glorified now and forever, so will we be glorified with him. We shouldn’t fear such persecution but trust God will strengthen us through it as he did for his Son.
Second, although John was isolated on Patmos, he wasn’t alone. The persecution led to a greater intimacy with Jesus. In this intimacy, God revealed a dynamic and transcendent vision of Jesus and the future of the world. For us today, even in our darkest moments, God will draw near. He promises this. He doesn’t abandon us in suffering but shows himself strong through our perseverance and love during these ordeals.
God has done this continually throughout history. The church constantly faces persecution, yet during those times it grows like never before, showing how God empowers his people and reveals himself all the more through oppression. He sustains us and gives us wisdom, courage, and insight we wouldn’t have otherwise received.
Finally, God will lead all situations to victory. As Romans 8:28 says, he works all things for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. The world may bring their powers to bear against believers, but God’s power is greater still. The Jews meant the cross to silence Jesus, yet it became his victory, putting to shame all other powers. The Romans intended the exile as a punishment to silence John, but God made it a place of revelation and redemption as future Christians took refuge there as monks. God redeems suffering. What looks like a defeat today can become a later testimony of his power when we remain faithful to him.
As Revelation attests, God transforms the persecution of his people into a greater movement of faith and glory.
Peace.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Danai Tsoutreli