Keep in mind the fact that John may have been as old as 90 (years) while he was being imprisoned on the little island of Patmos! And history would indicate that he was a slave laborer there as well. How cruel, yet God can get Glory out of some unusual circumstances!

Here’s our Text, Revelation 1:9-11 …

9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

***

“WRITE IN A BOOK” … Verse 11 … this is the first of twelve commands in the book of Revelation for John to write what he saw (again in 1:19; then 2:1, 8, 12, 18; Revelation 3:1, 7, 14; then 14:13; 19:9; and 21:5); and on one other occasion he was forbidden to write (10:4).

***

The little island of Patmos … only 13 square miles! (7 miles by 3 miles) Elongated, vertical, hourglass shaped! 37 miles southwest of Miletus! But just 30 miles from nearest land! Mountainous, rocky and barren! (What John had been faithfully doing for sixty years, preaching Jesus, is now a criminal activity punishable by imprisonment or death!)

***

I really did not omit much from the video class. It’s really best to watch it anyway …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.