Words of Encouragement Scripture: Revelation 1:9 Topic: Embracing Your Patmos
When we look at the natural Island of Patmos, it is seen that: * The island was used by the Roman government to imprison political and religious prisoners * Matter of fact, the Roman government acted in the capacity of the anti-Christ concerning the preaching of the Gospel (they hated any/everything about Jesus) * The island of Patmos was located in the Mediterranean Sea; practically in the middle of no where * The island of Patmos was sterile in nature; meaning it was unable to produce; no seed, fruit, grass or plants grew on the Island of Patmos * The island’s terrain was rocky, barren and desolate * The island was a place of stagnation; nothing flowing or moving; the island sat still as that of pond water * The word Patmos means “my killing” or a place of killing; this was a place where people felt death naturally, spiritually and mentally * The Apostle John was persecuted and sent to the island of Patmos as punishment because he refused to be quiet when it came to preaching, teaching and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ (he was truly a trumpet in Zion sounding the alarm about Jesus) * But in the midst of Patmos (barrenness, desolation and in the middle of nowhere), the Apostle John continued to preach and convert criminals who were exiled on the island (the devil still couldn’t shut his mouth concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ) * Matter fact, the Apostle John held Gospel services in caves on the island of Patmos; he was compelled to set up a temple of God on the island of Patmos…in the midst of the barrenness, isolation and desolation
So in a