I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos don account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” (Revelation 1:9-11 ESV).
Many denominations have no ritual for “last rites.” Virtually every pastor ministers to those who are facing death, but a formal convocation for the dying is not practiced. Taveau Church, located in Brehre County, S.C. As you can see from the attached picture, it is a church in need of such prayers at this time. The modest 19th century church, nestled in the woods not far from Mepkin Abbey, has not been used regularly in half a century, and recent offers to help stabilize and preserve it have reached a dead end. It is desolate and abandoned. With the decline of Christianity in America today, more of these old churches are beginning to be seen in our cities and rural areas.
I am always saddened by such a sight. It feels empty, desolate, and forlorn. Patmos was such a place. It was used by the Roman authorities as a place of isolation and shame. Offending citizens were exiled to the island of Patmos as punishment. As a leader in the Christian church, however, John had taught people that Jesus Christ is Lord—which he is. So, Rome removed John from contact with Christians and churches “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”
This must have created a great hardship for John and for many communities of believers during that time. John would have experienced loneliness and isolation. The churches would have missed his preaching, teaching, and time spent with them. Rome thought it could disrupt the life and mission of the church. But Patmos was not so isolated as Rome wanted it to be. God can go anywhere, so it was no problem for the Spirit of God to visit John in this isolated, “godforsaken” place and turn it into a stage revealing the power and majesty of the true Lord and Savior. On Patmos, John received an awe-inspiring vision of Jesus, who revealed to him some of the astonishing greatness of God’s kingdom.
You may feel as if you are living in Patmos today. I hope you see the transformative power of God and gain courage and hope despite what you “see.” God’s vision goes so far beyond what we see. He is working good in your life. Trust Him!