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).
We live in a semi-rural setting. We have neighbors close enough to know they are there, but far enough away not to disturb the quiet of country living. It is not unusual for me to go outside early in the morning and sit on the deck to simply listen while the world wakes up. The breeze blows a bit and the leaves rustle; the birds begin to sing their singular songs; and a few dogs bark in the distance while coyotes howl across the road. It is my favorite time of the day. Sunrise and sunset provide a quiet when I can push aside the noise of our world. I know there are many people less fortunate than I am in that regard.
The Apostle John’s situation might have been a bit different. I imagine that the silence was the most painful part of John’s exile on the island of Patmos. John had been used to the noises of busy cities like Ephesus, Sardis, and Philadelphia. These were thriving communities filled with endless sights and sounds. More than anything else, John would have missed hearing the prayers of fellow believers and the praises of the people raised to the Lord in worship on Sundays and in their everyday working life. Patmos was as silent as death.
It was silent until that Sunday, the Lord’s Day, when John heard a voice as loud as a trumpet blast. It must have made every hair on his neck stand at attention! John later learned that the voice came from none other than the Lord. Jesus broke into Patmos’ silence and commanded John to write a record of what he was about to see. Then later John would send it to the seven church communities he had worked with. That Sunday, Jesus also broke heaven’s silence. From that day forward God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit revealed God’s big salvation story in greater detail. The book of Revelation is not a gift to satisfy our curiosity. It is God’s way of helping us come to faith in him, deepen our faith, and give it staying power even in the toughest of times. As we go further in this series, I hope you will be encouraged in your noisy day!