Exiled To Patmos

Exiled To Patmos

What was the apostle John doing on the island of Patmos?

JOHN WAS there because of a man named Domitian. Domitian was the second son of Vespasian, who commanded the Roman army sent in February A.D. 67, to put down the rebellion in Judea. Vespasian’s army was so successful that by June A.D. 68, only Jerusalem was left to be conquered. Then on June 9 Nero, the emperor, committed suicide, and Vespasian halted military operations to see what would happen next in Rome.

The following year, 69, was a year of civil war with a succession of four caesars. Galba succeeded Nero and then was followed by Otho, Vitellius, and finally Vespasian. Vespasian turned the war against the Jews over to his oldest son, Titus, and concentrated his energy on defeating Vitellius. To stem the revolt of Vespasian’s legions, Vitellius tried to take Domitian as a hostage. However, after two daring escapes, Domitian was able to reach his father’s legions. After the death of Vitellus in December, the Roman Senate proclaimed Vespasian as caesar, and Domitian returned in triumph to Rome.

Vespasian did not come to Rome for ten months. During that time the nineteen-year-old Domitian got a taste of ruling the empire. However, he became embroiled in arguments with a representative of his father and exercising power became a frustrating experience.

During Vespasian’s reign Domitian was given only minor roles while his older brother Titus functioned as his father’s aide and heir apparent.

When Vespasian died in 79, he was succeeded by Titus. Since Titus was only forty at the time, Domitian again received no positions of authority as it was assumed that Titus would rule for years to come.

However, this was not to be the case. Just two years later Titus took ill suddenly and died. Domitian, his brother, became caesar.

As caesar, Domitian was both autocratic and cruel. He declared himself “Lord and God” and demanded to be worshiped. Those refusing to acknowledge his deity were persecuted.

Pliny the Younger, a government official under Domitian, writes that the emperor persecuted all classes of Christians, Roman citizens and noncitizens, male and female, slave and free. It was as part of this persecution of Christians by Domitian that the apostle John, who had been living at Ephesus, was exiled to the island of Patmos. John tells us, “In Jesus we are partners in suffering and in the Kingdom and in patient endurance. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and speaking about Jesus” (Revelation 1:9).

Patmos is a desolate volcanic island ten miles long and six miles wide, thirty-seven miles off the coast of Asia Minor. In the Roman Empire prisoners were commonly exiled to islands.

Irenaeus, the bishop of Lyons, France, in approximately 175 to 195, writes about the apostle John, “who beheld the Apocalypse. For it was seen not very long ago, but almost in our day, toward the end of Domitian’s reign.” Irenaeus is a very credible witness since he was a disciple of Polycarp, who had been a disciple of John. In other words, Irenaeus knew someone who knew John personally.

If John was exiled to Patmos toward the end of Domitian’s reign, that means he was there about the year 95. Domitian’s behavior became so intolerable in his latter years—even to other pagans—that a conspiracy was formed against him that included even Domitian’s wife. He was assassinated on September 18, 96, a few weeks before his forty-fifth birthday.

Nerva, the next caesar, proclaimed a recall of all of Domitian’s exiles in 96, and John returned to Ephesus.

Reflection

Have you ever experienced persecution? In much of the world to be a Christian is to suffer persecution. In many nations persecution is from the government, as John experienced. We should not be surprised when we are persecuted; we should be surprised when we are not.

God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.

Matthew 5:11-12