I've never been much of a history buff. Well, at least not until I got older and started homeschooling my children. Now, I can't seem to get enough. The "How's and Why's" of time are fascinating to me, along with the "Who's and What's."
So, it's no wonder when we started studying the book of Revelation a few Sundays ago, my interest in the history behind the book was piqued. I've been fascinated by what I have found about the man John the Apostle and the seemingly hopeless situation he was in.
You see, the Roman Emperor Domitian - who believed he was god and demanded to be worshiped in that manner - hated the Christians. Because of this, it wasn't a surprise that when he caught wind of John the Apostle and his teachings of Christ, he had the old man forcibly taken out of his home and dragged to Rome to undergo trial. The Apostle was convicted of not bowing before Domitian and ordered to be put into a vat of boiling oil.
"Wait a minute," you might say, "I thought John was exiled to the island of Patmos for his punishment?" To which I would say, "Yes, he was." "So how was he banished if he died in a vat of boiling oil?" you reply. To which I would say with a grin on my face, "Because he didn't die in the vat of oil. He walked out of it unharmed."
Now, this event is not recorded in Scripture, but it is recorded by other historians as fact. One of these historians, Tertullian, was known for his accuracy in recording historical events, so the miracle that happened in the life of John that day, is in fact, accurate history.
So how could a ruler, who wished to silence the Christian voice of John the Apostle, do so, if he couldn't kill him? The answer was simple. He would send John away from everything and everyone so that his testimony could be contained, and what better place for containment than an island!
Sounds like an evil plan, doesn't it? Yes, but what Satan and men mean for evil, God means for good (Gen. 50:20). He takes those things that threaten our very lives...the things that send us reeling emotionally...the things that isolate us from those we love...the things that seem utterly hopeless and then He uses them to accomplish His purposes in us. Do we see it at the time? Unfortunately, most of the time we don't. We tend to get bogged down in our lives, moment by moment and don't see the big picture. And yet, God takes those moment by moment circumstances and blends them together beautifully, creating a tapestry far more intriguing and wonderful than anything we could ever expect.
How do I know? Well, Scripture cites Truth after Truth of this happening, and Revelation is just one example. For instance, was it a good thing that John was taken from his home, put in a vat of boiling oil, and then exiled to an island? If you were here with me right now, you would hear me emphatically say, with both eyebrows raised, "YES!"
Sounds strange, doesn't it? But in John's "supposed" darkest hour, God revealed Himself the most! Let me repeat that...in John's "supposed" darkest hour, God revealed Himself the most!
Domitian's evil plan didn't stop John from spreading the Word of God. It didn't silence his voice. Instead, it created the avenue for the Word - the final chapter of the life of the Believer and the non-believer - to be birthed into existence. Domitian created the avenue for Christians in John's day, as well as Believers today, to have hope in the coming of Jesus. In other words, he shot himself in the foot...or cut off his nose despite his face...however you want to put it! What Domitian intended for evil, God used for good...much good!
So if you find yourself today, persecuted and uncomfortable...if you find yourself being bullied and badgered for being a Believer...if you find yourself today isolated and alone because of your belief in Christ, suffering at the hands of non-believers...Remember. Sometimes God reveals Himself the most in the "supposed" darkest hours.
Dearest Jesus, thank You for being my God...for speaking the most, revealing Yourself the most to me, during the "supposed" darkest times. You are awesome. You truly are.
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