John’s Background John was called by Jesus when he was with his brother James on the
shores of Galilee. This calling occurred early in Jesus’ Ministry (John Exiled, 2013). The
brothers were fishermen by trade, and preparing to cast their nets when Jesus called them. The
story is recorded in Matthew 4, and reports that after the Lord’s call, they immediately left their
nets and their father, and went and followed Him (Holy Bible, NIV, 2016).
We are not certain if John heard about Jesus ministry from verbal reports of John the
Baptist’s teaching, or if he was drawn to the Lord by the influence of the Holy Spirit alone.
Without a doubt, it was an act of courage to follow without questioning. And maybe some
curiosity caused him to leave …show more content…
Possible Influence of Patmos on John The island of Patmos is only mentioned once in
the Bible, in Revelation 1. The word Patmos is translated literally as “my killing”, and the island
is considered basical sterile by several sources (Davis, 1944 & Gospel Faith, 2016). Little will
grow in its rocks. In the strictest sense, sterile means unable to produce offspring or infertile.
The island is located in the Aegean Sea, southwest of Turkey. This is where the Emperor exiled
John in AD 95 (King and I, 2016).
On this 30 square mile island, those in ancient times could be banished and forced to
work in the mines. Perhaps, the open sea furnished some relief to John as he worked or wrote
with its breeze and the blue waters. It is believed that John lived in a cave on the Island, where
many Christians make pilgrimage today. This cave is known in modern times as the Cave of the
Apocalypse (Wikipedia, 2016).
It was in these primitive surroundings that John saw prophetic beasts, a dragon, a
shores of Galilee. This calling occurred early in Jesus’ Ministry (John Exiled, 2013). The
brothers were fishermen by trade, and preparing to cast their nets when Jesus called them. The
story is recorded in Matthew 4, and reports that after the Lord’s call, they immediately left their
nets and their father, and went and followed Him (Holy Bible, NIV, 2016).
We are not certain if John heard about Jesus ministry from verbal reports of John the
Baptist’s teaching, or if he was drawn to the Lord by the influence of the Holy Spirit alone.
Without a doubt, it was an act of courage to follow without questioning. And maybe some
curiosity caused him to leave …show more content…
Possible Influence of Patmos on John The island of Patmos is only mentioned once in
the Bible, in Revelation 1. The word Patmos is translated literally as “my killing”, and the island
is considered basical sterile by several sources (Davis, 1944 & Gospel Faith, 2016). Little will
grow in its rocks. In the strictest sense, sterile means unable to produce offspring or infertile.
The island is located in the Aegean Sea, southwest of Turkey. This is where the Emperor exiled
John in AD 95 (King and I, 2016).
On this 30 square mile island, those in ancient times could be banished and forced to
work in the mines. Perhaps, the open sea furnished some relief to John as he worked or wrote
with its breeze and the blue waters. It is believed that John lived in a cave on the Island, where
many Christians make pilgrimage today. This cave is known in modern times as the Cave of the
Apocalypse (Wikipedia, 2016).
It was in these primitive surroundings that John saw prophetic beasts, a dragon, a