Miraculously escaping from this he was banished to the Island of Patmos about the year 95 A. D. [1] Upon the death of Domitian the following year, St. John returned to Ephesus where he died a peaceful death about 100 A. D.
Patmos is a desolate island of volcanic rocks in the Aegean Sea, about sixty miles southwest of Ephesus. Its excellent harbor made it a stopping place for vessels on the way from Rome to Ephesus. Pliny informs us that it was used as a place of exile. [2] A cave about half way between the shore and the modern town of Patmos is pointed out as the spot where St. John received his revelations.
10. St. John received this revelation on Sunday the Lord's day. This fact is interesting because it shows at what an early date the Christians dedicated the first day of the week to the service of God as indicated by the name Lord's day. [3] Perhaps St. John had withdrawn from his fellow exiles on that day to devote himself to prayer. While thus engaged in prayer he heard a voice clear and piercing as a trumpet blast. It was a voice to be heard to the uttermost parts of the earth.
12, 13. Turning to see whence the voice came, St. John beheld a vision of seven golden candlesticks, and in the midst of them our Lord, clothed in the white robe of the priesthood. He appeared to St. John in his human form like to the son of man."
