The Syriac version asserts that John was banished to Patmos under Nero (64 to 68 A.D.), and Tertullian synchronizes the banishment of John with the martyrdom of Peter and Paul under Nero. Our knowledge of the reasons for John’s location is meager. The apostle is “in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ” ( Rev.

The uninformed observer might conclude John’s geographic location shows Caesar’s power. Let’s look deeper into John’s circumstances to see why. The four elements of John’s self-location threaten Rome’s existence in subtle ways. John says: “I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of God’s word and the testimony about Jesus” ( Rev. John’s description at the start of his first vision lists four of them. The characteristics of John’s predicament exhibit the power of Rome. But what will this act accomplish? The circumstances in which this Jewish seer 1 found himself would prevent his participation in the events he is seeing.

He is ready to give the Apostle John seven visions of things that will “shortly come to pass” ( Rev. In the midst of this royal power, God is acting.

One of his successors, Nero, now uses it in every area of life. The “divine” power has increased since Julius, the first Caesar, established the Empire in 49 BC. The message is hard to avoid: Caesar is Lord! Coins circulate throughout the Roman Empire proclaiming the Emperor’s divinity.

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