被困拔摩岛
拔摩岛不是一个牧师退修中心，它乃是罗马政府用来隔离和羞辱犯人的不归地；罗马政府宣告，除了凯撒外，没有其他的主，犯了错的国民，会被放逐到拔摩岛去吸取这个教训。然而，身为基督教教会的领袖，约翰曾教导民众耶稣是主 －事实上祂的确是主。所以，“为神的道，并为给耶稣作的见证” 的约翰，便被罗马政府隔离，不得与基督徒和教会接触了。
这件事必然使约翰和当日众多信徒群体陷在困境中。约翰会感到孤单和与世隔绝，而教会也听不到他的讲道、教导，不能与他共处。
罗马政府以为这样做便能破坏教会的生活和使命了，然而拔摩岛并不是罗马政府想像中那么与世隔绝的。上帝无所不在，上帝的灵要去到这个与世隔绝和不毛之地造访约翰，并且把它变为一个彰显真正的主和救主的能力和权柄的场所，根本不是问题。在拔摩岛上，约翰见到一个令人生畏的异象，就是耶稣向他启示神国中一些惊人的权能。
神改变了拔摩岛，惟愿这个故事带给我们勇气，特别是当我们感到“为神的道，并为给耶稣作的见证”使我们落在困境中时，我们就更需要勇气了。
全能的万主之主和万王之王，“国度、权柄、荣耀，全是你的，直到永远”。阿们。
启示录 1:9
9我约翰，就是你们的弟兄，和你们在耶稣的患难、国度、忍耐里一同有份，为神的道并为给耶稣作的见证，曾在那名叫拔摩的海岛上。
Stuck On Patmos
“I, John... was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” - Revelation 1:9
Patmos was not a pastor’s retreat center. It was used by the Roman authorities as a dead-end place of isolation and shame. Offending citizens were exiled to the island of Patmos to learn a lesson: Rome declared that there was no Lord but Caesar. As a leader in the Christian church, however, John had taught people that Jesus Christ is Lord—which he is. So Rome removed John from contact with Christians and churches “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”
This must have created a great hardship for John and for many communities of believers during that time. John would have experienced loneliness and isolation. The churches would have missed his preaching, teaching, and time spent with them.
Rome thought it could disrupt the life and mission of the church. But Patmos was not so isolated as Rome wanted it to be. God can go anywhere, so it was no problem for the Spirit of God to visit John in this isolated, “godforsaken” place and turn it into a stage revealing the power and majesty of the true Lord and Savior. On Patmos, John received an awe-inspiring vision of Jesus, who revealed to him some of the astonishing greatness of God’s kingdom.
May God’s Patmos-transforming story give us courage, especially when we feel as if “the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” have brought us to a difficult place.
Almighty Lord of all lords and King of all kings, “yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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