The book of nature was open before John with its inexhaustible store of varied instruction. He sought the favor of God, and the Holy Spirit rested upon him, and kindled in his heart a glowing zeal to do the great work of calling the people to repentance, and to a higher and holier life. John was fitting himself, by the privations and hardships of his secluded life, to so control all his physical and mental powers that he could stand among the people as unmoved by surrounding circumstances as the rocks and mountains of the wilderness that had surrounded him for thirty years (The Spirit of Prophecy 2:47).{5BC 1115.5}

Naturens bog var åbnet op for Johannes, med dens uudtrykkelige beholdning af forskellige undervisning. han søgte Guds gunst, og Helligånden hvilede over ham, og hans hjerte tændtes af glødende iver for at gøre det store arbejde at kalde folk til anger, og til et højere og helligere liv. Johannes udrustede sig selv ved afsavn og vanskeligheder fra sit afsides liv, for at kontrollere alle sine fysiske og mentale kræfter sådan at han kunne stå urokkelig iblandt folk af omstændighederne, ligesom ørknens klipper og bjerge havde omgivet ham i tredive år. (2SP 47).