In exiling John, the enemies of truth had hoped to silence forever the voice of God's faithful witness; but on Patmos the disciple received a message, the influence of which was to continue to strengthen the church till the end of time. Though not released from the responsibility of their wrong act, those who banished John became instruments in the hands of God to carry out Heaven's purpose; and the very effort to extinguish the light placed the truth in bold relief. It was on the Sabbath that the Lord of glory appeared to the exiled apostle. The Sabbath was as sacredly observed by John on Patmos as when he was preaching to the people in the towns and cities of Judea. He claimed as his own the precious promises that had been given regarding that day. "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day," John writes, "and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, 582 I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. . . . And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks One like unto the Son of man." Revelation 1:10-13.

Sandhedens fjender havde ved at forvise Johannes håbet for stedse at få Guds trofaste vidnes røst til at forstumme; men på Patmos modtog disciplen et budskab, der til tidernes ende skulle vedblive med at styrke menigheden. Skønt det ikke frigjorde dem, der forviste Johannes, for ansvaret for deres misgerning, så blev de dog redskaber i Guds hånd til at udføre Himmelens plan; og netop bestræbelsen for at udslukke lyset bragte sandheden frem på den dristigste måde.