Revelation Lesson 6: Banishment to Blessing - Part I

In this lesson, we learn about the Apostle John's banishment to the Isle of Patmos; we discuss the cruelty of the Roman Empire against Christians during the Emperors Nero and Domitian.  We learn what John's banishment entailed, possibly even forced labor in underground mines.  We also learn how that banishment was turned into a blessing when the aged Apostle received from the Lord the most extensive revelation of future events to be given to a New Testament writer. The powerful first words John heard from the resurrected Christ were His claim of a title used three times in the Book of Israel for YHWH, "I AM Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last"!  Thus, the first words from Jesus after His Ascension were yet another claim to Deity!  John was then given instructions to write down what he would see and hear and send it to the seven churches in Asia Minor. The only description of Christ found in Scripture is given to us by the Apostle John in the first chapter of Revelation.  We will look in detail at that description in this lesson.