Far away from the privileges of the sanctuary and the fellowship of the saints John enjoyed the fellowship of the Holy Spirit while exiled on the Isle of Patmos. Revelation 1:9 sets the scene; in the midst of the “tribulation” that accompanies the Christian faith, John received the grace of “endurance” that is promised to those in the “kingdom” of Christ. Despite the trying circumstances, John saw the vision of the book of the Revelation—an exalted Christ and His exalted Church. It was here also that he learned to reign with Christ in the midst of the tribulation.
Verse 10 adds something more to the picture. John determined privately what he must do on “the Lord’s day.” His worship was not dictated to by others or by circumstances, but by the excellency of the day of worship. This is the day of resurrection (Matthew 28:1) and spiritual blessing (Acts 2:1) and as the ancient pagans set a day aside to worship their emperor or god, so the Christian’s set aside a day to worship their living Saviour. The early Church had a proper appreciation for it’s Saviour and this gave the church a respect for the day that celebrates the Saviour’s excellencies.
The Lord’s Day and the spirit of the day do not always come together. Many have a view of the Lord’s Day that is so rigidly oppressive that the day of celebration has become a day of drudger—part of the cross that we have to bear. If the Lord’s Day is going to profitable to us, it is the Spirit of the day that we need to focus on and not the duty. Being “in the Spirit” elevates the mind from the temporal and material and focuses on the eternal and spiritual. Here is where we get a true perspective on life (Psalm 73:17).
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Aaron Dunlop, who is originally from Northern Ireland, graduated from the Geneva Reformed Seminary, SC. He pastored for ten years in Victoria, British Columbia and is currently preparing to move to Kenya with his family to work with the FAME Reformed Theological College.
