Passenger of Ages

In the beginning he was bright and beautiful. He was an angel of high position, but Lucifer became the man dressed in red, like a warrior dressed in a monk’s robe, hunting down his prey with an unquestionable skill that allowed him to invade the heart of man. Surely this figure in red was there when John was brought to Claudius’s boat, although Claudius had no intention of partaking in the human fate that was given to his hands. Maybe John should be given a second chance, Claudius thought, a chance of dying in a more plausible way.

Claudius didn’t know John was a special guest with a free passage to a portal of the dreams that would change the hearts of many souls. He had been bothered by John’s presence in his boat, but only later—two years later—would he know why his heart had been so compassionate, not only with John but with so many lifeless bodies, the leftovers of the lions’ food scattered around the arena. Claudius’ life shifted of direction when he took his new job position as a reward from the gods, and he felt a sense of relief that he was able to bring the wounded to die in peace in prison, as so many had been burned alive. The task of going back and forth to the island of Patmos by himself in a boat full of criminals made him reflect on life. It was in that boat, however, surrounded by questionable characters that his life was forever changed.

John was on the floor of the boat. His body gave the impression of one who was dying, but he consciously reacted to the ordeal to which he was exposed. Most of all, he clearly reflected on God’s ways of bringing man to God.

John was glad God was not finished with him yet. While the boat swung from side to side, reflecting a disturbance of the sea, flashes of memories kept invading his mind. John had just survived being thrown into boiling oil as a form of torture, which brought him on this boat, along with many other criminals.

Despite the dark memories of that moment, his own survival and the oil covering his body was used as a great display of how glorious his God was. John was still alive.

As the trip in the boat continued, John felt a heavy weight upon his shoulders. He didn’t know that a book of many pages was being added to his account. The book would unfold to reveal the patience of God throughout history in an ultimate attempt to save humankind. John knew mankind history well through the Scriptures—the fall, the sin, the law, the prophets, the silence of God—and finally the Son of God who was to fulfill the Law given, which could not be fulfilled by man.

The Jews misunderstood Christ Jesus’s presence on earth. They knew the Law was perfect in all its sublimation, and in fact it was. But they failed to realize how imperfect their capacity to fulfill it was. Now it would be revealed to John how the church also would take God’s grace for granted. God also was about to reveal to John what was coming over the world. God is not only love and mercy, but he is also a God of justice. Love cannot be complete without justice, nor salvation without forgiveness, nor forgiveness without repentance.

God gave the dream to John because human history would not make sense with only a beginning and middle; it needs an ending. It was for that reason that John was kept on earth a little while longer.