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Verse:I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. —Revelation 1:9
Have you ever faced a frustrating experience that ended up becoming a real blessing in your life? Have you seen the sun shining through very dark clouds? Remember that some of our fondest dreams must be frustrated so that God can grant us something far better and more rewarding. This is what happened to Martin Luther after the famous 1521 Diet of Worms. On April 18, Luther had stated at the diet that his conscience was “captive to the Word of God”6 and that he would not recant.
Eight days later, he and his group began their homeward journey.
Frederick the Wise, the Elector of Saxony, knew the threat Luther was facing and set up a secret plan to remove him from the reach of his enemies.
On the evening of May 3, while Luther was entering some woods, four or five armed horsemen attacked the wagon and captured Luther.
They first dressed him as a knight and then took him to the Wartburg Castle, near Eisenach, where he arrived on May 4, 1521.
There he was kept sequestered in a locked cell, as if he were a dangerous criminal, till his hair and beard had grown enough to hide his identity.
He called himself by the nickname of Knight George (Junker Jörg). Luther remained in the Wartburg Castle for ten months. He referred to it as “my Patmos,”7 an allusion to the island where John wrote the book of Revelation.
Isolated from the outside world and away from his busy life in Wittenberg, Luther had enough time to produce something he could not have done otherwise. In just eleven weeks, he translated the whole New Testament from Greek into German. While there, he also wrote several books without access to his library.
Therefore, these writings had a strong biblical basis.
Truly, God can transform frustrating experiences into very real blessings. On the remote island of Patmos, the apostle John wrote the book of Revelation.
Secluded in the Wartburg Castle, Luther translated the New Testament into German. While living in distant Australia, Ellen White produced her classic book The Desire of Ages. Never doubt God’s power and providential leading— He can bless you and use you wherever He places you!