Revelation 2:1-7

Revelation 2:1-7Christ’s Message to Ephesus

Seven Churches of Revelation: Ephesus

Church at Ephesus :The Loveless Church (Rev 2:1-7)Background

A thriving commercial city, the largest city in Asia Minor

Its religious life centered around the worship of the Greek goddess Artemis (cf. Acts 19:23ff); her temple was considered one of the seven wonders of the world.

After the church was established, the gospel flourished here under the ministries of both the Apostle Paul and the Apostle John, as well as Apollos and then later, Timothy. (see Acts 19-20; book of Ephesians)

Port City of Ephesus

Ephesus Today

Temple of Artemis

Ruins of Temple of Artemis

View of Temple from Distance

Temple Ruin close-up

Statue of Artemis (Diana)

Ephesus Theatre (seats 24,000)

Ephesus Theatre Aerial View

General Pattern of Each Letter

A description of Jesus Christ, taken from John’s vision of the glorified Christ in chapter 1

A claim of complete knowledge of the people addressed (“I know …”)

A description of the state of the church, whether by commendation, concern and/ or command

A universal counsel to hear what has been spoken

A word of comfort to the overcomer, which looks forward to Christ’s future reign

Revelation 2:8-11Christ’s Message to Smyrna

Seven Churches of Revelation: Smyrna

Church at Smyrna :The Suffering Church (Rev 2:8-11)Background

Smyrna means, “Bitter”. A thriving commercial city, 2nd largest city in

AsiaKnown for its beauty, it was called the Crown

of Asia. Smyrna was a center for science & medicine.

Its religious life centered around emperor-worship which resulted in a strong loyalty to Rome. Additionally, there were several temples to Greek gods & goddesses.

Smyrna had a large Jewish community that engaged in the persecution of Christians, making this a very dangerous place for believers to live.

Smyrna: 65 km north of Ephesus

Smyrna: Modern Day Izmir, Turkey

Modern Day Izmir

Modern Day Izmir

Smyrna: Ancient Temple Ruins

Temple Sketch

Ruins of Hillside Theatre

Smyrna’s Famous Arched Walkways

Arched Walkway

Theatre for the Games and …for Persecuting Christians

Theatre

Statue of Lion (outside Theatre)

Christians suffered greatly for Christin Smyrna

General Pattern of Each Letter

A description of Jesus Christ, taken from John’s vision of the glorified Christ in chapter 1

A claim of complete knowledge of the people addressed (“I know …”)

A description of the state of the church, whether by commendation, concern and/ or command

A universal counsel to hear what has been spoken

A word of comfort to the overcomer, which looks forward to Christ’s future reign

Revelation 2:12-17Christ’s Message to Pergamum

Seven Churches of Revelation: Pergamum

Church at Pergamum :The Compromising Church (Rev 2:12-17)Background

Pergamum means, “height,” or “elevation”. The political centre of Asia MinorKnown for incredible library of over 200,000

volumes!Its religious life centered around emperor-

worship, and several temples to Greek gods, including Asklepios

& an enormous altar Zeus!

Pergamum was a very dangerous place for believers

to live.

Pergamum: 100 km north of Ephesus

Ancient Pergamum on the heights

Modern city of Bergama sits below

Ancient Temple of Pergamum

Ancient Temple

Temple Ruins

Temple Ruins

Artist’s Sketch of Ancient Pergamum

Altar to Zeus

Altar to Zeus: in Berlin Museum to Pergamum

Jesus Christ’s Message to Pergamum

General Pattern of Each LetterA call to write to a churchA description of Jesus Christ, taken from

John’s vision of the glorified Christ in chapter 1

A claim of complete knowledge of the people addressed (“I know …”)

A description of the state of the church, whether by commendation, concern and/ or command

A universal counsel to hear what has been spoken

A word of comfort to the overcomer, which looks forward to Christ’s future reign

Revelation 2:18-29Christ’s Message to Thyatira

Seven Churches of Revelation: Thyatira

Church at Thyatira:The Sin Tolerating Church (Rev 2:18-29)Background

Smallest of the 7 cities. . . but received the longest message!

Positioned in a fertile valley, it was rich agriculturally, but lacked the geographical features to protect itself from invasion. Thyatira served primarily as a protection for the capital city of Pergamum by being in the pathway of invaders. Thus it was overrun numerous times.

Thyatira was a centre of commerce, which in turn produced a multitude of workers’ guilds (like labour unions); examples include linen workers, wool workers, dyers, leather workers, people who made outer garments, potters, bakers, and bronze smiths. Membership in a guild was compulsory if one wanted job security.

Emperor worship was not so much a factor here. However, guild members were expected to attend the guild festivals, to eat the food that had been offered to one of the gods, and participate in grossly immoral activities that would follow these feasts. The primary god of worship was Apollos, also known by the title, “son of god”!

Thyatira: 40 km southeast of Pergamum

Thyatira: The modern city of Akhisra, Turkey

Excavation of Thyatira

Ruins of Thyatira

Ruins of a portico in Thyatira

More ruins of Thyatira

What Biblical person was from the ancient city of Thyatira?

“A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.” Acts 16:14

General Pattern of Each LetterA call to write to a churchA description of Jesus Christ, taken from

John’s vision of the glorified Christ in chapter 1

A claim of complete knowledge of the people addressed (“I know …”)

A description of the state of the church, whether by commendation, concern and/ or command

A universal counsel to hear what has been spoken

A word of comfort to the overcomer, which looks forward to Christ’s future reign

(Note: Change in order of counsel & comfort)

Revelation 3:1-6Christ’s Message to Sardis

Outline of Revelation

Message to the Prophet: John’s Past Vision (1:1 – 20)

Message to the Churches: Their Present Condition (2:1 – 3:22)

Message to Ephesus (2:1-7) – The Loveless Church Message to Smyrna (2:8-11) – The Suffering Church Message to Pergamum (2:12-17) – The

Compromising Church Message to Thyatira (2:18-29) – The Sin Tolerating

Church Message to Sardis (3:1-6) – The Dead Church

Seven Churches of Revelation: Sardis

Church at Sardis:The Dead Church (Rev. 3:1-6 ) Background on the City

Sardis served as the capital of Lydia and was a wealthy city.

Originally it was situated on one of a series of hills that formed the transition from the lower elevation of the Hermus plain to the higher elevation of Mount Tmolus. Ready access to the city was available only from a small neck of land in the south.

Unlike Thyatira, these geographic features made Sardis an almost impregnable fortress.

However, the city was overrun twice in its history. In both cases, the people felt so secure in their stronghold that they failed to guard the steep sides of the plateaus. The invaders scaled these steep walls. It is said that even a child could defend the city from this kind of attack, but the inhabitants of Sardis failed to post a man to watch out for it.

The patron goddess of Sardis was Cybele. She was pictured as a pregnant goddess often riding in a chariot pulled by lions. Among other things, if was claimed that she could raise the dead.

Sardis: 45 km south of Thyatira

Ruins at Sardis: Lower City

Temple Ruins in Lower Sardis

Temple Altar

Sardis Gymansium

Gymnasium in Lower Sardis

Theatre in Lower Sardis

Jewish Synagogue in Sardis

Sardis Synagogue

Floor Mosaic: Sardis Synagogue

Baptistery from Early Sardis Church

Christian Church Baptistery

The Greek goddess, Cybele

View of Tmolus Mountain Range

Location of Upper Sardis

Location of the Acropolis

Hillside Theatre in Ancient Sardis

Cliffs of Sardis

Remains of Wall: Ancient Sardis

General Pattern of Each LetterA call to write to a churchA description of Jesus Christ, taken from

John’s vision of the glorified Christ in chapter 1

A claim of complete knowledge of the people addressed (“I know …”)

A description of the state of the church, whether by commendation, concern and/ or command

A universal counsel to hear what has been spoken

A word of comfort to the overcomer, which looks forward to Christ’s future reign

(Note: Change in order of counsel & comfort)

Revelation 3:7-13Christ’s Message to Philadelphia

Seven Churches of Revelation: Philadelphia

Church at Philadelphia:The Faithful Church (Rev. 3:7-13 ) Background on the City

Philadelphia was a prosperous, commercial center located about 45km SE of Sardis.

The city was situated on a series of hills about 250 meters above the valley, at the base of Mount Tmolus. It was an important stop on a major trade route called the Imperial Post Road (mail route).

The city’s elevation and fortifications provided ample safety.

However, the city was severely damaged by a massive earthquake in 17 AD. After this, people feared the instability of the area.

Like many other cities in the Roman Empire, the people of Philadelphia worshiped many Greek gods. The main deity was Dionysius, the god of wine. The area was marked by rich, fertile land which produced some of the best wine in the empire. In the 90’s A.D. the Emperor, Domitian, ordered all the vineyards be torn out in order to end the reputation that the vineyards near Philadelphia were superior to those in Rome. For some time the people of Philadelphia considered themselves rejected by the empire.

Philadelphia: 45 km southeast of Sardis

Philadelphia: Modern Alasehir – “City of God”

Coins found in area of Philadelphia: Zeus Artemis Aphrodite

Mount Tmolus: Dark hill is location of ancient Philadelphia

Temple Ruins in Lower Sardis: Note how pillars remain standing after 1900 yrs

Pillars of ancient temple

Ruins of ancient temple

Decorated Pillars

White headstone with person’s names and city of residence

General Pattern of Each LetterA call to write to a churchA description of Jesus Christ, taken from

John’s vision of the glorified Christ in chapter 1

A claim of complete knowledge of the people addressed (“I know …”)

A description of the state of the church, whether by commendation, concern and/ or command

A word of comfort to the overcomer, which looks forward to Christ’s future reign

A universal counsel to hear what has been spoken

Philadelphia’s Deliverance

3 1/2 Years 3 1/2 YearsBeginning of Birth Pangs

Great Tribulation

Abomination of Desolation

Rapture of the Church

Return of Christ to the EarthThe Hour of Testing

Revelation 3:14-22Christ’s Message to Laodicea

Seven Churches of Revelation: Laodicea

Church at Laodicea:The Lukewarm Church (Rev. 3:14-22 ) Background on the City

Laodicea was an extremely wealthy commercial center located about 160km East of Ephesus and 65km SE of Philadelphia.

The city was situated on a plateau between the two sister cities of Hierapolis and Colossae. It was an important stop on a major trade route called the Imperial Post Road (mail route).

Laodicea was famous for three things: a highly valued, soft, black wool, a strategic banking center, and as an important center for medicine.

Of great significance was their lack of a natural water supply. Therefore, water had to be piped through long aqueducts from the sister cities (hot water from Hierapolis/ cold from Colossae)

Like many other cities in the Roman Empire, the people of Laodicea worshiped many Greek gods. The main deity was Men Karou whose temple had an important medical school associated with it. This school was famous for producing an eye salve which was exported throughout the Roman world.

There was a large Jewish community in Laodicea (est. 20,000+)

Laodicea: 160 km east of Ephesus, between Hierapolis and Colossae

Google earth view of Laodicea plateau

Laodicea: on a plateau near base of mountains

Laodicea: City of Great Wealth

Ancient city street

View of Roadway

Ruins of Large Theatre

Ruins of smaller theatre

Temple Ruins

Temple ruins

Gymnasium arches

Ruins of a large home

Ruins of a bath house

Ruins of the medical school

Source of spring water from Colossae

Colossae springs

Hot springs of Hierapolis

Hot Springs

Hot springs with lime deposits

Hot springs

Hot springs

Lime deposits at Hierapolis hot springs: view from Laodicea

Aqueduct system for water

Aqueduct system

Aqueduct pipes

Evidence of corrosion remains

The ruins of an ancient Laodicean church: only the doorway remains

Outline of Revelation

Message to the Prophet: John’s Past Vision (1:1 – 20)

Message to the Churches: Their Present Condition (2:1 – 3:22)

Message to Ephesus (2:1-7) – The Loveless Church Message to Smyrna (2:8-11) – The Suffering Church Message to Pergamum (2:12-17) – The

Compromising Church Message to Thyatira (2:18-29) – The Sin Tolerating

Church Message to Sardis (3:1-6) – The Dead Church Message to Philadelphia (3:7-13) – The Faithful

Church Message to Laodicea (3:14-22) – The Lukewarm

Church

What is the Message to Christ’s Church?Hold on to your first love for God and others.Don’t tolerate false teaching.Be faithful…even if it costs your life.Don’t compromise with the world.Live in light of Christ’s return.Hold on to the Word of God and remain

faithful.Repent of all hypocrisy and truly believe.

General Pattern of Each LetterA call to write to a churchA description of Jesus Christ, taken from

John’s vision of the glorified Christ in chapter 1

A claim of complete knowledge of the people addressed (“I know …”)

A description of the state of the church, whether by commendation, concern and/ or command

A word of comfort to the overcomer, which looks forward to Christ’s future reign

A universal counsel to hear what has been spoken by the Holy Spirit