Revelation 2:1-7 Christ’s Message to Ephesus
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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)
Temple of Artemis
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: 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: 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
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