1. Letters to the Seven Churches (Revelation 2 &3)
A pattern is followed in each of the messages to the seven churches.
Salutation
Christ’s self designation
Commendation of good
Condemnation of evil
Counsel (warning & exhortation)
Promise of reward to those who overcome
Invitation to Hear

2. Key Similarities in each of the Seven Messages
Revelation
Key Similarities in each of the Seven Messages
“Unto the angel of the church…”
“I know your works…” (Hebrews 4:13; Galatians 6:7-8; 2 Corinthians 5:10)
“To him who overcomes…”
“Overcome” is found 17 times in Revelation
“He who has an hear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…”

3. Revelation 2:1-7 (Ephesus – “The Honeymoon is Over”)
Ephesus was a major seaport and the commercial gateway to Asia.
Paul worked with the church here in its infancy from A.D. (Acts 18-19)
He wrote a letter back to it about 62 A.D.
At that time, the church had a reputation for being filled with love for the Lord and fellow saints (Ephesians 1:15-16; 3:17-19; 6:24)
However, by the time John penned Revelation 3:1-7, Ephesus had left her first love. [Note: This is a strong textual argument against the early date for Revelation]

4. The City of Ephesus
Ephesus was an economic stronghold in Asia Minor; it was considered the supreme metropolis of Asia. Some scholars estimate the number of people living at Ephesus when Paul visited in 54 A.D. to have exceeded 250,000. There is good historical evidence that John lived and taught in Ephesus in his later years.

8. Key Geographical Features:
3 miles from Aegean Sea in the Cayster River Valley
A great seaport – but the harbor silted up
Major roads converged on Ephesus
Izmir Museum

9. Flavian Temple
Flavian Temple

10. The Agora or Marketplace
Commercial Agora. Bolen: The commercial agora at Ephesus was first constructed in Hellenistic times. The Romans, especially under Augustus, Nero, and Caracalla, remodeled and changed it. Different types of columns were used when it was restored a second time (4th century A.D.), after an earthquake greatly damaged it. The agora measured 110 meters square (340 feet) and had a sundial/water clock in the center, the foundations of which are still visible. Inscriptions found here reveal that it was once decorated with numerous statues. There were also many shops selling food and other goods.

11. The Temple of Artemis
Known as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, the temple of Artemis (or Diana as the Romans called her) was located by the sea.
The temple was about 60 meters wide and had approximately 106 columns. The temple was not covered; the walls surrounded an open court area inside of which was a small temple-like building containing the cult statue.
The Temple of Artemis
Known as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, the temple of Artemis, or Artemision, was in antiquity located by the sea. It was first built in the mid-6th century B.C. by Croesus, a Lydian king, atop previous temples dating to the 8th century B.C. The temple was about 60 meters wide and had approximately 106 columns. It was set on fire in 356 B.C. by an individual seeking fame, robbed in 263 A.D. by the Goths, and finally destroyed ca. 400 A.D., when the cult was discontinued. The temple was not covered; the walls surrounded an open court area inside of which was a small temple-like building containing the cult statue.
This temple dominated Ephesus’ religion, joined by temples of the Roman Emperor cult in the late 1st century A.D. Artemis was the virgin goddess of the moon, the hunt, and in some ways of fertility and “nature.” Called Diana by the Romans, she was the twin sister of Apollo and daughter of Zeus. She begged Zeus to allow her to remain unmarried, and so she roamed the forests girt with her bow and arrow and accompanied by her beloved deer and wild beasts. She protected hunters and was like “Mother Nature”—fertile and supportive—but was also cruel, revengeful and destructive. One of the most popular of Greek deities, she was the patron goddess of the city of Ephesus.

12. Revelation 2:1-7 (Ephesus – “The Honeymoon is Over”)
Lessons to Be Learned
A church with correct doctrine is to be commended (1 John 4:1; Galatians 1:6-8)
A church without fervor is fruitless (1 Corinthians 13:1-3; 11:20-26)
The admonition
“Remember”
“Repent”
“Do the first works”

13. Revelation 2:8-11 (Smyrna– “The Poor-Rich Church”)
Smyrna was a prosperous port city on the Aegean coast (modern Izmir).
The city was a great center of Caesar worship.
Once a year the citizens were required to burn a pinch of incense to “Lord Caesar” or be branded as disloyal.
The Lord does not pronounce any condemnation of Smyrna, but the church would not be free of trouble.

15. Old Smyrna Temple of Athena
This temple of Athena is the oldest known Greek worship structure. It dates to the end of the 7th century B.C.
This temple of Athena is the oldest East Greek worship structure found thus far. It dates to the end of the 7th century B.C., and was renovated various times since then, namely after the Lydians destroyed it.
T.Bolen

16. Izmir Museum
The goddess Athena

17. 2nd century A.D. Agora (Marketplace) in Smyrna
Bolen: Excavations
The site of ancient Smyrna has been little excavated, as this important commercial port city (Izmir) houses the second largest population in the modern Republic of Turkey. Excepting the agora, theater (which sat about 20,000 people), and sections of the Roman aqueduct, little remains of the ancient city today. This 2nd century A.D. agora, midway between the acropolis and the harbor, was partially excavated by German and Turkish archaeologists from Porticoes lined the north and west sides of the agora, and an altar to Zeus sat in the center.

18. Demeter, goddess of the harvest.
Idol statues of
Poseidon and of
Demeter, goddess of the harvest.
Found in the
Smyrna agora
Izmir Museum

19. Early Roman Architecture

20. Trajan TRAJAN INSCRIPTION Roman emperor (98 – 117 A.D.)
Allowed persecution of Christians in Bithynia.
This inscription gives Trajan the title of “Autokrator” meaning total “dominion” or “power”. This is ascribed to God in Revelation 5:13.
Trajan

21. The Problem of Emperor Worship
Revelation
The Problem of Emperor Worship
Temples were erected to the Roman Emperors
NEOKOROS is the Greek word for the imperial temple-keeper or Temple-Warden “honorary title”
1) one who sweeps and cleans a temple
2) one who has charge of a temple, to keep and adorn it, a sacristan
3) the worshipper of a deity
word appears from coins still extant, it was an honourary title [temple-keeper or temple-warden] of certain cities, esp. in Asia Minor, or in which some special worship of some deity or even some deified human ruler had been established; used of Ephesus.
Inscription in Smyrna’s Agora

22. Lessons to be Learned from the message to Smyrna
Revelation
Lessons to be Learned from the message to Smyrna
Tribulation must not discourage us.
One may be in poverty, but be rich (compare Revelation 3:17; Proverbs 13:7; Luke 12:16-21; 16:19-21; Mark 12:41-42)
Don’t fear suffering…
It comes from those who are not really God’s people (cf. Romans 2:28-29).
It will be temporary.
Those who are faithful through tribulation will be given a crown.

23. Revelation 2:12-17 (Pergamos – “Faithful in the Midst of Evil”)
Satan had dominion in Pergamos.
Christians were persecuted and pressured to deny their faith.
The Lord commends them for holding fast.
The problem in Pergamos was doctrinal.
The doctrine of the Nicolaitans (Balaam) allowed for eating things sacrificed to idols and committing sexual immorality (Numbers 25:1-2; 31:16)
This doctrine was hated in Ephesus (2:6), held by some at Pergamos (2:14-15) and practiced by the some in the church in Thyatira (2:20).