The Cities of Revelation

The Harbour of Epheso in the distance was a transshipment point for goods and wares. After 3 AD it was connected to the sea by a canal. The Arcadiane in ancient Ephesus, 500 m long and 11 m wide connected the harbor to the Great theatre of the city.
The Ephesian Christians were doing good deeds and defending Christian doctrine but their spirit was weak and cold. Jesus called to Ephesians to recognize their true condition, how far they had fallen and to to return to their first love all the while being challenged by a city rife with the worship of false gods.  

The calcite-laden waters of Hierapolis have created a remarkable landscape high above the river valley. Its hot springs were used for scouring and drying wool. What remains today after destruction by several earthquakes are the remains of baths, temples and a theatre.  

Laodicea was the chief city overlooking the Lycus River Valley. With its large Jewish community, it became a seat for Christianity early on. It was part of a tri-city district that included Colossae and Hierapolis. The latter was famous for its hot mineral springs and Colossae for its ice cold mountain streams. The mixture of these waters was undrinkable therefore the reference in Revelation 3 to Laodicean Christians being neither hot nor cold.  

Pergamum, located 100 km north of Smyrna was the centre of Asklepios, the god of healing, and the enormous temple, the Asklepion. Outside of the temple were white stones on which worshipers could write their names in gratitude for Asklepios’Referred to as ‘savior’, his emblem was the serpent.  Behind the city rose a cone shaped hill dotted with the temples of pagan gods. The temple altar could be seen as a throne hence ‘Satan’s seat’. The letter to the church of Pergamum is clear – I know where you live, where Satan has his throne, don’t bow to false gods. gods. The church is instructed to eat God’s bread, hidden manna, not the food sacrificed to the goddess of grain, Demeter. White stones will be given with new names by Jesus, the Great Physician.  

Ancient Sardis was set in the natural corridor of the fertile Hermus River valley with highland mountain pastures and mineral resources including gold. All contributed to the growth and prosperity of the people living in Sardis. The city’s wealth and position lead it to be careless. It was built on a hill so steep that its defenses seemed impenetrable yet it had been conquered twice. The church was a disappointment, morally indifferent to human need and failing to use its gifts. Dirty clothes were believed to dishonor the gods. Those who wore them were barred from worshiping in temples. This was well established and therefore Christians in Sardis would understand an implied double meaning - that dirty clothes were ‘worn’ by those worshiping false gods.  

Set in the backdrop of modern day Izmir, ancient Smyrna is slowly and carefully being excavated, note the pillars that dominate the photograph. Smyrna was reconstructed several times after being decimated following earthquakes. The church at Smyrna faced affliction and poverty – persecution and destruction. The cult of Caesar was a constant threat with Emperor Domitian making Caesar worship compulsory. Once a year Roman citizens had to burn incense on the altar to Caesar verifying their allegiance. To refuse was dangerous hence the words, ‘Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown’.  

Chalice with cross in the ruins of ancient Ephesus. Symbols of the cross and ‘wheel’  (see below on IXOYE) can be found among the ruins of the ancient cities addressed in the book of Revelation. Note the image excavated in Laodicea – cross and lampstand.

Can you find the letters IXOYE in one of the images above?

The word, “ixoye,” is an acronym comprised of the first letter of five Greek words:

• Iesous (Iasoos) is Jesus. The first letter is "iota," Ιησους.
• Xristos (Christos) is Christ. The first letter is "chi," Χριστóς.
• Theou (Theou) is God. The first letter is "theta," Θεοῦ.
• Yios (Huios) is Son. The first letter is "upsilon," Υἱός.
• Sotare (Sotare) is Savior. The first letter is "sigma," Σωτήρ.

The word is also the Greek word for “fish," icthus, ἰχθύς which when spelled in capital letters in Greek is ΙΧΘΥΣ. Jesus called fishermen to be fishers of men. He calls each of us to be Christ followers.