Pergamum

Ruins of Pergamum

An important Roman city, it used to be the capital of an empire in modern Turkey.  It had a huge altar to Zeus, and also a temple devoted to the worship of Trajan, the Roman emperor in the early second century.

For more information about Pergamum check out this site

Smyrna

Smyrna was a significant city in the Hellenistic period, but dwarfed by Ephesus’ importance in Romans times.  It was situated on Mt. Pagos, near the Gulf of Smyrna.  It had a huge open market/teaching area called the Agora. Smyra had a significant Jewish community, out of which came the Christian congregation, which was significant to the Asian church throughout the second century.

For more information about Smyrna, click here.

Modern day Izmir, near the location of ancient Smyrna.

What's A "Church"?

What is likely to be the first Christian church, located in Capernum, Peter's house. 

We use the term "church" pretty loosely today.  It could mean a religious building, a group of people, or every person who believes in Jesus. 


In the book of Revelation, the word translated "church" is ekklesia which literally means "called out" and is used for a group of people gathered together for a purpose.  In the book of Acts it is once used for a mob (Acts 19:32) and in the Greek Hebrew Scriptures ekklesia is often used of the congregation of Israel, namely those who are able to enter the temple (e.g. Deuteronomy 23:1).  


In Revelation, ekklesia is speaking of Jesus synagogues.  This makes sense since the Greek synagogue is a synonym of ekklesia in the Greek OT.   It is best to translate ekklesia "congregation" or "fellowship" in Revelation. 

Jesus in Revelation

Revelation is right in the flow of NT writing about Jesus, especially "high" passages such as John 1 and Colossians 1.  Revelation does not go to the extent of calling Jesus equal to the Father.  Like the book of John, Revelation gives Jesus much of the glory that belongs to God alone (worship, command of spiritual beings), but clearly puts Jesus under the authority of The One who Sits On The Throne.

This would be normative for a God-appointed Emperor of heaven and earth.  The very term "king of kings and lord of lords" is the ancient title/definition of an emperor.  Of course, this is also borrowing on the Father's glory, who is the great Emperor of all. 

Seven Letters

 

Letters were written upon scrolls like this, and then delivered by messenger. It was read by the messenger to the one receiving it, because literacy was pretty sketchy in the ancient world.