Last of the Seven Churches

Last of the Seven Churches

Today we completed our journey through the seven churches of Revelation.  We went to Pergamum, considered one of the most dramatic sights in Turkey.  High above on the top of the mountain are the remains of the Temple of Trajan, the famed library, agora marketplace, theater, and one of the largest temples, the altar of Zeus.  The Pergamum acropolis overlooks a huge valley, where the people lived and still live.  The buildings were constructed so that  when anyone looked up at the mountain, they would have full view of all the temples.  The library held 200,000 scrolls, one of the largest libraries in the world.   Mark Anthony gave the contents of the library to Cleopatra as a wedding gift because her scrolls in Alexandria had been destroyed by fire.  Quite a gift!  As in all the locations, Greek and Roman gods took center stage, but here the first emperor worship also began.  The great altar of Zeus was one of the largest, most important monuments of the era; it is now housed in the Berlin museum.  We looked at pictures of the altar, and it is hard to imagine the enormity of it.  The people brought their sacrifices to the altar before they went further into the acropolis area, where the priests kept the fires burning day and night.  Only the priests could enter into the main chamber of the temples; they offered the sacrifices on the people's behalf.  It is thought that this altar is the throne of Satan referred in the Pergamum letter.  Jesus praises the people for holding fast to their faith, even in the face of the martyrdom of Antipas and continual presence of pagan worship.  But He did have some things against them; apparently there were those compromising by eating the food sacrificed to idols and indulging in immorality as the pagans.  They are told to repent, that He will give a new name to those who persevere.  

More of the last day of churches

Also located in the Pergamum area is the most important medical complex of the day, the Asclepieum.  It was indeed interesting to hear about the various methods of healing used here.  To preserve the reputation of providing healing, priests examined those wanting to come in, with those truly ill turned away.  The others were allowed to go through a series of “cures,” including walking over hot stones, bathing in various pools, and walking through tunnels where “speaker holes” are still visible where the priests would “speak” to the patients walking through, as if spirits, whispering “You will be healed,” and other encouraging phrases; ancient version of the power of positive thinking.   Drugs were administered, causing hallucinations, dreams, and priests were handy to help with interpretation to provide guidance. There was even role play therapy in the theater area.  All in all, it appeared to be the ancient version of an exclusive health spa of today mixed with a version of psychotherapy.

Then we traveled to the site of the 7^th church site, Smyrna, now modern Izmir.  A large harbor city on the Aegean coast, Izmir has few visible ruins as the city is built on top of the ancient city.  As we looked at the letter to Smyrna, we see a contrast to some of the other letters.  Here Jesus says that He knows the sufferings they have endured as well as their material poverty, but that they are spiritually rich.  He tells them not to fear future suffering, even if it means prison, but that they who endure will receive the crown of life, that He would preserve them. 

It has been very sobering to study the letters to the churches as we have stood on the sites of the Revelation churches.  As we reflect on the issues that Jesus condemned, as well as those He praised, we see that there is truly nothing new under the sun.  Man has always attempted to create his own means of immortality, create god in his own image, his heaven on earth, all to no avail.  The warnings of these letters not only applied to these churches centuries ago, but to us today as well.  The corrections were serious, as well as the consequences of the sin; they are equally as serious today.  As harsh as the condemnation was, Jesus always offers grace, urging repentence, turning back, second chances.  But He also reminds us that He is returning; there is an end point.  We dare not ignore these messages, lest we suffer the same end as the people of these churches as well.

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