Seven Churches Seven Churches of Asiaof Asia

Revelation Chapters 2 and 3Revelation Chapters 2 and 3

1 Ephesus1 Ephesus2 Smyrna2 Smyrna3 Pergamos3 Pergamos4 Thyatira4 Thyatira5 Sardis5 Sardis6 Philadelphia6 Philadelphia7 Laodicea7 Laodicea

Ephesus

Smyrna

The Church at Smyrna

Starts at Ephesus

Revelation 2:8-11Revelation 2:8-11

Name of city - Semitic word“myrrh”

Built in 1312 B.C.

Highly developed city

Main street paved with gold

“The flower of Asia”

Agora in Smyrna

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Underground Agora

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Agora Spring & CryptoporticusAgora Spring & Cryptoporticus

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Izmir - population over 200,000

Idol WorshipIdol Worship

Zeus

Dionysius - wine god

Homer - poet

Meles – river god

EmperorEmperorWorshipWorship

Beginning of ChurchBeginning of Church

No record of it’s establishment

May have started when Paul was in Ephesus

“And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;”

Rev. 2:8Rev. 2:8

IntroducingSender

Angel – read it to the church

First and last - eternal

Dead and AliveSenderSender

“I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.”

Rev. 2:9Rev. 2:9

PraisePraise

I KnowI Know

Tribulation – PersecutionTribulation – Persecution

Poverty – Christians were poorPoverty – Christians were poor

But they were richBut they were rich

The Rich – Poor ChurchThe Rich – Poor Church

Poor in Money Poor in Money $$

Rich in faith – Jas. 2:5Rich in faith – Jas. 2:5

Poor before Men

Rich before God

BlasphemyBlasphemy

Spoke against ChristiansSpoke against Christians

Synagogue of SatanSynagogue of Satan

Those who act like the Those who act like the Devil are his servants !Devil are his servants !

“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Rev. 2:10Rev. 2:10

ProphecyProphecy

Fear Not – more trials to come

Devil cast into prison ten days

Be Faithful unto Death - martyr

Crown of Life

Polycarp

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” Rev. 2:11Rev. 2:11

PraisePraise

He that hath an earHe that hath an ear

Hear what the Spirit saithHear what the Spirit saith

Overcome – Overcome –

-- Not hurt by 2-- Not hurt by 2ndnd death death

The Unbeliever dies and finds The Unbeliever dies and finds another death awaiting him.another death awaiting him.

The Believer dies and finds The Believer dies and finds another life awaiting him!another life awaiting him!

1.1. I Know – Christ knows…I Know – Christ knows…

2.2. We will have tribulationsWe will have tribulations

3.3. Must be faithful to receive Must be faithful to receive crown of lifecrown of life

4.4. Fear the second deathFear the second death

Christ tasted death for every Christ tasted death for every man, so we would not have man, so we would not have to taste the second deathto taste the second death.

1 Ephesus1 Ephesus2 Smyrna2 Smyrna3 Pergamos3 Pergamos4 Thyatira4 Thyatira5 Sardis5 Sardis6 Philadelphia6 Philadelphia7 Laodicea7 Laodicea

Some of the Images are from www.HolyLandPhotos.org