Click on the name of one of the seven churches below for information on the message given to it in Revelation, what the city was like in New Testament times, and what the city is like today.
| Ancient Name (Modern Name) | Revelation Message | The Modern City | Related Sites |
| Ephesus (Ephesus or Efes) Visited |
Ephesus receives praise for its perseverance, but criticism for forsaking its "first love." (Rev. 2:1-7) | Ephesus is a major tourist destination and main stop for cruise lines due to its extensive archaeological ruins. | Basilica of St. John |
| Smyrna (Izmir) Not (really) Visited |
Smyrna's message speaks of false Jews and impending persecution, but encourages perseverance which will be rewarded. (Rev. 2:8-11) | Izmir is the 3rd largest city in Turkey, with 2.5 million people. It is known as the " Pearl of the Aegean" and is one of Turkey's most Westernized cities. | St. Polycarp Church
Archaeological Museum Izmir Agora |
| Pergamum (Bergama) Visited |
Pergamum, described as having the throne of Satan (the Zeus altar?), is praised for its martyrdom and perseverance but those who hold false teachings are criticized. (Rev. 2:12-17) | Bergama is a small modern village overlooked by many tourists. | Archaeology Museum
Zeus Altar (in Berlin Museum) |
| Thyatira (Akhisar) Not Visited |
Thyatira is praised for its increasing faith and service, but criticized for its tolerance of Jezebel, an immoral women who calls herself a prophetess. (Rev. 2:18-29) | The ruins of ancient Thyatira are in a fenced-off area in the center of modern Akhisar. | 4th-6th cent. public buildings |
| Sardis
Not Visited |
The church of Sardis is described as dead, and it must wake up. However, there are some who have not "soiled their clothes." (Rev. 3:1-6) | Sardis is about 50 miles east of Izmir, and is solely an archaeological site. A small village nearby is named Sart. | Sardis Synagogue
Temple of Artemis Byzantine Church |
| Philadelphia (Alasehir) Not Visited |
Philadelphia is praised for having little strength but still persevering. Those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are actually of the "synagogue of Satan," will be judged. (Rev. 3:7-13) | Alasehir is a small town of about 40,000 people with narrow winding streets and a Byzantine wall. Few ruins remain at the site of ancient Philadelphia. |
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| Laodicea (near Denizli) Not Visited |
The church of Laodicea is sharply criticized for being lukewarm. Its wealth hides its spiritual poverty. (Rev. 3:14-20) | Nearby Denizli is an attractive market town with a population of about 200,000. Laodicea is solely an archaeological site. | Stadium
Sarcophagi |
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