​Discover the profound depths of the Book of Revelation, penned by John, one of Jesus' devoted disciples. Departing from his homeland in Israel, John settled in Ephesus, a bustling hub in Asia Minor's heart. John shepherded six other vibrant churches from this location, strategically positioned along the ancient world's trade routes.

Join us as we travel back in time, envisioning ourselves as residents of those ancient cities and rediscovering the seven poignant letters addressed to these historic churches through the lens of their first-century cultural context. As we immerse ourselves in the text, we seek to grasp the subtle nuances, the cultural references, and the echoes of a bygone era that resonate throughout John's writing.

Imagine the past whispers echoing through those ancient cities' corridors. What hidden truths embedded in their history and culture did John intend for his contemporaries to grasp? The Book of Revelation resounds with significance, a symphony of messages that reverberated deeply within the hearts of its original audience.

Yet, for modern ears, much remains veiled in obscurity. Our quest in this study is to unravel the layers of meaning to unearth the gems of wisdom buried within the text. Prepare to be astounded as we uncover the rich tapestry of symbolism, prophecy, and divine revelation woven into the fabric of this apocalyptic book. 

Through this journey, I aim to revive John's message's essence, reclaiming its relevance for our spiritual pilgrimage today. 
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Join me as we embark on a transformative expedition, rediscovering the timeless truths illuminating our path toward a deeper communion with God.

This initial lesson will introduce you to the seven churches. I also provide an example of the approach we are going to take to the text each week. 

One of the central concepts that occur throughout this study is that John speaks "text to context." This phrase comes from Ray Vanderlaan of That the World May Know Ministries. Ray was the leader on our tour. 

John is going to take the words - and the associated meaning - of the Old Testament and intertwine them with references to the local context.

This combination creates a powerful way to convey biblical principles to an audience entrenched in Greco-Roman culture. ​

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​The city of Sardis was one of the great cities of the ancient world. 

The city's history goes back at least a thousand years before John arrived in Asia, so John has a deep well of colorful history to draw his analogies.

The city of Sardis also happens to be mentioned in the Old Testament. John, of course, zeroes in on this reference and brings a message directly to the church. 

Studying Sardis first - even though it is the fifth church on the list - provides us with fantastic imagery of how John connects the local context to the Old Testament text. ​

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​Today's lesson is part one of three videos on the city of Pergamum. The city is so large and important that we couldn't do it in one lesson. 

Pergamum was the capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor. 

It was the first city to build a worship site for Caesar Augustus as part of the Imperial Cult. 

The city was full of temples and gods of every sort.  We explore many of the gods and explore why John refers to the town as "Satan's Throne."  

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List of Roman Emperors with Jesus' Disciples/Apostles - Click Here

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