Patmos to Seven Churches survey

While John was in exile on Patmos, he received a revelation from Jesus. Though most Bible readers read Revelation searching for clues about the future, it’s important to note how it begins. There are seven letters to “churches” in Asia Minor, an area we know as southwestern Turkey. None of the “churches” had buildings. Instead, small groups of Christ followers met in homes or open areas. During periods of persecution, such gatherings would have been very dangerous. References to persecution can be seen in some of the letters. In all of them, there is a warning against compromise, despite the persecution. The most obvious thing the land can teach us about the seven letters is that they were given in order of what might be called the mail delivery route. A courier carrying copies of Revelation on John’s behalf would have first come to Ephesus after leaving Patmos. The mountains and valleys of the region dictated which letter would be delivered next, from Smyrna as the second recipient to Laodicea as the last. From an archaeological perspective, the three most impressive stops along the way are Ephesus, Pergamon, and Laodicea.