Unlocking Revelation

Transcription

1 Unlocking Revelation Session 3 If you re reading this Having already examined the letters to the churches of Ephesus, Pergamum, and Thytira, in Session 1 & 2, the focus of Session 3 centres on the churches of Smyrna, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (the 2 nd, 5 th, 6 th, & 7 th addressed respectively). The Church in Smyrna Name meaning: The city name Smyrna (smihr' nuh), was derived from the local word for myrrh, a small tree that grows abundantly in the region. Myrrh is a bitter gum and costly perfume which exudes from a certain tree or shrub in Arabia and Ethiopia, or is obtained by incisions made in the bark. As an antiseptic it was used for embalming. Location: A large ancient city on the western coast of Asia Minor, located on a deep sheltered bay of the Aegean Sea, which reaches 30 miles inland, and at the head of one of the chief highways to the interior, which came from the east (Syria, India, China) to Laodicea, and from there to Smyrna via Philadelphia and Sardis on the Hermes River. Like Pergamum, Smyrna was built under an acropolis, Mt. Pagus, which rose more than five hundred feet above the city. Its summit was crowned with a garland of magnificent buildings known as the crown of Smyrna. Smyrna, is the site of modern day Izmir, Turkey. Est. Population: 100, 000 History: Smyrna is by far the oldest city on the Aegean coast. The earliest levels are contemporary with the oldest levels of ancient Troy (c BCE). Legend says Smyrna was founded by the queen of the Amazons, a mythical nation of women soldiers. Other stories hold that the first settlement was built by the Leleges, a roving tribe of pirates. It was a prosperous town in the 7th century BCE. The poet Homer, whose birthplace is claimed by several cities (including Smyrna), is thought to have written the Iliad here between BCE. The city was sacked by the Lydian king Alyattes about 600 BC and again by the Persians around 545 BCE. Afterward Smyra was an unimportant scattering of villages until 334 BCE when it was seized by Alexander the Great, who moved it to its present location. This new city--the Smyrna of the Bible--grew and became an important center. After the time of Alexander, the city was taken by the King of Pergamum. Still later, after the fall of Pergamum, it

2 passed into the hands of Rome. Even before the founding of the Roman Empire, the city was a faithful ally to Rome. The city never wavered in its loyalty to Rome, and the emperors protected Smyrna and contributed heavily to its development. The gospel probably reached the city during Paul's third missionary journey, when Ephesus was the base for his missionary activities. Economy: After its relocation. Smyrna became a great trading-centre and the chief port for the export trade. It was celebrated for its schools of science and medicine, and known throughout the empire for its beauty and for the magnificence of its public buildings. [In Roman times, Smyrna was considered the most brilliant city of Asia Minor, successfully rivalling Pergamum and Ephesus.] The city was sometimes called the crown of Ionia and a crown was seen on its coinage. Religion: In approx. 26 CE a temple was built in honor of Tiberius and his mother Julia [the city won out over several area cities for the right to build this temple, and from then on it became a center for the cult of emperor worship]. Other deity worship included Zeus and Cybele (who also became associated with Artemis), Poseidon and Demeter. The Church in Sardis Name Meaning: name means "red ones". The name Sardis (sahr' dihs) is that of the stone, sardius (Greek: sardinos; carnelian). The semi-precious stone is orange-brown but reflects deep red when light is passed through. Location: As one of the oldest cities of Asia Minor, the city lay along a highway that stretched from the Persian city of Susa, following a parallel course to the Tigris River, passing through Cappadocia to Sardis. Located in the Hermus Valley (modern R. Gediz) on the banks of a southern tributary, the Pactolus (modern Sart Cay) and north of the range of the Tmolus Mountains (modern Bozdag). It is about 30 miles southeast of Thyatira and about 45 miles of Izmir (Smyrna). Est. Population: 120, 000 History: The site of Sardis, provides evidence of human activity as early as the Palaeolithic period (ca. 50,000 BCE). By the late second millennium BCE, a modest community existed at the foot of the acropolis. It s origins became the stuff of legends as according to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, the "sons of Herakles" founded a dynasty that remained in power for "505 years, son succeeding father from generation to generation Despite myth, Sardis was certainly once the capital of Lydia, one of the richest kingdoms of the ancient world [credited with developing gold coinage], and was later [ie. 499 BCE] occupied by Greeks from Ephesus and in Above: Burial mounds in the Lydian royal cemetery at Bin Tepe: view across the Hermus river plain, towards Sardis and the Tmolus mountain range. Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/Harvard University 1996

3 334 BC it was captured by Alexander the Great and developed into an important stronghold. After its destruction by Antiochus III it was rebuilt and became part of the kingdom of Pergamum. Thereafter it came under Roman control (133 BCE) which brought a period of prosperity. But, a devastating earthquake in 17 CE ruined Sardis physically and financially. Historians, including Strabo and Eusebius, described the destruction: "the greatest earthquake in human memory;" it "severely harmed Sardis;" twelve cities were destroyed in one night, but the "disaster was harshest to the citizens of Sardis." Although emperor Tiberius, contributed great sums in relief, Sardis never recovered its prestige, and was only partially rebuilt. As a result the city suffered economically began to decay. In 26 CE, it lost the right to neighbouring Smyrna to build a temple to Tiberius. Although the city continued to boast of its former glory, it was, in reality, dead and living in the past. Economy: The ancient city was noted for its fruits and wool. In fact, it was an economic stronghold of the wool industry with its wealth partly due to the gold, which was found in the sand of the river Pactolus. Other important trades included textiles, jewellery, and the dye industry. Religion: Prior to 17 CE, Sardis was a major centre for the worship of Cybele (later evolved into worship of Artemis), and worship of the emperor. The Church in Philadelphia Name meaning: (fihl uh dehl' fih uh) Place name meaning, love of brother. Location: Ancient Philadelphia, was situated about 100 miles due east of Smyrna on the Cogamis River, a tributary of the Hermus. It stood upon a terrace 650 ft. above the sea. It stood on two important roads, one leading from Smyrna to the East, another coming from Rome via Pergamum and Sardis History: When compared to similar cities of Anatolia (the ancient name for Turkey), Philadelphia was a relatively young city. Established in 189 BCE, it guarded an important pass through the mountains between the Hermus and Meander river valleys. The city's founder, King Eumenes II of Pergamum ( BCE), named it out of love for his brother and successor Attalus II ( BCE), whose trustworthiness and loyalty earned him the nickname, "Philadelphos" ("one who loves his brother"). Eumanes established Philadelphia as a missionary city to spread Greek the language and customs throughout the eastern parts of Lydia and Phrygia. His intent was to promote a unity of spirit and loyalty throughout his realm. Lacking an heir, Attalus III Philometer, the last of the Attalid kings of Pergamum, bequeathed his kingdom, including Philadelphia, to his Roman allies when he Above: a look from the valley towards ancient Philadelphia, modern Alasehir ("white hill"), Turkey. Above (bottom): Agricultural plantations Above (centre): The terrace upon which the ancient city rested

4 died in 133 BCE. In 129 BCE Rome set up the province of Asia by combining Ionia and the former Kingdom of Pergamum. In 17 CE a great earthquake destroyed Philadelphia along with eleven other area cities and continued to experience dangerous tremors for the next twenty years, keeping the citizens in a state of fear. In gratitude for the aid given by the emperor Tiberius for rebuilding the city after the earthquake, the citizens changed their city's name to Neoceasarea, new (city of) Caesar. During the reign of Vespasian (69-79 CE), it was called Philadelphia Flavia, after the emperor's family name. Economy: All east-west trade passed through Philadelphia making it a thriving commercial centre, not to mention the volcanic cliffs behind it, which the Turks have given the name of Devitt, or inkwells ; on the other side of the city which rendered the land exceedingly fertile, for the production of wine, agriculture, wool, and textiles. Religion: An inscription from Philadelphia mentions a number of gods and goddesses. Zeus, the chief god, was said to have commanded people to be pure and to refrain from deceit, murder, theft, adultery, and other types of evil. There was an altar to Hestia, the goddess of hearth and home. The inscription also mentions the saviour gods, including Good Fortune, Virtue, Health, and other deities. The Church in Laodicea Name meaning: Laodicea (La-odd-i-ce-a) A combination of the Greek laos (lah-os) and dike (dee'-kay), meaning "justice of the people;" modern Eskihisar,"old castle." Location: A city of southwest Asia Minor situated in the Lycos valley in the province of Phrygia, located two important roads passed through the city, one from the ports of Ephesus and Miletus (about a 100 miles to the west) to Syria, and another from Pergamum south to the Mediterranean coast. It was one of three cities in the fertile Lycus River valley-- Colossae was 10 miles to the east, and Hierapolis, famous for its thermal baths, 6 miles to the north. The one drawback to Laodicea's location was its lack of a local water supply. It had neither the cool well water of nearby Colossae nor the healing, hot water springs of Hierapolis across the Lycus valley. Water had to be piped in via an aqueduct from the Baspinar Spring five miles to the south (now in the town of Denizli). By the Above: View of aqueduct piping which carried water to the city of Laodicea. time the water arrived it was tepid--neither hot nor cold. The city's lukewarm, mineral-laden water was suitable only as a means to induce vomiting ("spit you out," from Greek emeo, literally "to vomit, throw up). History: Laodicea was founded between 261 and 253 BCE on an earlier site known as Diospolis by Antiochus II, one of the Seleucid kings who ruled Syria after the death of Alexander the Great. Antiochus named the city for his wife Laodice (whom he divorced in 240 BCE). It was more accurately known as Laodicea ad Lyceum ("on-the-lycus") to distinguish it from at least six other cities with the same name. The city subsequently became part of the kingdom of Pergamum (about

5 190 BCE, at which point it became a great and wealthy centre of industry) and later (133 BCE) became a Roman possession. In 26 CE Laodicea was among several cities in Asia competing for the honour of erecting a temple to emperor Tiberius, but it lost out to Smyrna. Only later, during the reigns of Commodus and Carcalla, was it granted the coveted title of "Temple-Warden." In the year 60 CE, the city was almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake, but so wealthy were its citizens that they rejected the proffered aid of Rome, and quickly rebuilt it at their own expense. Economy: Laodicea earned its wealth in the textile industry in the production of black wool and in the banking industry. Laodicea was also known for its medical school, which concocted a spice nard for the treatment of ears and an eye-salve. Religion: Zeus, often called "Saviour" because of the benefits he was said to provide, was one of the principal deities worshiped in Laodicea. Apollo, the son of Zeus, was known for sending messages through oracles. There was a shrine to Apollo at Claros. Delegations from Laodicea would go to the shrine each year seeking guidance from Apollo. Laodicea was also home to Jewish who had been relocated there following the period of the Babylonian and Persian exiles. Something to think about Having considered the historical context of these particular churches, consider the following in regards to the letters addressed to each church (Rev. 2:8-11; 3): How does Jesus identify himself to each church? Why might his choice of image matter in each case? What does Jesus know about each church and point to as praise-worthy? Why might that matter in each case? What other connection(s) does Jesus make in these letters? What does Jesus also know about each church and point to as problems? Why might they matter? What warning does Jesus offer each church? Why might it matter? What advice and/or promise does Jesus offer those in each church? Why and/or how might it matter? In each case, how might Jesus choice of words and/or imagery impact, or connect to the congregation to whom he is writing? Why might such connections matter?

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