Steve and I never expected to visit Turkey. But when Joel Richardson Ministries offered a “Seven Churches of Revelation” land and yacht tour through Turkey and Patmos, we felt led to go. It wasn’t until we arrived that we began to understand the spiritual richness of this land.
Biblically known as “Asia,” Turkey holds incredible history. Noah’s ark came to rest on Mount Ararat in the east. Terah, with Abram, Sarai, and Lot, settled in Haran in the southeast. Saul of Tarsus (Paul) was born in Turkey, and believers were first called Christians in Antioch. Paul spent years preaching in Ephesus, and all seven churches of Revelation were located in western Turkey. In fact, biblical events occurred in at least 36 cities or regions within modern-day Turkey.
Despite its importance, many Christians shy away from Revelation, saying it’s frightening or hard to understand. But Revelation 1:3 offers a clear promise: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it.” This blessing still applies today.
The book begins: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants…” In the New Testament, “bond-servant” refers to all who serve Jesus. That means Revelation was written for every servant of Christ—to reveal, teach, and encourage us.
Some believe the letters in Revelation were only meant for the ancient churches in Asia. Yet we accept Paul’s letters to the Romans or Corinthians as meaningful for us today. Why then ignore the letters of Jesus Himself to His churches?
Revelation 1:5 says Jesus is the One “who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” If you belong to Him, then these words are meant for you. When Jesus told John to write to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, He instructed him to send the entire scroll—Revelation—to all of them. It was intended to circulate among believers.
Jesus repeated, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” He wasn’t only speaking to one congregation, but to every servant of Christ across all churches.
Interestingly, Turkey has no ruins of First to Third Century church buildings. That’s because early Christians met in homes. Excavations in Laodicea uncovered a large house church, and Paul wrote of the church in Nymphas’ house in Colossians 4:15. Saul of Tarsus searched “house to house” to arrest believers.
Just as we apply Paul’s words today, we must learn from Jesus’ messages. He praised faith, love, service, and endurance. He also rebuked spiritual complacency, compromise, and sin. But He always offered a path back—urging repentance, perseverance, and promise of reward for those who overcome.
Revelation reveals Jesus, the Overcomer from Genesis 3:15, crushing the serpent. As we read it, we gain strength to overcome the enemy, walk in faithfulness, and look forward to our eternal reward.
View the entire article with photos in Go! Christian Magazine online HERE.
