Social & Cultural Context

of the book of Revelation

Nicholas Poussin Landscape with Saint John on Patmos c 1638-40 oil/canvas, 39 x 53.2 in Art Institute, Chicago

Grotto of the Apocalypse, where Saint John wrote the book of Revelation between 95-97 AD, Island of Patmos, Greece Initially built in the 4th century when the remains of the ancient shrine of the goddess Diana were used by monks to construct a church dedicated to Saint John. Destroyed between the 6th and 9th centuries by frequent raids by the Arabs. Reconstructed in 1088 when a Byzantine emperor granted the island to the monk Christodolous, whose intention it was to establish a monastery.

PatmosGrotto of theApocalypse

To whom is Revelationwritten?

Churches in:

Ephesus

Smyrna

Pergamum

Thyatira

Sardis

Philadelphia

Laodicea

Why was Revelationwritten? Why Ephesus?

Silver cistophorus of Claudius Greek, about AD 50-51 Minted at Ephesus, modern Turkey The statue of Diana of the Ephesians on a silver coin of the Roman emperor Claudius

In the New Testament book of the Acts of the Apostles, the story is told of St Paul's visit to the city of Ephesus. His preaching caused consternation, beginning among the silversmiths who made souvenirs of the famous Temple of Artemis (Diana) in the city. A rabble was roused who pursued Paul's companions in to the city's great theater. The crowd shouted 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians' for two hours without cessation. The secretary of the town council was forced to appear and remind the mob that 'all the world knows that our city of Ephesus is neokoros ('temple-warden') of the great Artemis and the statue that fell from Zeus'.

from the British Museum web site

Ephesus

Remains of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus  

 Acts 19:23-41 Paul's visit to Ephesus upsets the cult of Artemis. The silversmith Demetrius led a riot

Acts 19:28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.  

Two recently excavated statues of Artemis from the Temple district in Ephesus.

Ephesus

Acts 19:23-41 describes the disturbance Paul's visit to Ephesus made to the cult of Artemis. The silversmith Demetrius led a riot

Acts 19:28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.  

Theater at Ephesus, largest in Asia duringRoman times, seating 25,000

EphesusCelsus Library, 135 ADBuilt in 135 AD, it is a monumental tomb for Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, the governor of the province of Asia; from his son Galius Julius Aquila. Ephesus, TurkeyThe building was used as a library, the scrolls of the manuscripts were kept in cupboards in niches on the walls. There were double walls behind the bookcases, probably to protect the manuscripts from humidity. The capacity of the library was more than 12,000 scrolls. It was ruined and burned as a result of the invasion of the Goths in 265 AD.

Ephesus

Temple of Hadrian, built before 138 AD by P.Quintilius and was dedicated to the Emperor Hadrian, who came to visit the city from Athens in 128 A.D

Why was Revelation written?Why Ephesus?

Bronze coin of Ephesusreign of Roman emperor Macrinus, 217-218 AD.

As with many coins of this region and period it carries on the obverse (on the front) a portrait of the reigning emperor, and on the reverse a scene of local significance. The reverse of this coin bears a scene of sacrifice in front of a temple. Within the temple is a statue of a Roman emperor (it is unclear which one), indicating that the temple is dedicated to a deified Roman emperor. The possession of such an imperial temple was a source of much pride to provincial cities in the Roman world. Possession of an imperial cult entitled a city to the title neokoros ('temple-warden'). Ephesus was thus honored several times over: at the time of Macrinus the city was titled neokoros three times, and would be granted one more by the emperor Elagabalus (ruled AD 218-222).

from the British Museum web site

Seven Churches Sent Letters by JohnSeveral commentators (Dan Lioy, R.W. Wall, and M.W. Wilson) suggest the sequence of these letters may form a chiasm (X shape based on the Greek letter Chi) using parallels indicated below.

A. Ephesus (Rev 2:1-7) lack of zealB. Smyrna (Rev 2:8-11) endure affliction (no

condemnation)

C. Pergamum (Rev 2:12-17) tempted to compromise

D. Thyatira (Rev 2:18-29) doctrinal compromise

C1. Sardis (Rev 3:1-6) tempted to compromise

B1. Philadelphia (Rev 3:7-13) endure affliction (no condemnation)A1. Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22) lack of zeal

The shape of the chiasm gives emphasis to the central position, which is Thyatira, the church given the longest admonition and most serve rebuke for its most grievous sin of doctrinal compromise. Since these letters were to be heard by all (“let him who has ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” plural) then this would serve as a warning to all the churches who received these letters, and indeed, all who the text placed in Scripture.

I. Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7)1. Addressee: angel of the church in Ephesus 2. Christ’s self-designation: him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lamp-stands3. Commendation: I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be false. I also know that you are enduring patiently and bearing up for the sake of my name, and that you have not grown weary4. Condemnation: But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5. Warning and threat (demand for repentance): Remember then from what you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this is to your credit: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.6. Exhortation: Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. 7. Promise: (rewards from closing chaps. 20-22): To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.

Baptistery for adults, 5th - 6th century AD, Church of St Mary the Virgin (also known as Church of the Councils, first council of the churches held here in 431 AD), Ephesus

Ephesus

Ephesus

Basilica of St. John, built in the 6th century AD, under emperor Justinian, over the supposed site of the apostle's tomb.

Ephesus

Basilica of St. John built 6th cent AD,

under emperor Justinian, over supposed site of the apostle's tomb.

Ephesus

Basilica of St. John, built in the 6th century AD, under emperor Justinian, over the supposed site of the apostle's tomb.

II. Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11)1. Addressee: angel of the church in Smyrna2. Christ’s self-designation: These are the words of the first and the last, who was dead and came to life.3. Commendation: I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich. I know the slander on the part of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.4. Condemnation: none5. Warning: Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction.6. Exhortation: Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.7. Promise: Whoever conquers will not be harmed by the second death.

SmyrnaAgora, SmyrnaSmyrna was regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in Asia Minor, called the “crown of Mt. Pegus” which it is built on. Christ’s offer of a crown of life may be a play on that title. Originally built in 1000 BC as a Greek colony, it was reduced to a village when sacked in 600 BC by the Lydians. Rebuilt by Lysimachus in 200 BC, Smyrna had to choose its allies carefully, and was by Cicero’s account “the most faithful and oldest of Rome’s allies.” Hence the exhortation to “be faithful, even to the point of death” to Christ

Smyrna

Agora, Smyrna

Smyrna

Arch with head of Agostina, Agora, Smyrna

Smyrna

Bronze coin of Smyrna, reign of emperor CaracallaRoman, AD 211-217 From Smyrna, modern TurkeyAs with many coins of this region and period it carries on the obverse (on the front) a portrait of the reigning emperor, and on the reverse depiction of three of the city's temples: those dedicated to Roma, Tiberius and Hadrian (other specimens have the initial letters of three deities within the pediments). The legend on the reverse of the coin proclaims the city as three times neokoros ('temple-warden'), an echo of three temples in the design and indicating that the city had been granted three imperial cults. This was a source of local civic pride, and the insistence on it in coin design may, in part, have been spurred by rivalry with nearby Ephesos, also thrice neocorate at this period.

from the British Museum web site

III. Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-17)1. Addressee: angel of the church in Pergamum 2. Christ’s self-designation: These are the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.3. Commendation: I know where you are living, where Satan's throne is. Yet you are holding fast to my name, and you did not deny your faith in me even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan lives.4. Condemnation: But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel, so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and practice fornication. Also you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.5. Warning: Repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and make war against them with the sword of my mouth.6. Exhortation: Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. 7. Promise: To everyone who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.

c230-220 BC Epigonos (?) Dying Gaul, from Pergamon Roman copy marble, life size National Museum, Rome

c230-220 BC Epigonos (?) Dying Chieftan & WifeFrom Pergamon Roman copy of bronze originalmarble, life size National Museum, Rome

Pergamum

Statues commemorating the Pergamum King, Attalos I's, victories over the Gauls in 233 and 228 BC

Pergamum

c175 BC Altar of Zeus & Athena, from Pergamon marble State Museum, Berlin

c175 BC Athena & AlcyoneosAltar of Zeus & Athena marble, h: 102” State Museum, Berlin

Pergamum the Roman capital city of Asia Minor

Pergamum acropolis with Temple of Trajan and theater most prominent features

Pergamum

Pergamum library renown for its size, second to only Alexandria in the ancient world with more than 200, 000 volumes.

Pergamum

Temple dedicated to Trajan indicating worship of the emperor was an issue here as well

Pergamum

Temple dedicated to Trajan, Pergamum

Pergamum

Asklepion, PergamumTemple dedicated to the Greek god of healing, whose symbol of intertwined snakes may cause this city to be referred to as “the throne of Satan.”

Asklepios, from Epidaros

cistophorus, silver coin Kingdom of Pergamon, 2c BC

IV. Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-28)1. Addressee: angel of the church in Thyatira 2. Christ’s self-designation: These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.3. Commendation: I know your works-your love, faith, service, and patient endurance. I know that your last works are greater than the first.4. Condemnation: But I have this against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and is teaching and beguiling my servants to practice fornication and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her fornication.5. Warning: Beware, I am throwing her on a bed, and those who commit adultery with her I am throwing into great distress, unless they repent of her doings; and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden; only hold fast to what you have until I come.6. Promise: To everyone who conquers and continues to do my works to the end, I will give authority over the nations; to rule them with an iron rod, as when clay pots are shattered even as I also received authority from my Father. To the one who conquers I will also give the morning star. 7. Exhortation: Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

Thyatira smallest of the cities addressed, located in a valley, it was a point of protection east of Pergamum, the Roman capital city of Asia Minor.

Thyatira was a city of communication, connecting the Caicus and Hermus valleys.It also had various trades, particularly associated with wool dying and selling. Lydia, a convert of Paul (Acts 16:14), with these trades was from this city.

V. Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6)1. Addressee: angel of the church in Sardis 2. Christ’s self-designation: These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.3. Condemnation: I know your works; you have a name of being alive, but you are dead. 4. Commendation: Yet you have still a few persons in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; they will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.5. Warning: Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. Remember then what you received and heard; obey it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.6. Promise: If you conquer, you will be clothed like them in white robes, and I will not blot your name out of the book of life; I will confess your name before my Father and before his angels.7. Exhortation: Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

Sardis

Sanctuary of Artemis, c 300 BC temple construction began, continuing for centuries. The cults of Zeus and the Roman Imperial Family may have been conducted here also, since the cella has been divided. In 17 AD an earth quake may have required restoration.

Sardis

Sardis gymnasium / bath complex, completed c150 AD

Sardis

Sardis synagogue, built 230-250 AD and renovated in 4th century

VI. Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13)1. Addressee: angel of the church in Philadelphia .2. Christ’s self-designation: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.3. Condemnation: none4. Commendation: I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.5. Warning: I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 6. Promise: Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.7. Exhortation: Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

PhiladelphiaWas founded in 159 BC by Attalus Philadelphia of Pergamum, who was loyal to his brother Fumenes, hence the name refers to brotherly love. It was regarded by the Romans as a gateway to the east, as roads extended from it towards the orient.In 92 AD Domitian, the emperor when John wrote Revelation, ordered half of the vineyards of the area to be cut so grain could be grown, showing his royal patronage to be very unfaithul. By contrast, John commends Christ to Philadelphia as a ruler who is “holy and true.”

Remains of ancient Gateway

Philadelphia

Remains of ancient church dating from 5th century

Philadelphia

Remains of ancient church

VII. Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22)1. Addressee: angel of the church in Laodicea.2. Christ’s self-designation: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God's creation.3. Condemnation: I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. For you say, 'I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.' You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 4. Commendation: none.5. Warning: Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich; and white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen; and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. I reprove and discipline those whom I love. Be earnest, therefore, and repent. 6. Promise: Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.7. Exhortation: Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

LaodiceaFamous for its hot springs, and known as a place of healing, also had a school of medicine with remedy for weak eyes.Prosperous from wool of black sheep in the area, it became a very wealthy commercial and financial center. In their own minds quite well off and self-satisfied, yet John condemns this church for being luke-warm, blind and poor.

Roman ruins of Laodicea

Laodicea

Roman ruins of Laodicea

Laodicea

Roman ruins of Laodicea

Laodicea

Roman ruins of Laodicea, with some of the elaborate carving testimony to the wealth of the city