Ephesus - In His letter to the church at Ephesus Paul had warned the converts of the itinerant frauds because of the city's location as a trade route between Rome and the east (Act's 20:29).  The identity of the Nicolations has been lost for us but the comparison to those "who hold to teaching of Balaam"  (Jude 11 (NT), Numbers 22:23,31; 25:5; 31:8--not to be confused with Baal) later to the church of Pergamum suggests an antinomian group that allowed for participating in the pagan rituals of the day. Ephesus was the unique recipient of as many as eight New Testament books.  Their shortcoming was not that didn't have a commitment to orthodoxy but in that their love for the Lord was not what it had been.

Smyrna - The designation of the "first and last" is significant in its attribution to Jesus.  In Isaiah 44:6 it is attributed to Yahweh and used to demonstrate His sovereignty over the affairs of men and superiority to the idols of mens own making, therefore Jesus is seen as God's final revelation of Himself.  The city of Smyrna became the first city to build a temple to Dea Roma.  It also had a large Jewish population which was hostile to the Christian community and boasts one the most famous martyrdoms of early church history (aided by many non-Christian Jews), that of Polycarp, who refused to acknowledge Ceasar as Lord and renounce Jesus.  The church there also suffered severe economic deprivation as is evidenced by the choice of words "suffering and poverty" - extreme poverty is indicated by the choice of Greek words that is attributed to its suffering or tribulation.  This is poverty by way of persecution.  The Christians here were destitute because of their allegiance to Jesus.  "Under Domitian (A.D. 81-96) emperor worship was made compulsory for every Roman citizen.  Failure to comply meant death. Each year every citizen had to burn incense on Caesar's altar, after which was issued a certificate.  To be without a certificate, as must have been the case for Christians obedient to Christ, was to risk discovery and death by penalty...Joining hands with the Romans was a very large Jewish community in Smyrna. 
"Revelation an Exegetical Commentary" by Robert L. Thomas

As in even earlier times (and much later) the Christians held on lightly to their possesions as they were sometimes the victims of mobs and pillaging (Hebrews 10:33-34).  The overcomer is promised not to be hurt by the "second death".

Pergamum - It was in the city Pergamum that "four of the most important cults of the day - Zeus, Athene (the patron goddess), Dionysos, and Asklepios (who was designated Soter, Savior)" flourished.(Mounce)  It also served as the official center in Asia for the imperial cult and was the first city of Asia to be granted permission to build a temple dedicated to a living emporer in 29 BC. "Of all the seven cities, Pergamum was the one in which the church was most liable to clash with the imperial cult." (Mounce) The city was granted "the right of the sword" because of its elevated status, where the proconsul was allowed to execute at will.  This was the purpose of the ironic statement "These are the words of Him who has the sharp double-edged sword...", to emphasize the ultimate authority of Christ's judgements in the eternal scheme of things in contrast to Caesar's.  In fact in time, a second temple was built to another Roman emperor (Trajan) giving Pergamum the nick-name "Temple Sweeper", a dubious distinction to those of the Christian faith at that time! Not much is known of "Antipas my faithful witness" but legend has it that he was roasted to death in a bronze bull during the reign of Domitian.  We in fact do not know much from history about Domitian's treatment of Christians other than what can be conjectured from some extra-biblical references that are not themselves clear.  John's own exile and the reference to this martyrdom are perhaps the best direct evidence to survive, but Domitian's ego and the Christian faithful were destined to collide!  History is filled with endless men and women willing to give their lives for the King of Kings and Revelation is among other things a testament to the many "souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained"(Rev.6:9). Although we do not know their names or have records of their plights, God indeed knows...
"Thus Balaam became the prototype of all corrupt teachers who betrayed believers into fatal compromise with worldly ideologies." (Mounce).  In Pergamum Christians were in danger every day of the year in their refusal to burn incense to the emperor; a practice that this city took great pride in. The mention of "white stones" has cultural significance in the first century as "tickets" of admission to special feasts.  They would be given to the victors of games or to the gladiators who had performed to the crowds satisfaction and could then retire.

Thyatira - a "...commercial city with multiplied trade guilds outnumbering those in every other city.  Guilds for wool workers, linen workers, manufacturers of outer garments, dyers, leather workers, tanners, potters, bakers, slave dealers, and bronze smiths were known...Dyeing and manufacturing of woolen goods appears to have been a foremost industry of the city.  Lydia, "a seller of purple" (Acts 16:14), appears to have been an agent of a Thyatiran establishment who lived in Philippi." (Thomas)  The trade-guilds were the key to gainful employment as they often are in our own day (especially within the larger cities).  This was a key that may have often been out of reach to the Christian, depending on how seriously the guild would take their devotion to cult worship.  "The divine guardian of the city was the god Tyrimnos (identified with the Greek sun-god Appllo), who would be conceived of as the patron of the guilds and therefore honored in their festivities."(Mounce)  Christ as the true Son of God is in contrast here to the worship of Apollo and therefore Domitian, both who "were acclaimed sons of Zeus" (Mounce) "In a city whose economic life was dominated by trade guilds in which pagan religious practices had become criteria for membership, the Christian convert would be faced with the problem of compromising his stand at least enough to allow participation in a common meal dedicated to some pagan deity.  To reject this accomodation could mean social isolation and economic hardship."

    Jezebel is an O.T. reference to a queen who fostered idol worship among the
Israelites (I Kings 16:29, II Kings 9:30).  An idolatry marked by ritual prostitution (which would have been an abomination for God's people to participate in).  In the first century she is thought to be a "prominent woman within the church who, like her OT counterpart, was influencing the people of God to forsake loyalty to God by promoting a tolerance toward and involvement in pagan practices.  This extended to fornication and participation in the religious feasts connected with membership in trade guilds."

Sardis - "Such a location made Sardis as almost impregnable natural fortress militarily.  The small neck of land to the south provided the only access to the city, but even this was a steep, tedious, and winding climb, and so the city was easily defendable.  The
other sides of the city were smooth rock walls that were almost perpendicular, dropping down to the plain 1,500 feet below.  This provided an ideal stronghold...Croesus felt utterly secure in his impregnable situation atop the acropalis and foresaw an easy victory
over the Persians who were cornered among the perpendicular rocks in the lower city, an easy prey for the assembling Lydian army to crush.  After retiring one evening while the drama was unfolding, he awakened to discover that the Persians had gained control of the acropolis by scaling one-by-one the steep walls (549 B.C.).  So secure did the
Sardians feel that they left this means of access completely unguarded, permitting climbers to ascend unobserved.  It is said that even a child could have defended the city from this kind of attack, but not so much as one observer had been appointed to watch the side that was believed inaccessible. History repeated itself more than three and a half centuries later when Antiochus the Great conquered Sardis by utilizing the services of a sure-footed mountain climber from Crete (195 B.C.)." "The main industry of this period was the production of woolen goods. It is said to be the first city to perfect the art of dyeing wool." It is in the light of this setting that we must read the letter to Sardis.  These situations combined with its numerous allsusions to OT imagery, bring out the original intent of its meaning more dramatically and accurately.
 
Philadelphia - In the not too distant past Philadelphia had suffered a series of volcanoes tremors and an unparalleled earthquake which had destroyed neighboring Laodicea (the final church addressed).  These folks had already suffered so much and yet stayed faithful to Christ.  Domitian had ordered the destruction of half of their precious vineyards so as to promote the cultivation of more corn. Philadelphia is here reassured that they are the true Israel of God from the lineage of David.  This is in contrast to "the synagogue of Satan" who are obviously antagonizing Jews.  It appears as if these were persecutors of the believers in Yeshua (Jesus) as the promised messiah from King David's line.  But Jesus here reassures this suffering church with "I know your works - behold, I have given an opened door before you, which no one can shut..."; they are admitted to the only club that matters!

Laodicea - Take note that the major manufacturing trade in Laodicea were "a widely sought after soft wool that was glossy black in color." Thomas
The Roman government offered to rebuild the city after a devestating earthquake in AD 60 but it is thought that Laodicea received no aid unlike the surrounding cities because of the great wealth of the citizenry.  In fact the city was rebuilt with private funds and the surrounding cities were also given aid from the rich citizens of Laodicea who contributed "heavily"!  The city was also known for its school of medicine famous for its eye salves. It is in this setting that Jesus censures the church at this city with metaphors of great irony, that could communicate so effectively to its recipients.

This page is dedicated to Sallie for whom it was originally
written and who then kindly helped me to salvage
these notes. May she find peace and bright
hope in the richness of His grace.
Thanks again Sallie,
Nick Spano