1st Day: The Suffering Church, the Compromising Church, and the Adulterous Church

• After we meet in Izmir, we will visit Smyrna, “the suffering church” (“Do not be afraid of anything that you are going to suffer. Indeed, the devil will throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will face an ordeal for ten days”). Smyrna is also home to the great 2nd-century Bishop Polycarp, who was burned alive at the age of 85.
• Following our time in Izmir, we will enjoy a scenic 1-hour and 30-minute drive to Pergamon, where we will have lunch at one of the local restaurants in this beautiful historical city.
• After lunch, we will drive up to the acropolis of Pergamum, known as “the compromising church.” Revelation 2:12-16 describes the city as “where Satan’s seat is,” a reference to the Altar of Zeus. Here, we will visit the site where the Altar once stood—today it is housed in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. You can read my essay about the Zeus Altar. Along with the altar site, we will explore the Temple of Trajan, the steepest theater of the ancient world, and the second-largest library of antiquity.
• ​Then, we will proceed to Thyatira, “the adulterous church” that, as mentioned in Revelation, tolerated the false prophet Jezebel (Rev. 1:11; 2:18-29). Today, the ancient ruins lie right beneath the modern town of Akhisar. We will visit the remaining ruins of ancient Thyatira, the hometown of Lydia seller of purple-cloth, who was also a worshiper of God (Acts 16:14).
• After the tour, we will have a 1-hour drive for our overnight stay in Sardis.

2nd Day: The Dead Church, the Faithful Church, and the Lukewarm Church

• After breakfast, we will take a short drive to Sardis, “the dead church,” another of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Jesus told Sardis, “I know thy works, that thou hast a name, that thou livest, and art dead” (Rev. 3:1-6). We will visit the Temple of Artemis, who was the patron goddess in Sardis as well as in Ephesus. Then, you will see one of the largest synagogues of the ancient world. There was a significant Jewish population in Sardis, and you can read my essay about the Jews in Asia here.
• Next, we will have a short drive to Philadelphia, one of the best churches, as God did not have any criticism for this church, which is located in the modern-day town of Alaşehir. Excavations are ongoing in this ancient site, and today we can visit the few remaining ruins and the St. John Church.
• After visiting “the faithful church” of Philadelphia, we will proceed to Laodicea, the church chastised for being lukewarm—“You are neither cold nor hot” (Rev. 3:15)—and for being too comfortable incorporating pagan and Christian beliefs. To gain a deeper understanding of the Laodicea Church, you can visit my blog page here.
• After the tour, we will head to Pamukkale for our overnight stay.

3rd Day: Pamukkale (Hierapolis) – Colossae

• After breakfast, we will visit the ancient city of Hierapolis—the “Sacred City,” located at present-day Pamukkale in southwestern Turkey. The city is mentioned in Paul’s epistle to the Colossians (Col. 4:13). Before AD 70, Philip (either the apostle or the evangelist) moved to Hierapolis, where he is believed to have been martyred. You will explore the magnificent ancient ruins of Hierapolis, soak your feet, and enjoy the lukewarm thermal pools.
• From Hierapolis, we will proceed to Colossae. Its biblical significance lies in the fact that the Epistle to the Colossians was addressed to the church here (Col. 1:2) and that Philemon lived in this city. Excavations have not yet started in this area, so we will visit the unexcaveted tell.
• Afterwards, we will enjoy a lunch break at a local restaurant with a view of Pamukkale. Following lunch, we will have about a 2-hour and 30-minute drive to Kuşadası for our overnight stay.

4th Day: The Loveless Church, House of the Virgin Mary & Basilica of St. John

• We will step into the footsteps of St. Paul and walk the ancient marble streets of Ephesus—renowned as the "loveless church" and the most important of the Seven Churches of Revelation. During our exploration, you will see iconic ancient ruins such as the famous Celsus Library, the Temple of Hadrian, and the magnificent Grand Theater where the historic Ephesus Riot took place when Demetrius incited the crowd against Paul and the Christians (Acts 19:23-41).
• Following this, we will visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where she is believed to have spent her final years, and the monumental Basilica of St. John, also known as the Church of St. John the Theologian, where his burial place is located.
• After the tour, we will arrange a smooth transfer to the airport or your hotel in the area.