We’re ready for our first full day of the study tour. Ephesus is about 90 minutes south of Izmir. Along the way, our guide provided interesting information about modern Turkey. Just like with Israel, there’s a big difference between what we see on the news and reality.

Ephesus was one of the Crown Jewels of the Roman Empire in Asia Minor and a very significant location in the New Testament.
  • Acts 19:1 tells of Paul’s arrival in Ephesus from Corinth
  • Acts 19:21-41 tells of the riot instigated by Demetrius the silversmith. Paul and team we’re having so much success here that the local idol-making business was threatened. Sometimes when the world screams in insanity we just have to let them scream. Don’t cast pearls before swine.
  • The book of Ephesians reminds us that we we’re chosen by God and blessed with every spiritual blessing, but…
  • Revelation 2 says this Church left their first love.
    • I’ve always understood that they "lost that lovin feeling," but if we read carefully, they didn’t passively lose it. They actively LEFT it.
    • A relationship with Jesus became less of a priority for them.
    • Today there is no lamp stand in Ephesus.
    • They didn’t follow Paul’s advice, because…
  • Back in Ephesians 6, he gave them the prescription.
    • Eph 6:11Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
  • Revelation 2 begs a self assessment. After each letter, we need to ask how we’re doing . In the case of Ephesus are we getting so busy in the service of the King that we have no time for the King? Are we exhausted from shouting at a pagan world that is not able to hear? Or are we growing closer to him daily and learning to love our neighbors no matter what? Are we checking our armor daily?
Below is the grand library, the 30000 seat theatre where we believe the Artemis riot took place, and the marble paved street that led traffic to and from the harbor.

Quick devotion from Ephesus



After this we had a delicious Turkish lunch followed by a demonstration of handmade Turkish rugs. They also had an Anatolian Shepherd that looked and acted exactly like our Bonnie who we had to say goodbye to about a month ago.


Our final stop was the relatively small excavations at ancient Smyrna. Jesus’ letter to Smyrna is the 2nd of the seven letters in Revelation 2-3.
This site doesn’t "wow" like Ephesus, or Caesarea in Israel.

But that is fitting. Smyrna was the persecuted church. They thought they had nothing. They were probably surprised Jesus wrote to them. Certainly they were not a big deal like the heavy hitters of Ephesus to the south and Pergamum up north (tomorrow’s stop). Plus, they were suffering. I wonder if people told them it was because they didn’t have enough faith.

In that day, all they had to do was offer a pinch of incense to Emperor Nero and say he’s "Lord and God." They were told, "you don’t even have to mean it. Just say it and we won’t have any problems."

Faced with losing everything including your life, what would you do? How many of us would compromise?

In their letter, Jesus didn’t promise health and wealth. Instead He said:
  • I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich),
  • Do not fear what you are about to suffer.
  • Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
  • The one who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death. (Rev 2:8-11)

Jesus wants no compromise with evil or idolatry. While our focus may be on our culture in America, there are believers losing their lives for their beliefs every day. Smyrna reminds us to pray for the persecuted churches in our world today.

🙏

Quick devotion from Smyrna


See also