After the re-foundation of Thyatira (Akhisar) by Seleucus Nicator, one of the generals of Alexandre the Great, in the 3rd century B.C. it became a commercial city. It had many trade guilds which had members in certain unions like tailors, woolworkers, tanners, potter, bakers etc.. However these guilds were related with the pagan religions in Thyatira.

   The city was located 80km away from Smyrna. What can be seen belonging to ancient times are only the Temple of Apollo, an ancient church and a colonnaded road. St John spoke out to the Christian citizens of Thyatira and the church in his book as below:

Thyatira 

(2:18) To the angel of the church in Thyatira write :
This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes blaze like fire, whose feet shine like polished brass.
(2:19) I know what you do. I know your love, your faithfulness, your service, and your patience. I know that you are doing more now than you did at first.
(2:20) But this is what I have against you : you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a messenger of God. By her teaching she misleads my servants into practicing sexual immortality and eating food that has been offered to idols.
(2:21) I have her time to repent of her sins, but she does not want to turn from her immortality.
(2:22) And so I will throw her on a bed where she and those who committed adultery with her will suffer terribly. I will do this now unless they repent of the wicked things they did with her.
(2:23) I will also kill her followers, and then all the churches will know that I am the one who knows everyone's thoughts and wishes. I will repay each one of you according to what he has done.
(2:24) But the rest of you in Thyatira have not followed this evil teaching; you have not learned what the others call 'the deep secrets of Satan.' I say to you that I will not put any other burden on you.
(2:25) But until I come, you must hold firmly to what you have.
(2:26-28) To those who win the victory, who continue to the end to do what I want, I will give the same authority that I received from my Father : I will give them authority over the nations, to rule them with and iron rod and to break them to pieces like clay pots. I will also give them the morning star.
(2:29) If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!

   Smyrna (Izmir) has a history dating back to the 3rd Millennium B.C. However most of the ruins could only date back to 178 A.D. because of the very effective earthquake in the area which destroyed many buildings. During the persecution of Christians in Smyrna in 156 the famous bishop of Christian Church Polycorp and eleven other Christians were burned at the stake. St John spoke out t the Christians of Smyrna in his book 60 years before the persecutions in Smyrna.

(2:8) To the angel of the church in Smyrna write :
This is the message from the one who is the first and the last, who died and lived again.
(2:9) I know your troubles; I know that you are poor but really you are rich! I know the evil things said against you by those who claim to be Jews but are not; they are a group that belongs to Satan! Don't be afraid of anything you are about to suffer. Listen! The Devil will put you to test by having some of you thrown into prison, and your troubles will last ten days. Be faithful to me, even if it means death, and I will give you life as your prize of victory. If you have ears, then listen to what the Spirit says to the churches! Those who win the victory will not be hurt by the second death.

   Sardis is located on the motorway between Ankara and Izmir which was the capital of famous kingdom Lydia. In his book St John wrote to the Christians of Sardis:

(3:1) To the angel of the church in Sardis write :
This is the message from the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know what you are doing; I know that you have the reputation of being alive, even though you are dead!
(3:2) So wake up, and strengthen what you still have before it dies completely. For I find that what you have done is not yet perfect in the sight of my God.
(3:3) Remember, then, what you were taught and what you heard; obey it and turn from your sins. If you do not wake up, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not even know the time when I will come.
(3:4) But a few of you there in Sardis have kept your cloths clean. You will walk with me, clothed in white, because you are worthy to do so.
(3:5) Those who win the victory will be clothed like this in white, and I will not remove their names from the book of the living. In the presence of my Father and of his angels I will declare openly that they belong to me.
(3:6) If you have ears, then, listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches!

Philadelphia 

   Philadelphia (Alasehir) was founded by Attalos II in 159 B.C. The aim of founding this city was to establish a gateway and to hellenise the inhabitants of Phrygia. The church named after St John is a rectangular building of six pillars. The city is located 130km away from Smyrna. It was the least important city mentioned in the book of St John. Just like Smyrna, Philadelphia was one of the distinguished churches of Seven Churches which St John stated something bad about. St John wrote in his book to the church of Philadelphia:

(3:7) To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write :
This is the message from the one who is holy and true. He has the key that belonged to David, and when he opens a door, no one can close it, and when he closes it, no one can open it.
(3:8) I know what you do; I know that you have a little power; you have followed my teaching and have been faithful to me. I have opened a door in front of you, which no one can close.
(3:9) Listen! As for that group that belongs to Satan, those liars who claim that they are Jews but are not, I will make them come and bow down at your feet. They will all know that I love you. ;
(3:10) Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you safe from the time of trouble which is coming upon the world to test all the people on earth.
(3:11) I am coming soon. Keep safe what you have, so that no one will rob you of your victory prize.
(3:12) I will make him who is victorious a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never 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 will come down out of heaven from my God. I will also write on him my new name.
(3:13) If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!"

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