So prominent was the city that during the early Christian period the population of Ephesus probably exceeded a quarter million. Second, pilgrims swelled the population and contributed substantially to Ephesian business, especially during the festivals of Artemis (March/April). First, the temple was regarded as sacrosanct throughout the Mediterranean world and thus became the primary banking institution of Asia Minor. The presence of the temple of Artemis (Diana) added to the commercial importance of Ephesus, for two reasons. 1 Ephesus was famous for its Temple of Artemis (Diana in Latin), 425- feet long by 220-feet wide with each of its 120 columns donated by a king, one of the seven wonders of the world (Acts 19:27,35 +). Today, the site is stranded several miles from the sea on the edge of a swampy alluvial plain and the former harbor is marked by a reed-bed. See Seven Churches of Asia.At the time of John’s writing, Ephesus was an important seaport city of the Roman province of Asia. See the discussion concerning the identity of the angel at Revelation 1:20. The seven letters to the churches also challenge us today to examine our own lives to see which attributes of the seven churches, whether good and bad, are evident in our own lives? This subject will occupy Revelation 2:1-29 + and Revelation 3:1-22 + until John is called up to heaven at the beginning of Revelation 4:1 + in order to witness and record “ the things which will take place after this.”The evaluation, exhortation, and promises which Jesus gives to each of the seven churches provide important insights into the conditions of the early church. 1:19 +), John now records “ the things which are”-Jesus’ assessment of the condition of the Seven Churches of Asia at the time John wrote. Having been commissioned by Christ to write “the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this” (Rev. Revelation 2:1 Revelation 2:2 Revelation 2:3 Revelation 2:4 Revelation 2:5 Revelation 2:6 Revelation 2:7 Revelation 2:8 Revelation 2:9 Revelation 2:10 Revelation 2:11 Revelation 2:12 Revelation 2:13 Revelation 2:14 Revelation 2:15 Revelation 2:16 Revelation 2:17 Revelation 2:18 Revelation 2:19 Revelation 2:20 Revelation 2:21 Revelation 2:22 Revelation 2:23 Revelation 2:24 Revelation 2:25 Revelation 2:26 Revelation 2:27 Revelation 2:28 Revelation 2:29
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