Behind me I heard a voice as loud as a trumpet. It said, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyateira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea” (Revelation 1:9–11).
This vision appeared to St John on the Lord’s Day, which is Sunday. The experience is marked by a powerful and commanding voice. In the Old Testament, loud voices often accompany visions about the end of time and God’s final judgment. The trumpet sound, in particular, is a familiar symbol in biblical writings. It usually announces an important divine message or the coming of judgment.
St John explains that he was “in the Spirit” when the vision came to him. This means that he believed his inspiration did not come from himself, but from the Spirit of God. He writes what he sees and hears as if it is dictated to him. In biblical tradition, prophets often describe their visions in this way, showing that the message comes directly from God The Letters to the Churches of Asia.
The Meaning of the Seven Churches
When St John speaks of the “church,” he uses the Greek word ekklesia. This word does not refer to a building, but to a community of believers living in a particular city. Each of the seven churches represents a Christian community in a real place.
St John chose these seven churches because he was familiar with them and because they were located along major communication and trade routes in western Anatolia. These cities were important Roman towns and already had active Christian communities. Many of these communities probably grew out of earlier Hellenized Jewish groups who had accepted Christianity.
Although the cities were different, the churches shared many problems. They lived in a pagan Roman environment filled with many cults, gods, and religious traditions. Christianity was still a small and often misunderstood faith in these cities.
Waiting for the Second Coming
By the time St John arrived in western Anatolia, Christianity had already existed for about a generation. Early Christians believed that Christ would return soon in what is called the Second Coming. This event was expected to bring the Last Judgment and the final victory of good over evil Round Turkey Tours.
However, many years had passed, and the Second Coming had not yet occurred. Christians may have felt disappointed or confused. Their numbers had not grown greatly, and their daily lives had not become easier. In a large city like Ephesus, which contained many religious groups, Christians were probably still a small minority.
Some members of the Christian communities began to compromise with the surrounding religious culture. Others became weak in faith or discouraged. St John was aware of these problems.
Purpose of the Book of Revelation
During his long stay on the island of Patmos, St John had time to reflect deeply on the dangers facing Christianity. He decided to write the Book of Revelation to remind believers that God’s judgment and rewards were still to come.
His message encouraged Christians to remain faithful, patient, and strong. He warned them that they must endure hardship for a longer time, but also promised that faithfulness would be rewarded when Christ finally returned. Through powerful images and visions, St John sought to strengthen the hope and courage of the early Christian communities.
