Day 06 - West Central Turkey: Sardis, Pergamum Acropolis

Yo-skis, it’s Noah updating y’all on how Day 6 of our Turkish experience!

We began today by visiting the city of Sardis which was in two different locations because of the city’s relocation in 17AD after a massive earthquake. At the first location, we sat around the ruins of an ancient temple of Artemis and listened to Jared teach us about the first half of the letter written to the church in this city in Revelation 3. It was during this teaching where we were asked the question, “How do you make yourself feel secure?” This theme of security is one we would be hitting on throughout the day, how do we try to find security in things that are not Jesus? Sardis was a city that placed its security in its impenetrable defense and the church had the perception of being full of life, when in reality, they were spiritually dead (Revelation 3:1). Sardis was one of two churches in these series of letters that received only rebuke, and Jesus was telling them to wake up before their pride would eventually be their downfall.

We then moved down the mountainside to the second location of the city where they relocated after the earthquake. It was at this location where we got to hear the second half of the letter in the largest known ancient synagogue outside of Israel. The second half focused more on the righteous remnant that was left in the city at that time. Sardis was known for their white wool industry and Jesus uses this as a metaphor in Revelation 3:4-5 as a way to show that the righteous remnant will be clothed in white that has not been soiled like the rest of the church. Sardis is a lesson which teaches us that if we want to truly be an impenetrable force, we must place our security in Christ alone. 

The last site of the day was the acropolis of the city of Pergamum. The view from atop the hill was unbelievable so it was definitely worth the 1000mph winds we were experiencing while we were up there. Jared took us to a handful of locations at the acropolis, teaching us about the copious amounts of pagan worship that took place in this city. It contained not only major worship sites for Zeus and Dionysis, but was ground zero of imperial cult worship in the Roman Empire. It was at the ruins of the temple of Trajan where Jared taught us about the connections between the Roman Triumph and Mark’s account of the Crucifixion. This was one of the coolest lessons I’ve ever heard over Jesus’s death and I encourage you to go discover this for yourself. The Romans tried their best to humiliate Jesus during the events of His crucifixion, but in reality, Peter saw it as a coronation for the True Son of God.

So grateful for this trip and would ask that you would keep praying for safety and for the Holy Spirit to continue illuminating the Scriptures for us! Peace