Biblical Turkey Tour – Churches of Revelation (7 Day)

Istanbul
Pergamum
Thyatira
Sardis
Philedalphia
Hiearapolis
Laodicea
Ephesus

Day – Arrival

Welcome to Turkey!
You will be met at the Istanbul airport just outside the arrivals gate with a sign depicting your name before being conveyed to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day – Istanbul City Tour

Breakfast is served at the hotel. After meeting your guide in the lobby, your tour of the Sultanahmet district, the heart of ancient Istanbul, will commence at Hagia Sophia. The cathedral, constructed by Emperor Justinian in the early sixth century AD and designed by Anthemius of Tralles and Isodore of Miletus, is one of the architectural wonders of the globe. It became a mosque in 1453 and is now a museum. Its massive cupola still dominates the ancient Istanbul skyline. The Blue Mosque derives its name from the magnificent mosaics that decorate its interior. The stadium of ancient Byzantium, the Hippodrome, housed one hundred thousand spectators and displayed objects from all corners of the empire. The Grand Bazaar was the heart of commerce in the ancient city, and its 4,000 stores are filled with treasures such as carpets and kilims, silks, jewelry, ceramics, icons, and leather products. While exploring the Grand Bazaar, indulge in some Ottoman-style purchasing.

In the afternoon, we resume our tour at Topkapi Palace, which served as the principal residence of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries. The magnificent Imperial Treasury and the Baghdad Kiosk will be visited. Topkapi Palace is now a museum with unparalleled collections of jewelry, including the third-largest diamond in the world, the Spoonmaker’s Diamond. It is also home to numerous Ottoman court costumes and ceramics, including one of the finest collections of Chinese celadon ceramics in the world, many of which were gifts from other monarchs. Some of the ceramics have a unique patina that is said to change color in the presence of toxins. We also visit the Imperial Armory, which displays Ottoman weapons from centuries past. It is easy to envision the sultan wandering through the courtyards of Topkapi Palace, far from the concerns of state and empire, as the palace’s most beautiful feature. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day – Bosphorus Cruise Tour & Flight to Izmir

Spice Bazaar
Bopshorus Cruise

We start with a quick look around the colorful, crowded Spice Bazaar, one of Istanbul’s top tourist destinations since the 17th century. We next make our way to the Bosphorus, the magnificent waterway that separates Europe and Asia through Istanbul, by means of the Golden Horn. From our cruise ship, we get a good look at the impressive structures that line the Bosphorus’s forested beaches, including several mosques, the world’s longest bridge, and Rumeli Hisari, a colossal fortification constructed by Mehmet the Conqueror in only three months in order to conquer Istanbul.

The tour also includes stops to the elaborate gingerbread houses and hunting lodges built for the Sultans and other members of the Ottoman elite in the 19th century. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day – Flight to Izmir – Smyrna – Pergamum Tour

We will meet you in the lobby of the hotel in the morning and drive you to Istanbul Airport so that you may catch a flight to Izmir. As soon as you have arrived, we will get started on our tour of the Seven Churches!

Following our arrival at Izmir Airport, we will make our way to the historic city of Smyrna. The church in Smyrna was poor and persecuted because it refused to serve the Roman Emperor, and this caused it to suffer despite the city’s success. This ultimately turned out to be the final bastion of Christian resistance in Asia Minor. The house where the famous Bishop Polycarp of the second century lived before he was martyred by being burnt alive at the age of eighty-six. Continue on to Pergamum; this city, with its acropolis and Great Theatre, which is the steepest of any in the ancient world, will be one of the most unforgettable experiences of your life. Revelation 2:12–16 refers to the city as “the place where Satan’s seat is,” which is a reference to the altar of Zeus, which is where we halt for meditation on the way in which the Bible has been fulfilled. Visit the nearby Red Basilica, which was originally built as a pagan temple but was subsequently transformed into a Christian church. Last but not least, make your way into the renowned medical center of ancient times, the Asclepion. Izmir will be your overnight stop.

Day – Thyatira – Sardis – Philedelphia Tour

Thyatira, which was once a bustling commercial hub and noted for the dyeing of purple clothing, is the destination of today’s excursion. One of the seven churches described in the book of Revelations, Thyatira, was known for its tolerance of the false prophetess Jezebel (Revelation 1:11; 2:18–29). Visit another of the Seven Churches mentioned in Revelation, which is located in Sardis. Jesus said to the people of Sardis, “I know thyworks, that thou hast a name, that thou livest, and art dead” (Rev. 3:1-6) in the book of Revelation. Both the minting of coins and the coloring of wool may be traced back to Sardis. You are going to be blown away by the enormous size of the Temple of Artemis, as well as the Royal Road that is made of white marble, the gymnasium, and the synagogue.

Pay a visit to the location of Philadelphia, which is listed as one of the Seven Churches in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 3:13–21). Christ promised those who triumphed that He would write on their foreheads “the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem.” (Rev.3: 12) There is hardly much that can be seen at the location now. You will be able to witness the remnants of a Byzantine basilica as well as an antique wall. Overnight in Pamukkale.

Day – Hiearapolis – Laodicea

An old city of pagan cults, Hierapolis or the “holy city” was evangelized by Paul and Epaphras. After breakfast at the hotel, travel for the visit to Hierapolis; an ancient city of pagan cults, Hierapolis or the “holy city” was evangelized by Paul and Epaphras. It is said that the Apostle Philip resided in this area and is buried there as well. Pamukkale, sometimes known as “cotton castle,” is a spa and resort town in Turkey that is known for its numerous hot springs and pools made of flowing limestone. Col. 4:12-13.

The Christians of Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches, were rebuked for being lukewarm (“You are neither cold nor hot”; Revelation 3:15) and for being too comfortable combining pagan and Christian ideas. The passage in question may be found in Revelation 3:14–22. Jesus addresses the congregation in Laodicea in the well-known passage from Revelation chapter three verses 20-21, when he states, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…”

There are several acres worth of ruins to see today at Laodicea, such as the stadium and columned avenues, and visitors also get the opportunity to view the most recent excavations in the area. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day – Ephesus Tour

Ephesus is considered to be one of the Seven Churches that are mentioned in Revelation (1:11). Ephesus was a thriving port city with a population of 250,000 in ancient times, and it was adorned with spacious streets that were surrounded by colonnades. St. Paul only spent a short amount of time in Ephesus on his first trip there, which occurred on his second journey to spread the gospel (Acts 18:19-21).

During his third missionary journey, which lasted from Acts 19:1 to 20:31, his second visit lasted around three years. Acts 19:34–35 is Luke’s account of the adoration that was performed to Diana.

Acts 19:29–31 makes reference to a large theater or stadium that might accommodate up to 25,000 people. Walk along the roadway that is paved with marble and has grooves in it formed by chariot wheels. Visit the Great Theatre, the Fountain of Trajan, and the Library of Celsus while you are in Rome. The Great Theatre can seat 24,000 people. Pay a visit to the Chapel of the Virgin Mary (also known as the Double Church), which served as the location of the Third Ancient Council.

Continue your exploration of the Basilica of St. John, which is named after the disciple and author of the Gospel of John as well as the Book of Revelation John, who was said to have been affiliated with the city of Ephesus in early Christian history. It is believed that in the fourth or fifth century, a Christian church was constructed on top of a plain burial that was purported to be that of Saint John. The first church was replaced in the sixth century by an imposing basilica with a dome, which Emperor Justinian ordered to be erected. On Ayasuluk Hill, where the Church of St. John the Theologian can be found, there is a street named Selcuk that winds its way upwards from the middle of the town. This is the way to go to the hilltop location of the church. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day – Flight back to Istanbul

After meeting you in the lobby of your hotel, we will take you to Izmir Airport so that you may catch your flight to Istanbul. Continue on to the international terminal at Istanbul Airport after you have arrived there to catch your flight back home.

Price Includes