Upon arrival in Istanbul early in the afternoon, we meet our guide and travel to Bursa through motorway. Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast,  we drive to the ancient town of Thyatira, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation praised for its increasing faith but admonished for its tolerance of Jezebel (Revelation 2:18:28). Next, we travel a brief route south to Sardis, where we explore the white marble Royal Road, the massive Temple of Artemis, the Bath-Gymnasium, and the famous Sardis Synagogue (Revelation 3:1-6). Here at the synagogue, ongoing archaeological expeditions by Harvard and Cornell Universities have unearthed over 80 Greek and 7 Hebrew inscriptions as well as numerous mosaic floors, making this one of the most significant synagogues of antiquity. Continuing on, we visit the modern town of Alasehir (ancient Philadelphia) for a heartwarming tour highlighting the church that received God’s highest commendation (Revelation 3:7-13). Here we see remains of a Byzantine Basilica with 11th-century frescoes. In the evening, we travel to the modern city of Denizli, where we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we are off to visit Pamukkale (“cotton castle”) and dip our feet in the thermal waters that flow down the hilltop’s unique white travertine terraces. At the summit we explore the archaeological remains of Hierapolis, a significant site of early Christianity thanks to Paul’s missionary efforts here (Colossians 4:13). We stroll among a number of important ruins, including well-preserved Roman structures such as the town theatre and the Temple of Apollo. Next, we continue on to Laodicea. This city was one of the Severn Churches whose inhabitants were chastised by the apostle John for being “neither cold nor hot” (Revelation 3:14-22). Here we see the site’s well-preserved stadium, gymnasium, and theatres, giving us insight into the city’s former prominence. We then drive to Kusadasi, a beautiful resort town on the coast of the Aegean Sea, where we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Today we are off to explore Ephesus. Located in the modern town of Selcuk, ancient Ephesus is one of Turkey's most well-preserved archaeological sites. Originally an ancient Greek Ionic city built in the 10th century BC, Ephesus became one of the Roman Empire's largest metropolises. Ephesus also played a vital role in the spread of Christianity. Starting in the first century AD, notable Christians such as Paul and John visited and rebuked the cults of Artemis, winning many Christian converts in the process (Acts 19:8-10). Mary, the mother of Jesus, is thought to have spent her last years in Ephesus with John, who was entrusted with her care. We walk on the Marble Road, passing numerous historically rich sites, including the Temple of Artemis, the Trajan Fountain, and the Temple of Hadrian. We also see the Library of Celsus and sit in the largest surveying theatre of the Roman period, capable of entertaining up to 25,000 spectators. This was the site of an uprising provoked by a merchant named Demetrius against Saint Paul and his teachings (Acts 19:23). We stop at the ruins of Saint John’s Basilica; constructed by Justinian I in the 6th century, this basilica stands over the believed burial site of John the Apostle. We return to our hotel in Kusadasi for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we drive to the thriving modern city of Izmir and visit the ruins of ancient Smyrna, another of the Seven Churches (Revelation 2:811). It was here that the apostle John relayed a promise from God: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). We continue on to Pergamum, one of the most powerful and wealthy cities in the ancient world. In the book of Revelation, the risen Christ instructed John to convey the message that the people of Pergamum, the site of “Satan’s throne,” needed to repent (Revelation 2:12-17). Afterwards, we tour the Acropolis of Pergamum, the pagan temples, and the Altar of Zeus. We test the acoustic phenomenon of the Great Theatre, which could entertain 10,000 spectators in its day. We also view the remains of the famous Library of Pergamum before continuing to Canakkale, where we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we drive to the village of Tevfikiye near the entrance of the Dardanelles to see the remains of the legendary city of Troy. Settled as early as 3000 BC, Troy was made famous by Homer’s Iliad. Afterward, we cross the Dardanelles by bridge and head to Istanbul for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we begin our tour of Istanbul. Previously known as Byzantium and Constantinople, the city of Istanbul is 2,600 years old. First, we visit the beautiful Rustem Pasha Mosque, which has 2,300 colored tiles and was designed by Mimar Sinan, a prolific Ottoman imperial architect. Next, we treat our senses to the nearby Spice Bazaar in Eminönü. Words cannot describe the extraordinary experience of walking through this three-century-old covered market. We enjoy a stroll through the Hippodrome (a public arena for sporting and social events since 203 AD) in the Old City. We tour the legendary Hagia Sophia (known initially as Megale Ekklesia or “Great Church”), the symbol of Constantinople and Istanbul. From the 6th century to the 15th century, Hagia Sophia served as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral and the seat of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Today, it is a museum, where 12 centuries of beautiful mosaics are on display. Next, we stop at the 15th-century Topkapi Palace, the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for over 400 years. We conclude our day with shopping at the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world. The bazaar, which first opened in 1461 AD, comprises over 60 streets and welcomes up to 400,000 visitors each day to its maze of banks, cafés, fountains, shops, shrines, and workshops. We then return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we begin our journey home, rejoicing in our unforgettable experiences in Turkey. Our hearts are full; we visited the Seven Churches of Revelation, and we will never be the same (Numbers 6:24–26).