dChan - Q Origins Project Archive

Ephesus was the fourth largest city of the Roman empire in the first century. A thriving commercial center and port city, Ephesus was also the home of a temple to the goddess Artemis. The amphitheater in Ephesus, which could hold up to twenty-five thousand people, was the venue of the angry riot against Christians in Acts 19.

The amphitheater where the riot in Acts 19 broke out has also been the venue for rallies and concerts. Sting, Elton John, and Diana Ross are among those who have performed there. Photo by Karrie Sparrow.

In Revelation, Jesus commended the Ephesian church for enduring hardships and hating the heresy of the Nicolaitans—early Gnostics who wanted to blend Christianity with pagan practices like sexual immorality. But others in Ephesus had fallen from their first love of Christ and received a sober warning: “Repent and do the things you did at first” (Rev. 2:5 NIV). Some scholars think these Christians may have caved to pressure to worship at the cult temple of Emperor Domitian.

The remains of a temple possibly built for Emperor Domitian during the first century. Domitian persecuted the early church and is responsible for exiling the apostle John to Patmos. Photo by Karrie Sparrow.

Over time, Ephesus physically shifted to what is now the small town of Selçuk, only a five-minute drive from the Ephesus ruins. Honeysuckle perfumed the air around the shops and streets I visited. The town is Muslim—as is 99 percent of Turkey. Even so, a small Protestant church of former-Muslim believers gathers in Selçuk for worship and fellowship.

https://www.imb.org/2018/06/01/what-happened-to-the-seven-churches-of-revelation/

The original city of Priene which was founded in 1000 BCE has never been physically found. The city was originally located next to a river mouth, but a buildup of silt caused flooding in the surrounding area. As a result, many of the inhabitants routinely found themselves living in the middle of swamps and marshlands which were infested with pests and parasites.

Based on historical records, historians believe a series of earthquakes struck at around 700 BCE, destroying much of the original city. At this point, the city was moved approximately 8 kilometers inland, but was later moved again in order to escape the encroaching water.