What's the point of the 7 cities in Revelations?

Question

If the "word" was supposed to be taken to "7 cities in Asia" did that happen? Why those 7 cities? Why isn't Asia christian then?

I'm missing something but I'm too tired to know what.....

Revelation 1 11Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Answer 1

The answer as to why there are 7 is fairly obvious - because 7 is a very symbolic number and symbolizes a sense of completeness and fullness.

But why those 7 churches in particular is still up for debate. One might argue that the differences in the cities themselves symbolizes that the letters are intended to be understood by the whole church, which was (much like the cities) very diverse. My personal opinion is the author, John, had visited those cities throughout his ministry and was very familiar with them. Some details in the letter suggest he knew the cities relatively well.

You also asked "Why isn't Asia Christian then?" We have to remember that we're talking about the middle east here, where there is a strong influence of Christianity for many that dates back to this time. But we tend to think of Christianity as developing more throughout Europe and being carried over into the American Continents. I would guess (I obviously wasn't there) that as Rome got smaller, Christianity was not as much of an influence in the middle east. It remained the main religion throughout Europe, however. Europeans brought it to America then it began to spread throughout the world via missionaries, but many other religions were in place long before that time. The Hindu and Buddhist concept of faith is distinctly different from the Christian Concept, so a conversion would not be as likely.

Matt

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Edit: Afrowoman said, "it's a story." It's obviously one she has not looked into because she had no clue what your question was about.

To the person above me: Bugs me about adding the "s" to the end of Revelation as well.

Answer 2

These were seven distinguished cities of the know Christian world, but also these cities described the complete history of the world in the time of the future, and the last city Laodicea is describing the day we are currently living and also called the last days. There are many things symbolic in this book and it does us today no good to wonder about cities that mostly have been destroyed long ago, but if you understand that everything in the Bible has a pass present and future meaning the whole story makes much more sense; Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
But the book of Revelations is to show us the future all the way to the end of time. Same as the book of Daniel shows the complete history of the world if you know what the symbols mean.
But John was a prisoner on this Island because the government boiled him in oil and he did not die, so they banished him to the Island as a witch and this was where he saw this vision, he was there about two years if I remember correctly.

Answer 3

Asia is and has been Christian for these many years. You need to look into it a bit. There are still Christian Assyrians by the way. And there are Christians mixed in the Muslim parts of the world, no matter how much Muslims try to eliminate them.

You just have to expose yourself to deeper study for that. There are Christians all over the world.

The 7 churches in the Book of Revelation tells us that God can have problems with churches. The Protestants for the most part are saying that the Bible ought to be the source for Christian living, and they are right. But there are too many traditions that destroy the contact of some parts of Christianity with God. That's the point of what many Protestants are saying!

Answer 4

Those seven churches were the recipients of the letter and Revelation (not Revelations - sorry, I don't know why that drives me nuts) was written to them. Just as Galatians was written to the church in Galatia, just as Ephesians was written to the church in Ephesus, and just as Romans was written to the church in Rome.

The seven churches in "Asia" were not in China or Russia or the major part of Asia we think of today. They were all in modern day Turkey. While this is considered Asia, so is Jerusalem. The seven cities in Asia were closer to Europe than Jerusalem was. While Turkey, like most of the Middle East, is predominately Muslim, Christianity is still very strong there. In fact, I don't know of any other country where Christianity and Islam coexist so well.

I hope this helped clear up some confusion.

Answer 5

They are not cities as such, but CONGREGATIONS.
When John wrote revelation in 96 C.E. under inspiration from Jesus in heaven, the congregations must still have been operating and in existence.
Some are congratulated and some are castigated because they had 'deviated' from what Jesus taught.
It was a warning to all seven to look at how they had changed and to mend their ways.
(Revelation 1:1-3) A revelation by Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place. And he sent forth his angel and presented [it] in signs through him to his slave John, 2 who bore witness to the word God gave and to the witness Jesus Christ gave, even to all the things he saw. 3 Happy is he who reads aloud and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and who observe the things written in it; for the appointed time is near.

Answer 6

Each city represents the qualities of a person.If you study what each one of these cities did and their actions you will find out that one will identify with you

Answer 7

It's a story.

Answer 8

That text is garbled.