Revelation 1:9-11 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering…, was on the island of Patmos because of the Word of God…. and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
THEME: “Overcoming the World in Christ”
God’s Word is filled with warnings in anticipation of a final judgment, and it’s filled with promises, giving the reader confidence that the Lord’s love will never fail, that His redemption of body and soul is coming soon. We’ll explore these things in depth with the study of the Book of Revelation.
We will begin our tour in Istanbul, Turkey with an historical introduction. On our 3rd day together we’ll take a boat from the port city of Kusadasi to the Greek island, Patmos. In 95 AD, St. John was exiled to the island for almost two years by the pagan Roman Emperor Domitian. But John was not idle! He had a vision from God and he wrote down what he saw. This is the Book of Revelation. On Patmos we’ll study this book of the New Testament, preparing for the rest of our tour, and we’ll have some fun too, exploring the wonders of the island.
In chapters 2-3 of Revelation, Jesus gave St. John words for 7-churches in 7-cities in Asia Minor, today’s Turkey. After our retreat on Patmos, we’ll return to Turkey to begin our exploration of these 7-cities. Each day we’ll meditate on the Lord’s words to the cities as we explore their ruins, considering what makes each place unique, and how the things we see today made the Lord’s message so meaningful 2,000 years ago. Revelation will come alive for you in new ways as we begin to connect the words with the places and discover its relevance for ourselves today.
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ITINERARY
DAY 1 Welcome to Turkey! We’ll meet at our hotel in Istanbul around 5 p.m. for a “Welcome to Turkey” meeting. Together, we’ll enjoy our first meal at an eatery on the famous Istiklal Caddesi pedestrian way in the Beyoglu district.
DAY 2 Historical Seeds: We’ll begin each day with a devotion, prayer, and song. After breakfast we’ll hit the ground running with an introduction to the history of Asia Minor/Turkey, starting out with a visit to the Archaeological Museum. Afterwards, we’ll be off to two very important church/museums: Hagia Sophia and Chora Church. Today’s introduction will give you lenses through which to see and understand the historical seeds which St. John planted hundreds of years earlier. In the evening, we’ll set you loose for dinner on your own.
DAY 3 St. John’s Island: Today, we’ll fly to Izmir in southwest Turkey, and then bus to the port city of Kusadasi. Our next leg is a beautiful 2 ½ hour private cruise to the Greek island of Patmos. St. John spent almost two years in exile here, during which time he wrote the Revelation. We’ll be on the island for 4-nights studying this book and exploring the island. Tonight, we’ll enjoy traditional Greek cooking in the port town Skala.
DAY 4 The Book of Revelation: After breakfast, we’ll begin our time on the island with an overview of the Book of Revelation and what it means for us today. Afterwards, there’ll be opportunity for individual reflection and prayer. You’ll have the afternoon free to lounge around, shop, or write postcards home. We’ll finish the day with dinner together at a great spot I discovered just a couple of years ago, complete with Greek dancing (and lessons!) Opah!
DAY 5 Sunday on Patmos: It’s the Lord’s Day. We’ll worship in the morning at the Greek Orthodox church at the Monastery of St. John the Divine. However, since you’ll probably be saying things like, “It’s all Greek to me,” we’ll also have our own afternoon service. In between, we’ll tour the monastery and its library, and stroll through the white-washed, maze-like streets of the town, Chora. The town lies at the foot of the medieval fortress which surrounds the monastery. But best of all, we’ll experience the Cave of the Apocalypse, St. John’s former home-sweet-home, presently an Orthodox chapel. You’ll be free to have dinner on your own tonight.
DAY 6 Revelation plus Beaches: This morning we’ll have our second teaching on the Book of Revelation, including a time for private reflection and prayer following. In the afternoon, we’ll explore the island, especially the beaches! Be sure to bring a swimsuit! We’ll have dinner together tonight.
DAY 7 Seven Cities, Here We Come! After a casual morning with breakfast and devotions, we’ll make our way to our boat in the port of Skala and enjoy the cruise to the mainland. We’ll transfer to our hotel in Izmir (Smyrna formerly) where you’ll be free to pickup dinner on your own. We’ll be in Izmir for 2-nights.
DAY 8 Smyrna, Pergamum & Thyatira: Today, we’ll begin exploring the 7 Cities of the Revelation. We’ll take time each day as we examine a city’s ruins to consider God’s Word to each place and what these messages might mean for us today. First, we’ll explore Smyrna (Rev 2:8-11), which is famous for its ancient agora, the Velvet Castle, and the medieval Church of Polycarp. We’ll also investigate Pergamum (Rev 2:12-17) and Thyatira (Rev 2:18-29). Pergamum is known for its ancient library, acropolis, and theater. Thyatira is known for its basilica and ancient portico. We’ll turn you loose for dinner on your own after we return to our hotel.
DAY 9 Sardis, Philadelphia & Laodicia: We’ll see 3-cities today, beginning with Sardis (Rev 3:1-6), where we’ll see its Temple of Artemis, gymnasium, and the Great Synagogue. In Philadelphia (Rev 3:7-13) we’ll explore the Church of St. John. And in Laodicia (Rev 3:14-22) we’ll see a recently excavated church and theater in addition to an ancient Roman aquaduct. We’ll spend one night in the town of Pammukale (Pom-OOK-a-lay), where we’ll have a chance to wade in the pools of the famous milk-white travertine terraces and take a dip in the mineral springs. We’re going to show you a good time with a fantastic meal tonight!
DAY 10 Hieropolis & Aphrodisias: After breakfast and devotions, we’ll see two sites which aren’t in your Bible, but are wonderful ruins with well-preserved artifacts from biblical times. First, we’ll visit the Hieropolis, with its necropolis (a city of tombs), churches, baths, and the Martyrium of St. Philip. The latter is the ruins of an 8-sided Byzantine church. It’s the probable location of St. Philip’s martyrdom. Next, we’ll explore Aphrodisias, taking in its stadium, theater, agora, Temple of Aphrodite, and Baths of Hadrian. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy the hospitality of a guesthouse in Seljuk. There are many great eateries in the neighborhood to pick from for a meal on your own tonight.
DAY 11 Ephesus: We’ve been saving the best for last! Ephesus (Rev 2:1-7) is one of the most important and best preserved cities of antiquity in the world. We’ll spend the entire day here taking in all of the sites, from the ancient library to the agora, from the theaters and fountains to St. Mary’s Church (the location of the 3rd Ecumenical Council, 431 AD). We’ll also visit the now very dilapidated Temple of Artemis (worth seeing for it was one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World) and the Basilica of St. John (the site of St. John’s grave). This is our last night together, so we’ll celebrate everything we’ve learned and our new found friendships over dinner.
DAY 12 Blessed Travels! This morning we’ll fly together to Istanbul, where you’ll either continue your flight home or remain in the ancient city for a bit longer. We’ll arrive in Istanbul by 10 a.m.
Itinerary details subject to change
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING! Educon Travel wants to give you a unique opportunity for a Bible-based journey with a whole bunch of great features:
- A focused, theme-based itinerary
- First-rate teaching by Christian pastors and instructors
- A significant time to learn and reflect during our educational retreat
- A small, flexible group; only 20-24 people
- Daily devotions and Bible study
- Great guides who care about you
- Excellent hospitality at family-run establishments
- Delicious, authentic, local meals
- Upfront pricing—No surprises!
Open the PDF file below for the itinerary, Terms & Conditions and application for this tour.
Our mission is to grow in spirit, mind & body as we immerse ourselves in God’s Word in the places where it was first revealed. 
Call me with your questions. I will personally help you with all of your travel needs and make sure you enjoy a great tour. Call me toll free at 866-277-2383. -Richard