(Asia was a Province in Today's Turkey)
SMYRNA: Smyrna was another seaport north of Ephesus on the Aegean Sea. The Roman senate erected a temple there to the emperor Tiberius Caesar in AD 26. It was refuge for condemned Roman governors. Worship of the god Dionesius was prominent here, whom myth says died and came back to life. Yet, Jesus told the church here it was he who died and returned to life (Revelation 2:8). It had a large Jewish colony. Both pagans and Jews, therefore, were gearing up to persecute the Christians here (Revelation 2:9-10). In fact, Polycarp, a student of the Apostle John, was burned at the stake here, the wood being carried by the Jews and the ampitheater provided by the Gentile pagans. Continually asked to recant by the Romans, he finally said, "Four-score years and six I have served the Lord, and He never wronged me; how then can I blaspheme my King and Saviour?". (A full account of his martyrdom is given by an eye witness in the book Apostolic Fathers.
PERGAMUM: Pergamum was famous for making parchments, and it is from the city's name that the word parchment is derived. Its library was second only in the world to that in Alexandria. Yet Jesus said it was his words that were sharp (Revelation 2:12). It had a royal palace with military barracks and arsenal which served kings of a dynasty a couple hundred years earlier. An unusually strong wall fortified the city. Yet Jesus said he was the one with the sharp, double-edged sword with which he will fight (Revelation 2:12, 16).
Pergamum had temples to Athena, Zeus, Hera, Demeter, and Asclepius; and in AD 98 a temple was dedicated to the Emperor Trajan; some of these temples depicted the god sitting on a throne. Asclepius was the god of healing and his symbol was a snake curled on a pole. Thus, when Jesus referred to living where Satan's throne was, it had double meaning: He had just referred to the Jews as being the synagogue of Satan, and now he seems to refer to this god of the Gentile pagans. Antipas was apparently pressured by both groups to renounce Jesus, but refused and so was executed (Revelation 2:13). Also, the Jewish Christians were urging the Gentile Christians to eat meat offered to these gods (the sacrificial meal was part of worship), even though the latter had recently broken away from paganism and it would be to them like returning to their old religion ~ spiritual idolatry. On top of all this, they had introduced a clergy-laity system, probably because they were used to a priestly system to the gods and it seemed only reasonable.
THYATIRA: There is nothing about this city in the Encyclopedia Britannica. It was located in the county of Lydia within the province of Asia, and was the home town of Lydia, the seller of purple whom Paul converted in Philippi (Acts 16:12-15). The county of Lydia was, indeed, known for its dyed fabric trade. At one time, this small-town's name was Semir-Amis, named after an (As)Syrian (on the southern border of Turkey) princess who, according to legend, ruled Assyria 42 years, erected such great cities as Babylon. Jesus said all his followers will rule some day with authority from God (Revelation 2:27).
Later Semir-Amis became known as the goddess of fertility, called in Palestine Asherah and in Greece Astarte. According to the Bible, she had priestesses and male prostitutes serving in her temple. Jesus referred to a woman "who calls herself a prophetess" (Revelation 2:20) in their congregation teaching "so-called deep secrets," referring to occult (which means "mysterious") ways, and who had led other Christians into spiritual idolatry. Such special spiritualistic privileges is not in keeping with Christian teachings of the New Testament. Jesus seems to be saying in Revelation 2:24, "My form of Christianity is simple and open" when he said he would not impose any burden other than "what you have" already.
SARDIS: At one time Sardis had a great temple to Artemis (Diana, goddess of hunting) and was considered the "City of (Lydian) Kings." It was important due to its military strength, its trade crossroads point for Persia and Europe, and its fertile plain in ordinarily hilly or mountainous Turkey. But this is the only city mentioned in Revelation's salutation wherein, not only does the conmgregation no longer exist, the city itself no longer exists. Indeed, Jesus warned, "...you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen...about to die" (Revelation 3:1-2).
PHILADELPHIA: Although the other cities had been founded at least a thousand years previously, Philadelphia was only about 250 years old, having been founded by the Lydian King Attalus II Philadelphias. It was called "Little Athens" because of its many temples and associated festivals, being open to all religions. This city was often at least partially demolished by earthquakes and apparently the church was therefore poor, as Jesus told them, "you have little strength." Yet these stubborn people not only continually rebuilt their city, but also had "not denied my name" (Revelation 3:8-9). there was apparently a strong Jewish community there, as in Smyrna. It was these two cities that Jesus had nothing bad to say about. Apparently the civil authorities in this city were not interested in any feuds led by the Jews, and apparently outside authorities did not take the city seriously politically. The Philadelphian Christians had passed enough tests fromthe Jews, so Jesus said, "I will also keep you have the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test" (Revelation 3:10).
LAODICEA: This city was in the county of Phrygia, province of Asia, and was famous for its banks and money transactions, probably being a trade center between Orientals and Europeans, both needing money exchanged. They were so rich that when their city was destroyed by an earthquake, its citizens immediately rebuilt it with no outside help. Jesus warned them, "You say, 'I am rich....but you are....poor....buy from me gold refined in the fire" (Revelation 3:17-18a). They were also known for their fine woolen fabrics; yet Jesus warned, "buy...white clothes to...cover your shameful nakedness" (Revelation 3:18b). Apparently this trade city was used to compromise and getting along with people of all nationalities, and this compromise mentality had entered the church.