The Seven Cities of the Apocalypse and Greco-Asian Culture

A companion to his extraordinary work dealing the Roman influence on the seven cities of John's Revelation, Roland Worth's book now draws readers into the total social world in which early Christians functioned in Roman Asia. Gathering resources together in one volume for the first time from a wide variety of sources, some obscure, the author examines the history, population, politics, local cultural peculiarities, economics, and cults that existed in each of the seven cities in the book of Revelation. The reader comes away with a handbook of the "total picture" of what life was like in these ancient municipalities, including details on such items as the dimensions and appearance of temples to the gods, and public baths. These details are significant, claims the author, for "if we can understand the political, social, moral, and religious environment in which these individuals lived, worked, and prayed, we carry our knowledge a step further and see the additional overtones and implications that would or could have come to mind when they read John's composition. In short, it make us a more informed reader." Scripture scholars, historians, and students, as well as the general reader, will not only be informed, but entertained.