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Paul's Missionary Journeys in Turkey

and the Seven Churches of Revelation

Starting from $2,098**Taxes & Fees Apply

This Trip Visits:

  Turkey

Trip Includes:

Roundtrip Airfare, Deluxe Motorcoaches, First Class Hotels, Guided Sightseeing, Breakfast and Dinner Daily, Entrance Fees, Study Guide

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  1. Day 1 - Depart USA

    Your pilgrimage begins as you board your international flight for Istanbul.

  2. Day 2 - Arrive in Istanbul

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    Upon arrival, you will be met by our airport representative.

  3. Day 3 - ISTANBUL and ADANA

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    The bejeweled capital of Istanbul sits between two continents and is home to 450 mosques. You will visit the famous Blue Mosque with its six minarets and sparkling interior. You will also visit the Topkapi Palace, once home to royal Sultans. Inside, you will see the fabled jewels of the Treasury, delicate displays of Chinese porcelain in the Kitchen Quarters, and the provocative Harem Quarters. Walk through St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia), which was the largest church in Christendom for a 1000 years. Built by Justinian (532-537 A.D.), the church has 107 columns, fossil imbedded white marble floors, and beautiful glass mosaics. Today, it is the Museum of Byzantine Art. Enjoy the aroma of cinnamon, cloves, thyme, and other exotic spices as you explore the Grand Bazaar. Over 4000 shops sell everything from herbs to gold. This afternoon you will fly to Adana, known as the "biggest village in Turkey" due to its rural atmosphere. Adana is also home to the 5000 U.S. service men and women at Incirlik Air Base.

  4. Day 4 - ANTIOCH (ANTAKYA)

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    Today we will see Konya (Iconium), located in the heart of the Anatolian plateau, south of the capital city of Ankara and it is one of Turkey's oldest continuously inhabited sites. Konya is known throughout the world as the home of the Whirling Dervishes. In Antioch of Pisidia, Paul preached his first recorded sermon (Acts 13:14-52). While his speech was well received, he ran into opposition from some in Lystra. He and Barnabas were forced out of town. Overnight in Pamukkale

  5. Day 5 - TARSUS and SIDE

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    Tarsus was the birthplace of Paul (Acts 22:3), and he visited it on his second and third missionary journeys. Reaching back to the 14th century B.C., Tarsus is a city with a resplendent history. Enjoy a beautiful coastal drive to Side where you will spend the night. Visit Roman ruins of the Byzantine period in Side, including the theater and the baths.

  6. Day 6 - ASPENDOS, PERGE, and HIERAPOLIS

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    The Aspendos amphitheatre, known for its outstanding acoustics, is extremely well preserved and still in use today for special events. Nearby is Perge, a Hellenistic city where Paul preached (Acts 14: 25). The ruins of a large stadium, baths, and a tomb give ample evidence of its former greatness. Paul and Barnabas visited here on their first journey. Hierapolis is blessed by hot mineral springs and some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in Asia Minor. Paul mentions Hierapolis in his Letter to the Colossians in saluting Epaphras, a fellow laborer, for his love of the brethren there (Colossians 4: 13). The ruins cover more than a mile. You will see the impressive amphitheatre with seats still in perfect condition. You will see the City Gates, column-lined streets and arches, which have stood through time and earthquakes. Today, the area is known as Pamukkale, meaning "Cotton Castle", named for the limestone-laden hot springs which cascade from one white-edged terrace pool to the next.

  7. Day 7 - COLOSSAE, APHRODISIAS, and LAODICEA (Denizli)

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    Famous as the receiver of Paul's Letter to the Colossians, the town of Colossae has fallen into obscurity. While you can still see traces of the theatre, the Necropolis and the Church, the ancient city is mostly indistinguishable ruins. Not far away is Aphrodisias, another town whose fame has been obscured by time. This city of marble thrived as the major center for worship of the pagan goddess Aphrodite until 500 years after Christ. The Christians of Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches (Rev. 3: 14-22), were chastised for being lukewarm, "You are neither cold nor hot" (Rev. 3: 15), and for being too comfortable incorporating pagan and Christian beliefs. In the famous scripture from Revelation (3: 20-21), Jesus says to the Laodicean church: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock . . . ". Today, there are many acres of ruins to see, including the stadium and columned streets.

  8. Day 8 - EPHESUS

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    Ephesus is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 1: 11). In ancient days, Ephesus was a bustling port town of 250,000, graced with wide, colonnade-bordered streets. Today, you will be impressed with the spectacular excavations of the major streets of ancient Ephesus. You will view the Library and the huge Agora. The Temple of Artemis was declared one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Today, only a single column remains to mark the site. You will visit the Basilica of St. John, traditional site of his grave. From the basilica, enjoy a commanding view of the area. You will visit the Museum of Ephesus for an up-close look at artifacts from the ancient city. You will have time to explore this powerful city on your own and recreate some of the footsteps of Paul.

  9. Day 9 - IZMIR, THYATIRA (AKHISAR), SARDIS, and PHILADELPHIA

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    The third largest city in modern Turkey is Izmir, long a center for Jewish and Christian communities. In Paul's day, the town was known as Smyrna. It was one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 2: 8-11). You will see the Agora, the colonnaded commercial center where Roman statues can still be seen. Visit Thyatira once a busy trading center, famous as a "seller of purple". Today, it is famous for Persian rugs. Thyatira, one of the Seven Churches mentioned in Revelations, tolerated the false prophetess, Jezebel (Rev. 1: 11; 2: 18-29). Travel to Sardis, another of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Jesus told Sardis, "I know thy works, that thou hast a name, that thou livest, and art dead"(Rev. 3: 1-6). Coins were minted and the dyeing of wool originated in Sardis. You will be impressed by the massive scale of the Temple of Artemis, by the white marble Royal Road, by the gymnasium, and by the synagogue. Visit the site of Philadelphia also one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 3: 7-13). Christ told those who overcame that He would write upon them "the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem." (Rev.3: 12) Today, not much is left to mark the spot. You will see an ancient wall and the remains of a Byzantine basilica.

  10. Day 10 - PERGAMUM (BERGAMA) and TROAS

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    Pergamum was another of the seven churches mentioned in Revelations (Rev. 2: 12). It displeased the Lord because it tolerated the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes which Christ hated (Rev. 2:13-17). Towering 1000 feet above the town and commanding a spectacular panorama is the fabled Acropolis. As you pass through the Royal Gates, you will enter one of the great centers of classic Greek culture. You will see the foundations of the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Athena, and the ruins of the Library which once held 200,000 parchment volumes. You will see the remains of the Temple of Trajan, the Grand Theatre, the Gymnasium, and the Health Center (Aesclepion). Not far away is Troas. Here, on his second missionary journey, Paul had a vision in which he was called to Macedonia (Acts 16: 8-13). Later, during his third journey, Paul spent a week in Troas preaching. On one occasion he also resurrected Eutychus who fell to his death from a window while sleeping (Acts 20: 6-12).

  11. Day 11 - TROY (TRUVA) and ISTANBUL

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    In Troy, history is buried in myth and mud. Nine layers of the fabled city have been excavated. Homer's Iliad relates the legendary story of the Trojan War. Travel to Istanbul via the beautiful Dardanelles.

  12. Day 12 - DEPARTURE

    Continue with the Istanbul Extension or return to the USA.