The Book of Revelation and the Seven Cities of the Apocalypse

HIST 6/472 The Book of Revelation and the Seven Cities of the Apocalypse

Lectures: Tuesdays & Thursdays at 9:45 - 11:00am Eastern Time

Credit Hours: 3

Cost: $540 Audit; $2,085 Credit

Field Study Cost (cost does not include flights): $3,190 for Multiple Occupancy Room, $3,590 for Private Room
Students may bring a guest with them for the field study, the cost per guest is $3,390.

Recorded Lectures: Yes

Description

A narrative/historical study of the Book of Revelation giving attention to its rhetorical features and first-century context with application to contemporary Christian faith and practice. The course includes an eight-day historical and archaeological field study to Patmos and the seven cities of Revelation in Turkey. The field study is mandatory for all students taking the course for credit. It is optional for audit students.

Objectives

By the end of the course, a student should be able to:

interpret the Book of Revelation according to its genre and signals of approach contained in the introductory verses;
describe the seven cities of the Apocalypse and the historical data likely relevant to the church in each city;
identify the purpose, structure, rhetorical features, and plot line of Revelation;
access the general meaning that lies behind the symbolism and imagery in the book; and
consider ways in which the futuristic narrative of Revelation shapes and informs Christian beliefs and behavior in the present.

Equivalencies

Early Christianity
History and Culture of New Testament
Bible
History

Turkey Field Study

This course is offered online with an in-person field study component.

Dates: 10-18 May 2026

Description: At the conclusion of the semester, students will embark on a eight-day narrative, historical, and archaeological field study on Patmos and at the seven cities of the Apocalypse in Turkey (Ephesus, Laodicea, Philadelphia, Sardis, Thyatira, Pergamum, and Smyrna). This field study is mandatory for all students taking the course for credit. It is optional for audit students.

Sample Itinerary: View Here

Cost per Student: $3,190 for Multiple Occupancy Room, $3,590 for Private Room (Cost does not include flights). Students may bring guests with them, at the cost of $3,390 per guest.

Registration Deadline: 6 February 2026
Field study registration and payment instructions will be emailed to students who first register for the course.

Informational Meetings: Register for an informational meeting to learn more about the field study and class from the faculty members!
Info sessions for the Book of Revelation and the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse:

Wednesday, January 7 at 01:00 PM
Thursday, January 22 at 03:00 PM

Instructor

Dr. Chris Vlachos: M.A., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; Ph.D., Wheaton College; Former Director of Semester in Jerusalem Program, Wheaton College. Published author. Began teaching at JUC in 2021.