Most English translations of Revelation 1:4 say that John is writing a letter to "seven churches" in towns across western Turkey, but the word "church" conjures modern connotations that are quite unlike the situation in the first century.
You can still visit archaeological sites in most of these Turkish towns today; you will not, however, find a Christian church among the ruins, at least not one from the first century.
— Robyn J. Whitaker
Revelation for Normal People, p.16
Today, church is synonymous with a building of religious significance. This is just what happens when a church—a community of Christians—meets in a building that we also call a "church." It confuses things. As Christians, we like to think we don't do this, but I bet your midweek Christian meetings are called a "group" (for example, a small, home, life, or community group) rather than a "church."
We're as guilty of confusing church with a building as everyone else.
In the first century, however, the Greek word ekklesia, which we translate as "church/es," was loaded with political significance.
Ekklesia [was] a local public assembly within the Roman Empire, much like a town meeting. These assemblies bestowed citizenship, discussed local political concerns, assigned "elders," and offered prayer and worship to Caesar.
— Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw
Jesus for President, p.68
So when Jesus says to Peter in Matthew 16:18, "I will build my ekklesia," he's making a political statement. He's using a word everyone in the Roman Empire knew to announce that he's going to build his own assembly.
A modern equivalent would probably require us to call our churches and home groups "senates" or "parliaments."
[Followers of Jesus held meetings] in pointed juxtaposition and competition with the official city assembly.
— Wes Howard Brook and Anthony Gwyther
Unveiling Empire, p.117
Ekklesia is just one word, but it shows how little most of us know about the first-century context of the New Testament. Without a knowledge of the historical context, it's all too easy to misread Revelation.
