Turkey 2025 | Seven Churches of Revelation Cruise | Joel Richardson

Flights depart Washington Dulles at 12:35PM today, nonstop to Istanbul.

Upon arrival, you will be driven into Istanbul (9:35AM) and while waiting to check into your hotel, you will be taken to visit the most important Christian site in Istanbul: Hagia Sofia. After checking-into your hotel, you will have time to freshen-up and have a 3-hour nap. You will then meet the group in the hotel lobby. You will leave the hotel at 1:30PM for lunch and then walk through the beautiful Old City. You will walk around (and in, if you wish) the massive Blue Mosque and then enter into the beautiful cistern. You will have an early dinner this evening. 

Enjoy breakfast at your leisure this morning. You will leave the hotel to visit the Archeological Museum with its evidence of Israel and other critical, Biblical artifacts. You will enjoy a fabulous lunch and then visit an ancient church known as the Chora. Afterwards, you still stop for a visit to the Bazaar and then walk through the working area and its various markets. You will have some free time to explore this massive center of interesting things – all for sale! You will have a fun, fish dinner tonight.

Following breakfast, you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Kayseri. When you arrive at Istanbul airport, you will join the rest of the group that will be on your yacht journey.

You have the option of beginning your journey at Washington, Dulles airport on Turkish Airlines, or purchasing your own airline ticket with Turkish Airlines from one of the following cities: Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Toronto, and perhaps even more.  The Dulles flight departs at 12:35PM; you will change in Istanbul and arrive in the quaint city of Kayseri. 

You will arrive in the agricultural city of Kayseri at 9:35AM. Upon arrival, you will transfer to our very unique boutique hotel that is built within a Cappadocian Cave. You will then have the opportunity to freshen up and take a 2-hour nap. Following a brief lunch, you will visit the very mysterious Derinkuyu underground city.  This city is 279’ underground housed up to 20,000 people in the 8th Century B.C. and was taken over by the early church after Christ died.  You will have a delicious dinner at our hotel in the beautiful, old dining room.

At sunrise, there will be an optional balloon flight over the unique rock formations.  As of the printing of this brochure, the cost of the balloon trip is $390 USD. If you wish to do this, you will pay the balloon company directly. After breakfast, the entire group will visit the whimsical rock formations called “fairy chimneys” and the unique Goreme Outdoor Museum with its many rock-cut dwellings, monasteries, and 2nd-to-4th century churches within them. View the amazing, painted gospel images and paintings of the life of Jesus on the walls of these unique remote churches. You will walk around the nature reserve and enjoy a filling, farm lunch. Stop along a remote trail used by thousands of our Christian brothers and sisters in the 3rd-and-4th Century after Christ died. The tiny rock wind-swept churches have various gospel scenes etched and painted on the walls of the hidden inside caverns. These paintings teach about the life of Our Savior, the apostles, His birth and resurrection. You will be amazed at how pristine, quiet, and Holy the area is and how it has been kept for two thousand years, exactly in the manner it was left when they stopped inhabiting the area. You will enjoy dinner again at our unique hotel and have time to walk into the village with its charming shops built into these unique cut-out rock formations.

After a scrumptious breakfast at our unique hotel, you will meander back through the unique landscape and board your quick flight to one of the most posh cities of Asia Minor – Izmir. You will feel as if you are in San Diego instead of Turkey! Upon arrival, you will be driven through a mountainous area. Time permitting, we will visit the rarely-visited site of Colossae and arrive at the massive, tombed city of Hierapolis. After your walk through this “city of the dead”, you will visit quite a jewel:  the newest entrant for archeological excellence, the site of Laodicea, which is one of the Seven Churches. You will likely be very impressed with what has been uncovered and at the mystery of where you are standing. Next, you will enjoy immersing your feet in the thermal pools of Pamukkale.  While your feet are soaking in the hot water, you will be treated to a bird’s-eye-view of the snowcapped mountain towering above us. You will then check into the quaint thermal pool hotel. Be sure to bring your suit and float in the rich mineral baths. This will have been a big day, and the soak will put you right to sleep! You will have dinner at the resort this evening.

You will have breakfast this morning and then be driven for about a 90-minute drive to arrive at the church of Sardis. This is one of our favorite archeological visits. There is an amazing ancient gymnasium here and a synagogue that is very pristine. This church is one that Jesus spoke against because of their weakness. You will then travel on to the site of  Thyatira. It has spectacular columns and a beautiful, ancient roadway.  Rev 2:18-23:  18 “And to the [h]angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 “I know your works, love, [i]service, faith, and your [j]patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have [k]a few things against you, because you allow [l]that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, [m]to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to [n]repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of [o]their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches[p] the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.”  

You will stop for lunch and then visit perhaps the most compelling of all the Seven Churches – Pergamon. This is one of our favorite teaching sites because Jesus stated that this was the location of Satan’s throne. Today, that throne sits in Berlin. It was moved by Hitler’s Army to a museum in Berlin. There is much to say about the use of this throne in modern history by both Adolf Hitler and our former President Barak Obama, but the site itself has impressive, 40-mile views. The theatre sits perched high above – a high place, just as Satan desires. It is so high up that you will actually visit the site via funicular! Revelation 2:12-16 “And to the [f]angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, [g]which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”  

Your drive today takes you along the Mediterranean Sea towards Ephesus. This is a well-trodden route of the Apostles. Upon arrival, you will board the vessel and relax, as you are most likely aboard one of the prettiest vessels on the water. You will meet your crew tonight during dinner.

You will have an opportunity this morning to sleep in or partake of a lazy coffee together on your beautiful deck. Once everyone is well rested, you will be driven to the finest archeological wonder in the Mediterranean – Ephesus – where you will enjoy a day of learning and teaching. Today, we will have teaching time with Joel in the theatre where Paul himself gave his bold teaching to the Ephesians (Acts 19). You will be served a sumptuous, Turkish lunch. Time permitting, you will also visit an amazing Biblical site known as Didyma, today. The Temple of Apollo is here and is second only to the one at Delphi. The setting is quite spectacular, and we will rejoin our estimable crew from this location. You will dine aboard the ship this evening. 

You are welcome to sleep in and relax this morning. You might want to consider grabbing a coffee and a lounge chair and enjoying our morning trip across the channel as we proceed closer to our goal – the island of Patmos. Upon arrival, you will disembark and then embark on a bus which will transport you to the tiny cave where John was imprisoned and where he humbly received the book of Revelation. You will have plenty of time today; there is no need to rush. Meander the tiny streets, visit its shops, have a coffee or pastry, and enjoy spectacular views of our yacht in the distance. After folks have reassembled, you will visit the monastery at the top and see its ancient parchments and Biblical artifacts. On the descent from the cave, you have time now to meander, walk, swim, shop, and just reflect on what John encountered and what his life must have been like being in this place. You may gaze up at the mountain and see how thorny and harsh it is. This is where he had been sent to live: alone and away from all that he knew – yet almost within view of where he ministered to so many. Tonight, you will have great fellowship at a favorite beachfront restaurant that has amazing food! You may choose to enjoy the deck and the view of the monastery and cave from the deck of your yacht this evening. 

This will be a relaxing morning for you on Patmos. You are free to walk, rent a boat, rent a bicycle, or just take time for reflection in a quiet bay or cuddled up in a chair on the deck, catch up on journaling, and with new friends. Take another nap! Your yacht sets sail for the island of Kos today.  This island was an important crossroads for the apostles. While here, you can spend time visiting with the locals, shopping, having a fresh fish lunch, swimming, or reveling in simple fellowship and having Joel teach us more about his insights on the Book of Revelation. You will overnight on Kos tonight.

Kos was one of the places where Paul stopped on his third missionary journey. It is also the home of Hippocrates. While here, you will visit the famous Asclepium where the father of western medicine practiced. Later in the day, you will depart Kos and move towards the most beautiful sights in the Mediterranean. Your overnight stay will be at Adabogazi Bay tonight. 

Today will be focused on teaching, reflection, and walks in the areas of the Early Church. Stopping intermittently, you will be in the area of waters that were considered important, if not essential, between Israel and Rome. Enjoying the crystal blue waters will set the stage for total relaxation as your days with us draw to a close. You will overnight in a small marina where you can enjoy the ambiance of Mediterranean life.

Today, we will be in Bodrum. German Bay is considered to be the most beautiful of all which you have seen so far. Visitors come from all over the world to gaze at the sights of this treasured hideaway. There will be baptisms today for anyone who would like to take part in this sacrament of regeneration. Tonight, you are welcome to join us as we celebrate Shabbat. Though not all may practice this tradition, since Sunday is our travel day, this is a splendid opportunity to have a ship-based acknowledgment of Our Father and worship together in such a spectacular place of beauty. It is a perfect, restful ending to a very intensive, learning adventure. You will enjoy a wonderful, farewell dinner planned together. This will be your final dinner with the group so plan to enjoy the stars in the sky and the beautiful waters and beaches one last time.

Today you will say goodbye to your crew. You will depart the ship at around 9:00AM this morning for your noon flight back to Istanbul, change planes, and arrive in Dulles (or your home airport) at 7:45PM this evening.