Revelation 2:8-11 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. All of the seven letters have the same basic outline. The only real difference is that two of the churches really have no condemnation from the Lord. Yet in both of these churches, there is specifically mentioned the condemnation of the world and so the outlines are basically the same for all seven letters. Today we come to Smyrna. Smyrna was a victorious church. As you read through the letter you get a certain feeling of victory in the lives of the saints. Smyrna is sometimes called the “poor, but rich” church. It stands in contrast to the church in Laodicea, “the rich, but poor” church. To Smyrna, Jesus said: Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. To Laodicea, Jesus said: Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: There is a lot of discussion as to whether the seven letters are really prophetic of seven periods of the church age or not. To be honest, I can see some problems with a dogmatic approach to that view. Nevertheless, you cannot miss the similarities that exist between the letters and the certain periods of church history. The church of Smyrna is a picture of the church between 100 A.D. and 313 A.D. During this time the church passed through ten periods of intense persecution. Now, there has always been persecution, but it at its worst during the first three centuries. The City Smyrna sat on the western coast of Asia about 35 miles to the north of the city of Ephesus. Today it is Izmir, Turkey. Note the similarities between the words “Izmer” and “Smyrna”. Smyrna was one of the finest cities in Asia and was known as the “glory of Asia”. It was Homer’s birthplace - Homer who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey; not Homer Simpson! Smyrna was a harbor city which made it an important center of commerce. Much like Ephesus, it also sat on a major road that ran from Smyrna into the interior of Asia. Smyrna maintained a very healthy relationship with the Roman Empire by constructing a temple for the worship of Caesar. The city loved Rome so much that on one occasion, they stripped off their clothing and gave them to the Roman soldiers during one of their wars. The Romans considered Smyrna to be one of their most faithful and ancient allies. One of the hills of the city, the Pagos, with its splendid public buildings, came to be commonly referred to as “the crown of Smyrna”. It was given this nickname because of the order in which the buildings were situated on the top of the hill. The “street of gold”, which was literally paved with gold, ran across the hill leading from the temples of Zeus to Cybele, Asklepios, Apollo, And Aphrodite. The main false god of the city was the goddess, Cybele. She was referred to as the “Mother of the gods”. No doubt there was a strong Jewish presence in Smyrna. Look at Revelation 2:9. Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Jesus also uses the word “synagogue” which would seem to denote a large enough population of Jews to support a place of worship. As usual, the Jews exceeded the Romans in their persecution and this is mentioned in the letter. Smyrna was also famous for the production of myrrh. In fact, that is where the name comes from. Myrrh is a bitter gum-like substance that comes from a small tree. The leaves of the tree produce a strong fragrance when it is crushed. Myrrh was used for several things and the Bible gives us an abundance of examples. In Psalm 45:8, we find an example where myrrh was used as a perfume. Psalms 45:8 All thy garments smell of myrrh… It was apparently expensive enough that one of the wise men thought it would be an appropriate gift for a king: Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Myrrh also had a medicinal purpose for assistance with pain management. In fact, in Mark 15:23, they offered it to Jesus while He was being crucified. Mark 15:23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. One of its most frequent uses was that of burial ointment. It was quite common for the Jews to use it in the anointing of a dead body before burial. We see this is the burial of Christ as well: John 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. The word myrrh means “bitter” and it came to be associated with suffering and death. And this is where the city got its name. And what an appropriate name for the suffering church. The Church (Rev 2:8) Revelation 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; The beginning of the church in Smyrna is unknown but it was most likely founded as a result of evangelistic outreaches from nearby Ephesus. According to Acts 20:31, Paul stayed in Ephesus for three years. It is hard to imagine that he didn’t go to the nearby cities and towns. Although it was the most persecuted church mentioned in Revelation, it did not cease to exist. Even today, there are over 100,000 believers in Izmir. Polycarp, a disciple of John the Apostle, was the Pastor of the church at the time the book of Revelation was written. Stories of his martyrdom are recorded in church history. Ignatious and Eusebius both record that he died in the arena being burned to death by the Romans in 155 A.D. The church in Smyrna was undergoing intense and withering persecution yet Jesus said, “thou art rich”. They were not weak spiritually! The Christ (Rev 2:8) Revelation 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; Jesus presents himself as one who is victorious through persecution. He speaks as one who has passed through suffering and death, triumphing over them. The thrust of the whole statement is found in the fact of the resurrection. Jesus is saying, “as I have risen from the dead, you will also have victory.” Did you get that? Let the devil do whatever he pleases, Christ controls all things! Satan controls nothing! Jesus is telling these saints that He knows what they are facing because He has already faced it. If the world hates us, Jesus understands because they hated him too! If the world persecutes us, it’s okay because they persecuted Christ too. He knows! John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. Christ has already been there. He has already secured the victory for us! Romans 8:37-39 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. You and I are traveling through a world that is no friend of the faith. But Christ has revealed himself to us as the victor! We need to fear! The Commendation (Rev 2:9) Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. As in each letter, an assurance that the Lord knows our works is mentioned first. In spite of all the darkness around them, these people continued to work. They were not intimidated by their enemies; they were not frightened by the hatred of their opponents. Their testimony was powerful because they stayed the course and stuck to the task for the glory of God! They were a consistent church! So here is a soul-searching question: What do our works say about us as a church? What do your works say about you as an individual? In a world like ours, where darkness, wickedness and opposition to Christianity abounds; there is a tendency to tone things down. Most believers moved within the walls of the church where we are safe from the critics and the enemies of truth. But we cannot impact the world if we never confront the world. Down through the years some 70 million believers have died for their faith in Jesus. One day, it may be our turn to suffer. If that day comes, are you ready? Of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation, Smyrna was the most persecuted. But persecution has a purifying effect! Those who were not committed would not seek to be numbered among the believers in Smyrna. The Jews in Smyrna joined hands with the idolaters in that city to defeat and destroy the Christians by whatever means necessary. Jesus calls them “the synagogue of Satan” and accuses them of blasphemy. Notice that they said they were Jews, but Jesus said that they were not Jews! The point of view taken in the book of Revelation is that a true Jew is not one of blood but of faith. This was not a new idea. It has been expressed in several areas of Scripture: Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: The Jews were held accountable for the words that they had spoken against the church. Though the Jews thought that they were on God’s side, it was Jesus that called them the synagogue of Satan. Jesus spoke of their poverty but at the said time, He said they were rich. Smyrna, a city of wealth and education, was a place of poverty for the Christian. If you were known to be a Christian in Asia, you couldn’t get a job. They had literally suffered the loss of all things for Christ. But Jesus not only knew about their poverty but He had experienced poverty Himself: 2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. But the church of Smyrna was not really poor. Jesus said they were rich. Those things that were lost were temporal but they gained eternal riches. Jim Elliot, missionary killed by the Auca indians in Ecuador said, “He is no fool, who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”. Listen folks! We may not ever have anything down here. But that’s okay! We’ve got a lot to look forward too! 2 Corinthians 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. The day may come when this world will take us and our property. They day may come when they threaten us with death. If that day ever comes, take comfort that all you are giving up is what you would have lost at some point anyway. Even if every thing you have is taken away, the treasures you have laid up in Heaven are safe and your soul will merely be liberated to fly home to glory. The Condemnation The church of Smyrna was not condemned by Jesus. They were condemned by the world. Let me just make a statement here. Everyone who will live a holy, separated, dedicated for Jesus Christ, in any generation, is going to face persecution. This should not shock us, nor should it surprise us. Jesus said that it would be this way. John 15:19-21 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. The reason the world hates the believer today is the same reason the world hated the believers then. Because we represent Jesus! Folks that is why the world hates us! That is why the liberals hate us. That is why the homosexuals, the abortionists, the liquor and drug crowd hates us. That is why the Muslim, the Jew and religionist hates us. They hate us because we tell them there is one way to God and that His name is Jesus. The Challenge (Rev 2:10) Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. The Lord does not hide the fact that they will suffer. He tells them to expect it but not to fear it. Their persecutions would be varied but there would be no trial too large, no tribulation too long that they could not bear it. That which can be endured, should not be feared. Jesus said, “Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried”. Certainly not the message anyone would want to hear. But Jesus reveals the truth, to us, not syrupy sentimentalism! It would not be the Jews or the Pagans who would do this deed. It would be Satan himself. We may only see the works of men as they perform their evil deeds but it was Satan who was behind it. Prison in that day was nothing like it is today. When people went to prison under the Roman system, they did not receive a college education, learn a skill and spend their days writing books and watching television. Prison in the first century was a horrible place where people died all around you and rats, bugs, and disease was rampant! Now, look at Revelation 2:10 once more. Notice that Jesus mentioned a 10 day period of persecution. Virtually nothing is known of the literal ten day period for which these words were spoken. However, the church of Smyrna could take consolation that their afflictions were for an appointed and limited time. Historically speaking, never was the church more persecuted than during the period between 68 A.D. and 303 A.D. There are several views of the “ten days” spoken of. One view is that the ten days refer to ten Emperors under which the church suffered many trials. I don’t think so because those that hold this view start with Nero and he had already died. In that case they should have tribulation 9 days! However, the word “day” denotes a period of time and not a person. It was a literal 10 day period for the church of Smyrna which is a picture for us of the persecution that the early churches suffered. But what was the promise of Christ? “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life”. This is the very heart of Christ’s challenge to them - be faithful! “Smyrna, you folks are doing alright. I know its hard but just be faithful. That’s all I ask.” “Jim, you are doing alright. I know it is heard but just be faithful. That’s all I ask”. There is a reward for faithful endurance - a crown of life! This crown is mentioned in James 1:12 as well: James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. This is not a “diadem” or crown of royalty. It is the “stephanos” or victors crown. In the Roman games, the winners were awarded with a “stephanos”. There may also be some allusion to the “crown of Smyrna”. Remember that? Then, as we read in every letter, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” in Revelation 2:11. This is the second time this phrase is used. We may wonder why the Lord did not say it just once at the end of the letters. The answer is simple. He is emphasizing the importance of applying the lessons of every church to ourselves. Just as there are churches like Ephesus today, those who have left their first love, there are also churches like Smyrna - churches and believers who are suffering greatly. The major part of the Western world is free from persecution but those behind the Great Wall of China, those who live in the prison camps of North Korea, they are the church of Smyrna today. But what is Christ’s message to them? be faithful! Be faithful! Be FAITHFUL! The Conquerors (Overcomers) (Rev 2:11) Revelation 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. The comfort given is that they would never face the second death. The phrase “second death” is not found in any other book of the Bible. But it is found in four times in three verses in the book of Revelation. Revelation 2:11 is the first place and we learn that the overcomers will not be hurt of the second death. We see a similar statement in revelation 20:6 Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Those who will take part in the first resurrection will not feel the power of the second death. The remaining references are very explicit: Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. The second death is not meant as a purely spiritual occurrence. It is more than spiritual, it is also physical. The second death, the lake of fire, is a very real and physical place. It is the final resting place of the souls of men who died in unbelief. Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Conclusion Folks, it might get bad down here before we leave this world. There may be trials and there may be tribulations. But, I want you to know that, at the end of the road, we’re going home to be with Jesus. So, press on my brother! Press on my sister! It won’t be very long and we will leave this world far behind and we will enter that precious land! |