Bible Matrix ⑦_156_REV 2:8~11 – (2) Smyrna - Background & Meaning of Christian Historical Perspectives
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbjqaVB8ANA
Bible Matrix ⑦: Historical & Scientific Views on Daniel and Revelation
Part 2. Revelation
Revelation 2:8~11 - To the Church in Smyrna, Tribulation/Persecution/Martyrdom, Receiving Only Praise from Jesus
Revelation 2:8~11 – (2) Church in Smyrna - Background & Meaning of Christian Historical Perspectives, AD 100~312, The Age of Persecution & Martyrdom
○ Pls read ‘After the death of Jesus, in AD 34, Stephen as the first martyr‘ - Stephen(c.AD 5~34), a Hellenistic or Grecian Jew, the first of the seven deacons (Acts 6:5) of the early church in Jerusalem, at the age of 30, criticized the formal ceremonies, authorities, and the rejection of the Holy Spirit of Judaism, and the temple made by human hands, and asserted that Jesus was the Messiah. As a result, Stephen was stoned to death by the Supreme Council as Sanhedrin and the Jews at the east or north gate of Jerusalem (Acts 7:54~60). Thus, Stephen became the protomartyr or the first martyr of Christianity since the death of Jesus Christ.
☞ In my opinion, the reason why Stephen was recognized as the first martyr is because there are similarities of the martyrdom of Stephen to the death of Jesus on the cross (please study). And after the Acts 7:54~60, which described the death of Stephen, martyrdom was regarded as one of true existences or grounds of Christianity or Christians.
☞ On that day of Stephen’s martyrdom a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea, Samaria, Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch. And the Jews from Sanhedrin began to destroy the church in Jerusalem. Going from house to house, they dragged off both men and women and put them in prison (Acts 8:1~3).
○ Pls read ‘James, the 3rd disciple of Jesus, was the first martyred disciple in AD 44 among 11 disciples‘ – Among 12 disciples, except for John the Apostle (AD 6~100), the 4th disciple and died of natural causes at age 94, the rest of the 11 disciples were all martyrs, just as Jesus told Peter, the first disciple, as written in <John> 21:18~19. The martyrdom of the 11 disciples, that is, where, when, and how they were martyred, has already been explained in detail in <Bible Matrix 5>.
☞ Here, I will examine only the first martyred disciple. The first martyred disciple was the third disciple of Jesus, James the Great, or James the Elder, who was the elder brother of the fourth disciple, John. At the time of James' martyrdom, the Tetrarch of Judea was Herod Agrippa I (reigned of Judea AD 41~44). It was about this time in AD 44 when King Herod Agrippa I arrested some who belonged to the church in Jerusalem to persecute them. He had James put to death with the sword (Acts 12:1~2).
○ Pls read ‘Martyrdom of Ignatius’: Later, in AD 107, during the persecution of Christians by the Roman emperor Trajan (reigned, 98~117), Ignatius Theophorus (bearer of God), the bishop of the church of Antioch in Syria, was taken to Rome by 10 Roman soldiers and was thrown to the lions and eaten alive in the amphitheater. Polycarp (AD 80~155 or 156), the bishop of the Church of Smyrna, and Ignatius were friends and disciples of John the Apostle.
○ Pls read ‘Martyrdom of Polycarp and Pionius’: Then, in 155 or 156, during the persecution of Christians by Statius Quadratus, the Roman proconsul of Asia as a Governor, Polycarp (ministered AD 80~155 or 156), the bishop of the Church of Smyrna was martyred by being burned at the stake. And during the persecution of Christians by Roman Emperor, Trajanus Desio (Decius, reign, 249~251), Pionius, a priest or presbyter of the Church in Smyrna, was put to terrible tortures and burned at the stake along with 15 companions, including Sabinus, Limnus, Macedonia, and Asclepiades in 249~251.
○ In conclusion, during the period from AD 100 to 312, the church in Smyrna overcame the fierce persecution by the Roman Empire through martyrdom, but instead of destroying the church, the persecution served as an opportunity for the fragrance of the gospel of heaven to spread like perfume all over the world.
○ So, instead of any rebuke to the Church in Smyrna, Jesus says, "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." This is because Jesus knows that the church in Smyrna would risk its life as martyrdom and be faithful to Jesus Christ even in the midst of tribulation and persecution. Here, the crown of life, as I will discuss it later, refers to the first resurrection, that is, the resurrection to eternal life without the second death (Revelation 20:5~6).