Revelation 2: 8 – 11
The Church At Smyrna
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’
Our Lord's second epistle to the seven churches of Asia is addressed to the church at Smyrna. Of all the letters this one contains the most continuous and unbroken tone of praise for the recipients, for our Lord is in thorough sympathy with the congregation He is addressing.
In all probability the church at Smyrna was founded by Paul during his third evangelistic journey around 53 to 56 AD. This would seem a safe conclusion from the book of Acts chapter 19 verse 10 where we read that "all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks."
Today the city of Smyrna is now known by it's Turkish name, Izmir, and has a population of three million people, making it Turkey's third largest city and second largest seaport.
As early as 195 B.C. Smyrna foresaw the rising power of Rome and built a temple for pagan Roman worship. In 23 B.C. Smyrna was given the honor of building a temple to the Emperor Tiberius because of its years of faithfulness to Rome. Thus, the city became a center for the cult of emperor worship -- a fanatical religion that later, under such emperors as Nero who ruled from 54 to 68 A.D. and Domitian who ruled from 81 to 96 A.D., brought on severe persecution for the early church. A man who was the Apostle John’s disciple by the name of Polycarp was martyred in the stadium at Smyrna in 155 A.D.
We will see in just these few verses how much our Precious Lord loved these people who went through immense persecution. We will read about their solid love for God Himself and witness their ability to endure tremendous suffering for Him. Our Holy King will tell us some facts on Who He Is; what He knows; what He commands; and what He promises to those who remain faithful to Him.
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life
This letter comes from our Lord Jesus Christ, "the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life". Christ Jesus our King was aware of the great affliction being suffered by the saints at Smyrna. He represents Himself to them as the One who was dead and came alive to give them strength in the knowledge of His sovereignty over death and life. These verses highlight the eternity of the One who addressed the church -- One Whom death itself could not vanquish. The risen Christ experienced the worst that life could do to Him -- He died in the agony of the cross, so no matter what happened to the Christians of Smyrna, our Precious King and Master Jesus Christ had already been through it. We understand from the book of Hebrews chapter 4 verse 15 - "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are..."
Our Great and Wonder Lord Jesus Christ conquered the worst that life can do -- He triumphed over pain and death and He offers us the way to victorious living. This letter was intended for the benefit of the Smyrna Christians to encourage them to be faithful unto death, or martyrdom, with no fear of the consequences.
These people like many today lived under constant treat of their very lives. Our Lord assured them and us that what ever happens here is not the end. On the other hand, you can compromise and live but in the end – lose.
9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Jehovah Elyon – The Lord Most High Is All Knowing – He knows what every human being on earth does. If you are willing to live godly in Christ Jesus our Lord you can look forward to a few things – ‘I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those’
1. Tribulation
2. Poverty
3. Slander
4. False accusations
There was "tribulation," which indicated affliction and physical violence at the hands of Jewish and heathen persecutors and oppressors. The apostle Paul said in the book of 2 timothy chapter 3 verse 12 that, "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution".
Someone once said if you want to be like the Lord Jesus Christ, do not be shocked to see people wanting to crucify you.
In the opinion of the Lord Jesus Christ only two churches, Smyrna and Philadelphia, needed no rebuke. These same two, and only these, were warned to expect persecution.
The brethren at Smyrna were to endure poverty and a lack of physical necessities. The Greek word for "poverty" (ptocheian) "is used of the 'poverty' which Christ voluntarily experienced on our behalf, as recorded in the book of 2 Corinthians chapter 8 verse 9, “9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”
You can picture the pagan world ridiculing the believers from Smyrna for their claim of worshipping the Creator of all things while their God would not bless them with affluence -- but their poverty is a part of their tribulation.
In spite of physical poverty the Lord said, "but you are rich". How much better it is to be poor in the eyes of the world, but rich before our Master and God our Lord Jesus Christ.
The world looked at the saints in Smyrna and saw nothing but poverty, but He who sees not as man sees, saw the true riches they had as declared in 2 Corinthians chapter 4, “16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Their treasure was in heaven.
They were also going to endure the blasphemy, slander and misrepresentation of the Jews who reviled, railed, and showed contempt against the Christians in Smyrna. The Jews considered themselves as the "synagogue of God," but were actually the "synagogue of Satan." Judaism was a legal religion and, by offering prayers to the emperor, they escaped the fate of the Christians.
Nothing is accidental in this book, so it is worth noting these phrases: "The synagogue of Satan" is mentioned in Smyrna, representing the Jewish antagonism to the church. "Satan's throne" was in Pergamos, which is described in verse 13, representing the heathen. We also read in verse 24 of "The depths of Satan" were found in Thyatira, representing the heretical.
We sometimes assume the early Christians were persecuted because of the truth for which they stood and the morality they preached -- this would have interfered with the passions of men. While this is true, it does not tell the whole story, for Satan is behind all of the persecution we might suffer.
In the book of Ephesians chapter 6 we read in verse 12 - "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places".
They were also going to be imprisoned.
10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
The local citizens including family members turned Christians over to the Romans because they would not confess Caesar as Lord, and many would be cast into prison. Prison was thought of by the writer, the apostle John, as a prelude to execution, and was understood in that sense by his readers. Oftentimes prison would do what torture could not. Those who had endured torture were returned to prison to see what hunger and thirst, cold, darkness and chains would do. Little by little their courage and steadfastness could wear down. Death or martyrdom would be a likely occurrence.
When Christians refused to burn incense to the emperor of Rome as god, they were accused of treason and sentenced to die. As I mentioned before the church leader at Smyrna after the apostle John was Polycarp. He was martyred for this very crime.
Polycarp suffered much for Christ's sake as Eusebius, the church historian, tells us. The Roman Proconsul commanded him to swear allegiance to Caesar, saying, "Swear, and I will set thee at liberty; reproach Christ." How courageous was Polycarp's reply: "Eighty and six years have I now served Christ, and he has never done me the least wrong; how, then, can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?" Further efforts to make him deny his Lord failed and Polycarp was condemned to be burned at the stake.
When the day came for him to be burned alive, those responsible for the burning wanted to nail him to the stake, but Polycarp protested saying: "Let me alone as I am: for He who has given me strength to endure the fire, will also enable me, without your securing me by nails to stand without moving in the pile." He was then not nailed to the stake but only tied to it with his hands behind his back.
Now there are some very important questions relative to this 10 day period of tribulation. I will list for you some of the ideas and then mine.
1. A day is a year at the Bible has so informed us, so we are talking about 10 years of persecution by Rome. This idea cannot be right because Rome persecuted Christians for many more years than just 10
2. The most brutal emperor at Rome was Diocletian. Many take the position that the 10 years were from his evil rule. The church history for Smyrna is from 135 AD to around 450 AD. Diocletian was in charge of Rome from 284 AD to around 305 AD, which if you know your math is more than 10 years. Perhaps, he did most of his damage within the 10 years. Yes, his reign caused a lot of great people to suffer, yet when you look at church history other believers suffered significantly through the other time periods.
3. The number 10 in the Bible refers to a short time. This is my view of what the 10 days represent. We may understand more from these passages;
Genesis 24, “55 But her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman stay with us a few days, at least ten; after that she may go.”
Job 19, “ 3 These ten times you have reproached me; You are not ashamed that you have wronged me.”
Daniel 1, “12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.”
11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’
The Lord offers not the royal crown (Gr. diadema) but the victor's crown (Gr. stephanos). Many had striven in the games and received a victor's crown -- these crowns were made of leaves that died. Our crown lasts because it is made of life.
Our "crown" is spoken of in many New Testament passages.
1 Corinthians 9: 25 "And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown."
1 Thessalonians 2: 19 , "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?"
"Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the 2 Timothy 4: 8 “Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing."
James 1: 12, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
1 Peter 5: 4, "When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away"
The Lord is offering us a crown "which consists of" life, glory and righteousness.
And we also get out of a consequence that all others will have to face – the second death. I close with this verse from the book of Revelation chapter 6, “6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
Amen!
