I. Introduction
A. The city of Smyrna was about 35 miles north of Ephesus
1. It was and still is an important sea port
a. The city's name is now Ismir
2. It was the site of the temple to Emperor Tiberious
B. As a representative church, Smyrna pictures the time from about 100 AD to 314 AD
1. This church age begins with the death of the Apostle John
2. And it ends when Constantine ascended the throne of Rome
a. Constantine issue the Edict of Toleration
b. And himself embraced Christianity
3. However, the age of the church at Smyrna is characterized by sever persecution
C. The name Smyrna means Myrrh
1. We know that Myrrh was used in preparation of the body for burial
2. Myrrh was a spice which had to be crushed to release its sweet fragrance
3. This was providential because the church suffered persecution and death for her stand for Christ
D. In our examination of this church we shall see
1. The Commendable
2. The warning
3. The Promise
4. There is no condemnation for this church
a. But, there is condemnation for the persecutors of the church
b. Turn to Revelation 2:8
II. Body
A. The preamble to Christ's message to the church at Smyrna also sheds some light on the character of the church and its represented age
1. Christ was addressing Himself to a church and a church age who were under constant threat of death and torture.
2. Being a Christian was a very dangerous thing to be
a. Not something to chose unless you were very sure of your faith
b. One didn't go to church on Sunday because it was the socially acceptable thing to do
c. Why, to identify one's self with any Christian activity was to be labeled as a Christian and marked for execution
Revelation 2:8
To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
3. Christ is saying, I am the first and the last
a. You are suffering because of Me, just as I promised
(1) Last week we read John 15:18 - 20, where Jesus promises persecution - well, that promise applies to the church at Ephesus and the church at Smyrna
(a) And it still applies today
(b) Just because we have experienced a couple hundred years of peace does not mean it will continue - More persecution is coming - and we have only begun to see the tip of the ice burg. The people who are running things in our country, in our society, are people who still respect the church; BUT, this unchurched generation will soon be in charge. We shall see them assume the reigns of government and industry, if the Lord tarries. Then we shall see a real beginning of persecution of the church, again.
b. Christ is telling the church, You are suffering because of Me, just as I promised
(1) BUT, I am the first, there was none before me
(a) Not in time
(b) Not in superiority
(2) AND, I am the last, after me, no other will come
(a) I am the ultimate
(b) Your stand for my name is justified, because of who I am
(c) Turn to 1 Corinthians 15:12 ff
c. I am the one who died and came to life again
1 Corinthians 15:12-19
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? (13) If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. (14) And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. (15) More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. (16) For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. (17) And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. (18) Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. (19) If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
(1) That last verse in the King James says,
1 Corinthians 15:19
If in this life ONLY we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable
(2) BUT, Christ is saying that He died the death they faced
(3) AND He prevailed
(4) He rose again
(5) And since He did rise from the dead, the power of the resurrection was His to give to the church at Smyrna
(a) And to every believer
B. The Commendable - Revelation 2:9
Revelation 2:9
I know your afflictions and your poverty--yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
1. Christ says, I know your affliction
a. The King James uses the word tribulation - now this is not THE TRIBULATION which is to come upon the whole earth
b. This is only some minor troubles - afflictions
c. Foxes book of Martyrs says that some 5 million Christians were murdered for the name of Christ during the age of the church at Smyrna
d. In Smyrna many were killed including Polycarp in 168 AD
(1) The jews at Smyrna so hated the Christians that they defiled the Sabbath to collect wood with which Polycarp was burned at the stake
2. Then He says, I know your poverty
a. We find in the commendation of the church at Smyrna Christ's words I know your poverty
(1) I wonder how those who teach the modern American doctrine that God wants Christians healthy and wealthy would explain this
(2) The church at Smyrna was filled with the poor
(a) Slaves
(b) Ex-slaves
(c) Runaway slaves
(d) Those who lost everything because of their faith in Christ
(3) The church at Smyrna and of the Smyrnian age didn't have health, wealth and peace
(4) Just the opposite, they had affliction, poverty, and conflict
3. Jesus says, "I know your afflictions and your poverty--yet you are rich!"
a. He commends the spiritual wealth of the church
C. Condemnation of the Jews
1. In this same verse 9, is a condemnation of the Jews who were persecuting the church
a. We already mentioned the martyrdom of Polycarp and the desecration of the Sabbath by the Jews to help in his death
b. This is the kind of blasphemous thing the unfaithful Jew engaged in.
(1) Jesus called them a synagogue of Satan
(a) The word synagogue comes from the Greek which means a gathering together
(b) And so, Christ is calling these people a gathering together by the prince of darkness
(c) They are gathered together to attack and destroy the church of Christ
(d) They are a gathering together of ethnic Jews, who, because of their hatred of the things of God were no longer considered Jews by the Lord
(2) Today, we don't have much trouble from the Jews
(a) BUT, others have infiltrated the visible church who hate the things of God and are trying to destroy the true church. These cannot be considered Christians any more than Christ considered these in the synagogue of Satan as Jews
(b) Not turn to Revelation 2:10
D. Warning
Revelation 2:10
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
1. Actually this is not really a warning; but, an admonition and a prophecy
a. It is unclear what the ten days of persecution was for the church at Smyrna.
(1) It was probably a short intense period of persecution
b. BUT, the ten days in the Smyrnian age represent the ten distinct edits of the Roman Emperors
(1) Nero 64 - 68 AD Paul was beheaded
(2) Domition 95-96 AD John was exiled to Patmos
(3) Trajan 104 - 117 AD Ignatius was burned
(4) Marcus Aurelius 161 - 180 AD Polycarp was burned
(5) Severus 200 - 211 AD
(6) Maximinius 235 - 237 AD
(7) Decius 250 - 253 AD
(8) Valerian 257 - 260 AD
(9) Aurelian 270 - 275 AD
(10) Diocletion 303 - 313 AD
c. Each of these emperors issued orders to the provincial governors to hunt down and kill the Christians
2. Jesus tells the church, "Don't be afraid"
a. I have often wondered about death. Its coming is promised and is as sure a thing as we have in this world. The old saying about there being only two sure things in this life, death and taxes, point inexorably to death's sure arrival to take each one of us. I have wondered about death; and there is no fear of being dead. I know beyond the shadow of a doubt just where I will be when I depart this plane of existence; BUT, I am concerned about dying. As I grow older, this old body hurts more and more. And I can't help but be somewhat apprehensive about dying...will it hurt?
(1) I find Jesus words comforting, "Don't be afraid"
(a) He is the first - there is none before Him
(b) He is the last - there shall none come after Him
(c) He is the ultimate
(d) He has tasted death - His was much worse than I anticipate
(e) He was concerned about dying
(f) But, As, the old song says, "Jesus has set the example, dauntless was He, young and brave"
b. Some have said, the worst they can do is kill you. Well, that is not necessarily so. The soldiers who fell into the hands of the communists in Korea and Vietnam can tell you different.
(1) BUT, Christ's words were meant to comfort
(a) Turn to James 1:12
(b) Christ's words were meant to comfort
(2) Don't be afraid, its going to be bad. BUT, be faithful. . . even to the point of death
(a) be faithful. . . even to the point of death and I will give you the crown of life.
(b) The crown of life is brought up in James 1:12
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
(3) Do you find it interesting, as I do, that Jesus promised the crown of life to the church as Smyrna?
(a) That crown is reserved to those who persevere under trial
(b) Smyrna persevered
(c) BUT, then so did the church at Ephesus
i) They endured hardship for Christ's name's sake - So, why Smyrna but not Ephesus?
ii) Look at the last line in James 1:12, again, "he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."
iii) The crown of life is promised to those who love Him and who persevere under trial
iv) Remember, Ephesus had forsaken her first love
v) BUT, the church at Smyrna had not - her love was still fresh and warm
c. That first love is important. It was Christ who answered the detractor's challenge concerning the greatest commandment with, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and with all thy soul.
(1) The very first observation we can make from the two churches we have looked at so far is that "our first love" is of prime importance
(2) We need to recapture that love
(a) Christ loves us
(b) He gave Himself to redeem us to Himself
(c) We need to realize that He wants our love!!!!
i) Christ commended the church at Ephesus for their hard work, for their patience, for their stand on the Word of God; for persevering under hardship for His name's sake
ii) BUT, He held the fact that they had forsaken their first love
iii) All that hard work was good
iv) Their patience was good
v) Their stand on the Word of God was good
vi) Their endurance of hardship was good
vii) But, it was of little good with out their first love
(3) We must rekindle the fire of our love of Christ
(a) If we find that we might have drifted a little
(b) We can repent, pray confessing our wandering
(c) We can pray and ask God to relight the fire of our life
(d) Let's turn to Revelation 2:11
E. Promises
1. Christ, in verse 11, makes His promise
Revelation 2:11
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
2. The overcomer - the Christian, will not be hurt at all by the second death:
a. Turn to the 20th chapter of Revelation and verse 6
Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
(1) The first resurrection, the resurrection through the power of Christ's resurrection is for the overcomer, the Christian, those who love Christ
(2) The second death, to them, means nothing
(a) it holds no power
(b) there is no need to fear
(c) the first death means only a leaving of this plane and this pain to be in the very presence of Christ Himself
(3) Those who love Christ and persevere under the hardships promised for His name's sake shall receive the crown of life
(4) Now drop down to verse 14 in that 20th chapter of Revelation
Revelation 20:14
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
(a) The promise of Christ to the overcomer is to escape the lake of fire
(5) Now turn over to Revelation 21:7 & 8
Revelation 21:7-8
He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. (8) But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
(a) Look at the promise in verse 7, "He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son."
(b) What a precious promise to those who love Christ; who over come this evil world
i) He will inherit all this
ii) All what?
iii) Look up in that chapter to verse 1 and read down with me.
Revelation 21:1-7
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. (2) I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. (3) And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. (4) He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (5) He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (6) He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. (7) He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
iv) All who overcome will inherit all of what John saw and tried to describe
v) And Christ will be his God
vi) And the overcomer will be His son
vii) This is not meant to be sexist; male and female will have the birth right of sons of God and eternal inheritance
III. Summary
A. In our examination of this church we have seen
1. The Commendable things about the church at Smyrna
a. Their affliction
b. Their poverty
c. Their spiritual riches
2. The admonition
a. Not to be afraid
b. But, to remain faithful
c. Even to the point of death
3. The Promise
a. The promise of the crown of life
(1) To those who love Christ and endure hardship for His name's sake
(2) And the promise of not being hurt by the second death
4. There was no condemnation for the church at Smyrna
a. But, there was condemnation for the persecutors of the church
B. The resurrected Christ walks among the lampstands of the churches and sees and judges - not just the seven; but all the churches - even Grace Baptist
1. Grace is not a Smyrnian church
a. We have not endured the hardship they did
b. We have not suffered the poverty they did
2. Is Grace an Ephesian church?
a. Most assuredly we work hard
b. We are patient and faithful in our programs
c. We have taken a stand on the Word of God
d. I don't believe that we have accepted a Nicolatian practice
e. But, we have not undergone adversity for His name's sake; but, would we have had it come?
f. And where do we stand in relation to our first love?
IV. Challenge
A. I cannot over emphasize enough the significance of our first love
1. No manner of works
2. No manner of suffering
3. No manner of orthodoxy
4. No manner of poverty can substitute for that love
5. If our works do not grow out of our love - they are of no account
a. Each of us must examine ourself and pray God to fan the flame of our love of Christ
b. This is where we must begin, if we are to see revival in our church; our community; our country
B. Prayer
1. Oh Lord God in heaven. We pray now the ministering of your Holy Spirit within us. Reveal to us the state of our love for Jesus. It is our desire to be a church that is in love with our Lord and Savior. BUT, we know that we can easily drift away from that love and we humbly ask that you help us to love you and your beloved Son more and more each day. We know our failures and we confess them to you. We are unworthy of Christ; BUT, He loves us and we want to want to love Him as much as we can. Lord, our work is for you. But, we often forget and do it our of obligation. Set us on fire with your love and rekindle our hearts; that our work would once again be a joy.
We are unable to do even this simple thing by ourselves. . .we need your grace; we need your mercy; we need your power to relight our ardor. Grant this we pray in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
