All he had to say about the church of Smyrna he was able to cover in just four verses.
However, we must not think less of this church, or feel they were insignificant just because there are less verses given to them.
Why?
Because there were only two of the seven churches that the Lord did not have words of condemnation for –
• The church of Philadelphia,
• And, you guessed it, the Church at Smyrna.
The church at Smyrna was a tremendous church, and the Lord did not have one bad thing to say about this church!
Illus: If the Lord was grading the First Baptist Church we would hope He felt the same about our church.
However, the scripture tells us that the church of Smyrna was going through some very difficult times.
The Word of God teaches us so many things about life, such as, there is a time and place for everything.
And when someone is suffering that is not the time to add to their sufferings.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
The church of Smyrna is known as THE SUFFERING CHURCH.
When people are suffering, they do not need words of CONDEMNATION, they NEED WORDS OF COMFORT.
The Lord knowing this, had nothing harsh to say about them.
People need to think before they speak.
Illus: Dr. Odell Belger tells how his dad was known for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.
For example, he said my oldest brother had OPEN heart Surgery and I took my dad to the hospital to see him. When we got there MY BROTHER had tubes sticking out of him in several places.
And needless to say he was in a lot of pain.
After my dad said greeted him, My dad said, I was up here last week to see so and so and he was in the same bed, in fact, he died with the same thing you had, actually in that bed with a heart attack!
When a person is flat on their back you have to be careful what you say to them.
There is a TIME AND PLACE for everything.
Eccleastes doesn’t say this but implies this, there is a time to talk and there is a time to SHUT-UP!
The Lord Jesus is writing this personal letter Himself, and using John as the "postman" to deliver it to them to encourage them to continue fighting the good fight of faith.
Everything about the life of Christ is a lesson to us.
From this letter that Christ sent to that suffering church, we can learn a great deal about how to treat people when they are suffering.
As we study these FOUR verses that deal with the church at Smyrna, we can see why they needed comfort.
Let's look at...
I. THE CONTENTS.
In our study of the church at Ephesus we established:
• That Ephesus was one of the most exciting places on earth to live at that time.
• But, Smyrna was one of the most lovely places to live.
• If you lived in Smyrna, you lived at the top of the social totem pole.
• In the letter to the church of Ephesus it was mentioned that Ephesus was the "Queen city" of Asia.
• But, there are those who feel that Smyrna was the "Queen city," and the people of Smyrna felt that way.
Illus: In fact, archeologists have found coins from that area upon which the words, "The first city of Asia”, were inscribed.
We can best get the picture of the competition between the people of these two cities, when we compare them to two football teams that consider each other to be rivals.
The people of Ephesus claimed their town was number one, and in many ways Smyrna was number one.
I do not want to LINGER to long on this, but for you to understand about this great church in Smyrna I need to tell you somethings about the LOCATION OF THIS CHURCH.
• Smyrna was located only 35 miles north of Ephesus which means it had a good location.
• No one knows exactly when the church of Smyrna was started, but it was probably started when Paul was in Ephesus. He was there three years, and Acts 19:10 says, "...so that ALL they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks." Since Smyrna was only 35 miles away, we can safely assume that included them.
• Smyrna was originally founded as a Greek colony in 1000 B.C.
• It was later destroyed in 600 B.C.
• It was rebuilt by one of the great generals of Alexander the Great around 301-281 B.C.
• It was with great pride that the citizens of Smyrna would declare how their lovely city had once been destroyed, yet it was rebuilt even greater than it had been before.
• It was known for its large amphitheater, that seated as many as twenty thousand at one time - which was large for that day and time.
• It was one of the proudest and most beautiful cities of Asia.
• Historians state it is the most beautiful city that the Greeks have ever built.
• It still exists. If you were to visit Turkey you would find it, it is now called Izmar. It has a population of 275,000 people.
• Illus: Smyrna was referred to by many as the "crown city," because it sat on the top of a beautiful hill, and as ships approached from the sea, the beautiful buildings looked like a crown on the top of that hill.
• It was probably because of this that the Lord Jesus reminded those Christians that one day He would give them A SUFFERING CHUCH A REAL CROWN, and they would not just live in a city that looked like a crown.
• Smyrna got its name from its chief export which was a gum-like resin taken from a shrub that was very bitter called Myrrh.
This myrrh was used for four things:
(1) It was used for making perfume - Psalm 45:8.
(2) It was used for embalming - John 19:39.
(3) It was used for purification of women - Esther 2:12.
(4) It was used for an anesthetic - Mark 15:23
It was used three times in connection with the life of Christ.
(1) His birth - Matt. 2:11
(2) His crucifixion - Mark 15:23.
(3) His burial - John 19:39.
As we look at the three times "myrrh" was connected to the life of Jesus, we discover that each time, it was used as a GIFT, ANESTHETIC, or for His BURIAL.
However, it is interesting to note that it IS NOT mentioned in connection with the future coming of Christ.
Isaiah 60:6 says, "...all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord."
• When Christ was born He was presented with gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
• But, when Isaiah spoke of Christ's returning, myrrh is not mentioned.
Why?
• Because it was used as an anesthetic. When Christ died on the cross, it was administered because of His suffering.
• When He returns He will not be the SUFFERING Christ (Savior). He is coming back as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and myrrh is not mentioned.
"Smyrna" comes from the word "myrrh."
Myrrh was the city's chief export, and many of the people became very wealthy as they would crush the plant and extract its gum-like resin, and ship it around the world to be used in the four ways we have mentioned.
Now, with THESE FACTS in mind, let us look at the church of Smyrna and see how the Smyrna Christians fit into that "Ritzy" society.
II. THE CHURCH.
The letter written to the church of Ephesus was written to the Pastor, but the letter to the church in Smyrna was written to the church of Smyrna.
Why was it written to the church?
Because the people of the church could relate to the city that they lived in - a city that was proud of its culture, its beauty, its commercial wealth, and its social life.
It was a city where everyone was trying to climb the social ladder.
The Lord had this to say to those people in verse 8, "These things saith the first and the last..."
In other words, everyone in Smyrna was trying so hard to be first on the social ladder.
But Jesus said that He was "...the first and the last..."
That is, when that crowd has come and gone, He is still going to be here.
(2) In verse 10, Christ said, "I will give thee a crown of life." In other words,
(Paraphrase)"Everyone in Smyrna thinks they are so rich and have so much to offer you - do not pay any attention to that crowd, I will give you a crown of life for your faithfulness."
Who would ever have thought that some of the cruelest things ever done to men, were done to Christians in that lovely place.
Illus: We can ride by a lovely house and think it looks like a touch of heaven on earth. The house is beautiful. It is well maintained. The yard is immaculate. The trees sway in the breeze, and we say, "My, what a lovely home. I would give anything to live there."
Did you know that in that house, where you or I would love to live, someone might live there who would give anything to be able to get out of there?
That place may look good from the outside, but inside it could be filled with misery!
Smyrna was like that! Smyrna church is the suffering church.
The word, "Smyrna," describes how the church was being crushed, like the herb was crushed to extract myrrh.
The Christians faithfully served the Lord, and would not denounce their faith, and they were being tremendously persecuted.
They, Like the herb, were being crushed, and from their persecution there rose up a sweet fragrance that rose to enter the nostrils of God.
Illus: There is a company that is well known for the perfume it produces in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Often the employees go to the nearby town for lunch. When the workers from the plant go into town for lunch, those who wait on them can tell that they work at the perfume plant, because the sweet smell of the perfume went with them.
People could tell the people of the Smyrna church were tremendous Christians, because of the "sweet aroma" that went up before the Lord as they were being "crushed" through persecution.
Why were they being persecuted.
Two reasons...
A. Because of the simplicity of their worship.
Again, be reminded, Smyrna was a city for the affluent. The most beautiful, ornate architecture of the world at that time was there.
Of all the seven cities that John addressed in Revelation, Smyrna was by far the most beautiful.
In the city there were beautiful temples for the rich to worship in on their day of worship.
But the Christians met in homes, or quietly worshiped under trees, even in catacombs.
Their simplicity of worship was more than the sophisticated Jews could handle. That was one reason they were being persecuted.
Illus: Even today, there are people who drive back and forth by little store-front buildings, where people are meeting to worship God, on their way to their million-dollar worship centers.
Many of those people look on those little groups with contempt, because they do not worship with them in their million-dollar worship centers.
Illus: Dr. Odell Belger was with a pastor in his car. They passed by a church in a home near his church and he said, “They ought to tear that church down.”
What an AWFUL thing to say about a church where people worship the Lord.
In the very affluent society, where Jews saw the simplicity of the Christians, their disgust for their form of worship played a big part in their persecuting those Christians.
But, there is another, stronger, reason they persecuted them, it was...
B. Because of emperor worship.
As Christians they refused to participate in the EMPEROR WORSHIP.
What was EMPEROR WORSHIP?
Before you can understand EMPEROR WORSHIP, you have to understand a little about Roman government.
WE TODAY look back at history and we see the Roman government's cruelty.
The Romans...
• -Fed Christians to the lions in there coliseum.
• -Caused Christians to be stoned, beaten, and jailed.
• -Caused Christians to literally be burned at the stake.
• -Were so corrupt, they could be persuaded to execute innocent men - the Lord Jesus was crucified at the hands of the Roman government.
Often the heads of the Roman government were TYRANTS. The Roman government was one of the most VILE GOVERNMENTS that ever existed.
That is how we see the Roman government. But, if we are going to get what we are supposed to get from this letter, we are going to have to see the Roman government the way the majority of the citizens of that day saw it in Smyrna.
What was their view of it?
They considered the Roman government to be their MESSIAH.
How?
The Roman government became so strong that no one dared try to attack any of Rome's provinces.
Illus: When Ronald Reagan was commander-in-chief of this nation, he believed in a strong military.
His theory was that the best way to protect America is to become so strong that not anyone would have to be a fool to try to attack us.
PEACE TROUGH STRENGTH!!!
Illus: We know that hundreds of people across America are mugged each week. But, did you know that professional boxers, wrestlers, and professional linebackers never get mugged.
Why?
Even a mugger knows better than to pick on someone when he knows he can't win.
So, who gets mugged?
The little people who cannot beat their way out of a paper bag.
The reason I mention that, is to show you the attitude of the people under Rome's rule.
The Roman citizens saw the Roman government as a big brother that protected them from all of their enemies.
• The people began to think, "We love this government so much, we will worship the spirit of the Roman empire."
• Then they said, "It is difficult to worship a spirit, so let us worship the personification of the spirit, who is the emperor.”
Out of patriotic pride they began to worship the emperor.
It was more political than religious, but later the emperors took on divine attributes and EMPEROR WORSHIP was mandatory.
The Christian's refused to worship the emperor.
They were simple minded, in that they stated, "We are Christians and we will bow only to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."
Their refusal caused...
III. THE CONFLICT.
When these Christians refused to bow, they became the targets for persecution because, the people of Smyrna could not imagine anyone being so unthankful and unpatriotic as to live under such a marvelous government and not want to bow to the emperors.
• -Many of them were tortured by being placed on a wheel that would tear their arms and legs away from their bodies.
• -Some were placed alive into burning oil because of their faith in the Lord Jesus.
Nevertheless, they took their stand and paid the price and the Lord had nothing but nice things to say to them.
• Oh what a price this church suffered!!!
• And we have Christians today if someone say something about them they will quit serving the Lord!!!
The citizens of Smyrna lived in that affluent society and thought wealth was everything, and that they were better than everyone else, but God did not see them that way.
Look at what He tells His people in verse 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."
Christians were torn asunder, boiled in oil, and beaten with whips, and Jesus told them that He knew how those hostile Jews had also "beaten" them with their tongues, claiming they were the people of God, and that the Christians were not.
What those Jews did not know was that physical birth did not make them part of the family of God.
Everyone who places his faith in Christ becomes a spiritual Jew (one of the people of God).
Jesus told them not to be discouraged when the Jews, who were not Christians, told them that they were not the people of God.
Israel are the people of God.
We have those today who teach Replacement Theology or Supersessionism.
They teach that the NEW COVENANT through JESUS CHRIST has superseded or replaced the Mosaic covenant.
Supersessionists hold that the universal Church has become God's "true Israel" and thus Christians are the people of God.
In other words, God is through with Israel!!!
Absolutley not!
During this dispensation of GRACE God has put Israel on the SHELF.
But after the rapture of the Church when the dispensation of Grace has come to an end and the SEVEN YEARS OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD start Israel once again will be the CHOSEN PEOPLE OF GOD.
They rejected the price Christ paid for them, but during the tribulation period they will have to pay the ultimate price with their life.
Jesus on the cross of Calvary paid their price for salvation. But since they rejected the price He paid they during the tribulation period will have to pay with their life to be saved.
In Matt. 5:11-12 we read what Jesus said, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
In many of our churches we sing the song, "It Will Be Worth It All." When we see Jesus, everything we have ever had to suffer for the cause of Christ will be worth it.
Look at...
IV. THE CROWN.
Jesus told them to continue to stand, because as they endured persecution, rewards were being laid up in heaven for them.
In verse 10, Jesus said that one day He was going to give them, "...a crown of life."
The Bible speaks of various rewards that believers will receive in heaven, and among these are five distinct crowns.
Each crown represents a particular area of spiritual victory and devotion, underscoring the importance of perseverance, faithfulness, and righteousness in the Christian journey.
(1)The Crown of Righteousness (Deep longing for His Return)
Illus: Song –Oh, I want to see Him and look upon His face.
In 2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
(2)The Incorruptible Crown (Self-discipline)
The Incorruptible Crown, is given to those who exercise self-discipline and self-control in their Christian walk.
This crown is described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.."
(3The Crown of Glory (Pastor’s Crown)
The Crown of Glory is often referred to as the shepherd's crown, given to those who faithfully care for and shepherd God’s people.
This crown is specifically mentioned in 1 Peter 5:4: “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.."
It is a reward for those who serve as pastors, elders, missionary or spiritual leaders, diligently tending to the flock entrusted to them.
(4)The Crown of Rejoicing (Soul Winners Crown)
The Crown of Rejoicing is known as the soul-winner's crown, given to those who are instrumental in leading others to Christ.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, Paul writes, "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.."
This crown celebrates the joy evangelism and the impact of leading souls to salvation.
(5)The Crown of Life (Persecution)
The Crown of Life is awarded to those who endure trials and remain steadfast under persecution, even to the point of death.
In Revelation 2:10, Christ tells the church in Smyrna, "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown."
“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.”
No matter what challenges we confront, we can take comfort in knowing that God has prepared incredible blessings (both now and in the future) for those who suffer hardship because of their love for Him .
Illus: God does not see things the way we see them.
• Evil people can look at each other in their fine homes and fine clothes and say, "Thou art rich!"
• They can look at a child of God who does not have much of this world's goods, and say, "Thou art poor!"
But God sees things totally different from the way sinners see them.
• God can look at the rich man and say, "Thou art poor,"
• And He can look at the poor Christian and say, "Thou art rich!"
And that is true, When we receive our mansion in heaven and compare the rich man’s house, his house is going look like nothing compared to ours.
Illus: How often we have heard Christians say, "I certainly would like to be rich."
What we often fail to recognize is that we who have accepted Christ, are the richest people on this earth.
We are heirs with Christ Jesus, and the richest man on this earth is poor in comparison, because the Christian has all the riches of heaven waiting for him to enjoy not for a few short years but for eternity.
Jesus said to the persecuted Christians, verse 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."
Conclusion:
Polycarp, who was the great pastor, was burned at the stake for his testimony. He was told he could save himself if he would only compromise and renounce his faith.
Here is what that great man of God said, "Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never wronged me. How then shall I blaspheme my King Who saved me?"
He was burned at the stakes but he never renounced his faith.
God is going reward him in heaven and he is going to reward those who are suffering for Him.
One thing in heaven once we arrive and God pass out the CROWN OF LIFE, we all are going to wish we could have suffered more for Christ!!!
I. THE CONTENTS.
II. THE CHURCH.
III. THE CONFLICT.
IV. THE CROWN.
