THE REVELATION OF JESUS part 4
SMYRNA - THE PERSECUTED
Revelation 2:8-12
He was only three years old when his father died. It was of little consequence to the boy, for his father had been a killer. His mother took over the family trade and continued the boy’s education. She murdered her next husband with a dish of poisoned mushrooms as a result of a simple argument.
While still young, this boy committed his first murder, killing a teenage boy who stood in his way. He married at fifteen, but soon had his wife killed. He married again, and had his second wife killed as well. In order to marry the third time, he murdered the husband of the woman he wanted.
Soon his mother annoyed him, so he arranged her murder without any remorse. He grew to be an ugly man with a bull neck, beetle brows, a flat nose, and a tough mouth. He had a pot belly, spindly legs and bad skin. At the age of thirty one he was sentenced to death by flogging. He then fled to a dingy basement and cut his own throat.
This man gave the infant church its first taste of things to come. His name was Nero, he was the first of the persecuting Caesars of Rome. Phillips, Exploring Revelation, p. 54.
When John wrote from Patmos, Nero had come and gone. A new Caesar, Domitian, was on the throne. The time had come for the second round of official persecution to begin.
Smyrna is the modern city of Izmir, about 35 miles north of Ephesus. It had an excellent harbor and was a wealthy city. Smyrna was the commercial center of Asia Minor, it was on the direct trade route from India and Persia to Rome. Archeologists have uncovered large number of coins from all over the ancient world, a sign of it’s wealth.
Smyrna had a strong allegiance to Rome. In 195 B.C. it became the first city in the ancient world to build a temple in honor of Dea Roma, the “goddess of Rome.” Later, in 23 B.C., Smyrna won permission to build a temple to the emperor Tyberius, who had installed emperor worship throughout the Roman Empire.
During John’s time, Smyrna had the typical urban features you’d find in a large city, broad avenues, public marketplaces, temples, a library, gymnasium, stadium, and theater. The Smyrnans had long been know for their devotion to Rome. Once a year it was the duty of every roman citizen to burn incense at the altar and to worship Caesar.
What the individual would do was burn a little incense and say, “Caesar is Lord.” Christians refused to do so, thus suffering the consequences, which was death.
The gospel came to Smyrna as a result of Paul’s extensive evangelism during his third missionary journey (Acts 19). Paul had told these believers years earlier to expect persecution.
The strong allegiance to Rome in Smyrna plus a large Jewish population, which was actively hostile to the Christians, made it exceptionally difficult to live as a Christian in Smyrna. The most famous martyrdom of the early church fathers was that of the elderly Polycarp. He refused to acknowledge Caesar as Lord, so he was burned at the stake.
Polycarp was a disciple of John and was Bishop of the Church at Smyrna. He was martyred in 155 A.D. It was the time of the public games, the city was crowded and excited. Part of the festivities was the worshipof the emperor, and the killing of those who would not participate in the service.
Polycarp was brought before the proconsul who gave him a choice, curse the name of Christ and make a sacrifice to Caesar or death.
Polycarp’s answer has echoed through out the ages: “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”
The proconsul then threatened him with burning. Polycarp replied: “You threaten me with the fire that burns for a time, and is quickly quenched, for you do not know the fire which awaits the wicked in the judgment to come and in everlasting punishment.” The proconsul was furious.
The crowd proceeded to bring wood and Polycarp was martyred.
It was not easy to be a Christian in Smyrna, yet this letter has nothing but praise for these believers.
Characteristic vs 8
Jesus uses one of the characteristics from Chapter one, the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. These words were to bring comfort, for Jesus is the author and end of all things, yet he became dead and is alive. To these believers who are giving their lives for Jesus, He’s reminding them that he gave his life for them. They are simply following in his footsteps.
It is not a strange thing to be persecuted for Christ’s sake, it is the norm. The apostles counted it a privilege to suffer for Jesus.
Jesus’ power over time (first and last) and over sin (died and came to life) is just what the persecuted saints need in order to carry on.
Compliment vs 9
Christ commends the believers for their willing endurance of afflictions and ...poverty. These afflictions or sufferings were cause by the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
This church was afflicted by false teachers who had claimed to be Jews but really were not. They were falsely accusing the Christians before government officials and causing them to be arrested.
Who were these Jews? Paul defines a real Jew not as one physically circumcised but as one circumcised in the heart by the Holy Spirit (Romans 2:29) and who believes God just as Abraham believed God (Galatians 3:6-7).
These particular Jews followed Satan in slandering God’s people. The word Satan means accuser and the Devil means slanderer. Slander is telling lies to blacken the character of people. It has been on of the Devil’s best weapons against the church.
Notice the strategy of the enemy, using religious people to attack the church. Sadly, Satan often uses people within the church to stop the move of God.
These believers were also poor. In addition to the physical persecution they suffered financial persecution.
Smyrna was not only a trade city, it was a center for guilds which regulated the craftsmen of the day (i.e. unions). If an individual took a stand for Jesus his shop was boycotted or his employment terminated.
Yet you are rich! This highlights a divine principle that, regardless of ones economic state, knowing Jesus brings wealth in this life and in the life to come.
I like the way Paul puts it: But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ...vs 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. Philippians 3: 7-10
God does not want us to depend on a monetary world view. He wants our world view to center on our relationship with Christ.
Criticism NONE
Of the seven churches, only Smyrna and Philadelphia escape criticism.
Don’t overlook the fact that this comfort (no criticism) does not promise deliverance from suffering while here on earth, only that His grace is sufficient.
Command vs 10
Jesus begins with the words do not be afraid. The suffering is about to get worse. Church members are going to be put in prison. Jesus is letting them know beforehand, it is part of his plan and under his control.
Remember Jesus’ words: I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16: 33
The ten days probably means that these suffering Christians will only suffer for a limited period. Some biblical scholars believe that this refers to the ten periods of persecution during the Roman Empire until the conversion of Constantine in 316 A.D.
This persecution will extend to the point of death. Behind the persecution stands the devil, the same Satan who has inspired the Jews to harass the Christians
The particular suffering comes because God has determined “test them.” While the Lord’s tests are not pleasant as we undergo them, they have a good goal. The suffering of the Smyrnan Christians will not be in vain, it will produce the crown of life (cf 1:12).
Commitment vs 11
Christ’s commitment to the one who has an ear and overcomes is that they will not be hurt at all by the second death.
The first death is merely death of the body; the second death is eternal separation from God (Matthew 10:28).
The key note in this letter is in verse 10, be faithful, even to the point of death.
These persecuted believers were not promised escape from tribulation, they were promised instead something far greater: the grace to endure afflictions without fear and the pledge that the one who died and came to life again will certainly bring them through to the crown of life.
You see, there is a death beyond death for the non-Christian. There is no death beyond physical death for the Christian, only eternal life.
God separates those who enter the second death from Himself for eternity. Those who ultimately reject God, He ultimately rejects them, eternally. The second death in much more painful than the first.
Once you’ve come to Jesus, nothing can separate you from God.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 37-39
