SMYRNA - THE PERSECUTED CHURCH - Revelation 2:8-11

 

Smyrna – The Persecuted Church

Revelation 2:8-11

 

SMYRNA – A.D. 100 – 312

THE SALUTATION

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 (2:8).

 

This was John’s fourth command to write.

The first and the Last – This is an Old Testament title for God (Isaiah 44:6, 48:12; 41:4). Here the reference to Christ affirms His equality of nature with God. Jesus Christ transcends time, space, and the creation.

Who was dead and came to life – He died in His incarnate humanness as the perfect sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 12:3-4), but now has come to life by His resurrection (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15). Jesus Christ has an indestructible life (Hebrews 7:16; Romans 6:9).

THE PERSECUTION

“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 (2:9).

 

Tribulation (θλίψις thlípsis, Gk.) – This is a word which literally means “to crush, press, compress, squeeze, which is from thláō, to break. Tribulation, trouble, affliction.” Tribulation, to the early Christians meant not so much ill health, poverty or loss of friends, but the sacrifices they had to make and the perils they had to meet from their proclamation or profession of Christ. The church at Smyrna was facing intense pressure because of their faithfulness to Jesus Christ.

1. The city was a leading center for the cult of emperor worship. Christians refused to offer sacrifices to the emperor Domitian and worship him. They were branded rebels and faced the wrath of the Roman government.

2. The Christians refused to participate in pagan religion in general. Much of Smyrna’s social life revolved around pagan worship and Christians were viewed as antisocial elitists for refusing to participate in it.

3. The Believers at Smyrna faced blasphemy by those who are a synagogue of Satan. Those Jews who hated and rejected Jesus Christ were just as much Satan’s followers as pagan idol worshippers (John 8:44). Blasphemy indicates the slander’s wickedness, intensity, and severity. They may have claimed to be a synagogue of God, but they were just the opposite.

Who say they are Jews and are not – Though these were by race Jews, they were spiritually pagan (Romans 2:28-29). It is never sufficient to obey the teachings of the Word legalistically, with a mixing of law and grace. Submission of the heart to God, not adherence to a prescribed set of rules, is His desire for us. They allied with the Gentile enemies of God in an attempt to stamp out Christianity in Smyrna.

Poverty (πτωχεία ptōcheía, Gk.) – Literally means “Poverty, want, indicating complete helplessness.” It describes beggars, who live not by their own labor, but by the alms of others. Many of the believers at Smyrna were slaves; and most were destitute. Those few who had owned possessions had lost them in the persecution.

You are rich – They had what really mattered – salvation, holiness, grace, peace, fellowship, a sympathetic Savior and Comforter. The church of Smyrna is a type of the spiritual richness of faithful suffering churches throughout history.

THE EXORTATION

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 (2:10).

 

Do not fear any of those things – He would give them strength to endure it (John 16:33; Psalm 56:11).

Throw some of you into prison – By successfully enduring that trial, they would prove the reality of their faith, be strengthened, and prove once again that Satan cannot destroy genuine saving faith. It has always been Satan’s plan to attack God’s children and attempt to destroy their faith. (Revelation 12:10).

All who are called will be kept until they are made like Christ in glory (Hebrews 7:25).

Job’s triumphant declaration in Job 13:15 signaled both the triumph of true saving faith and Satan’s utter defeat.

Tribulation 10 days – Satan’s major assault on this local church would be intense. This refers to 10 great persecutions under the Roman Emperors, beginning with Nero A.D. 54, and ending with Diocletian in A.D. 305. Ten distinct edicts demanded that governors seek out Christians everywhere and put them to death. This church age saw eight of the ten periods of persecution under Roman emperors.

1. Nero – A.D. 54-68 – Paul beheaded and Peter crucified.

2. Domitian – A.D. 81-96 – John exiled.

3. Trajan – A.D. 98-117 – Ignatius burned at the stake.

4. Marcus Aurelius – A.D. 161-180 – Justin Martyr killed.

5. Severus – A.D 193-211.

6. Maximinius – A.D. 235-238.

7. Decius – A.D. 249-251.

8. Valerian – A.D. 253-260.

9. Aurelian – A.D. 270-275.

10. Diocletian – A.D. 284-305

Faithful unto death – During the second and third centuries this persecution age saw hundreds of Christians brought into the amphitheater of Rome to be fed to hungry lions while thousands of spectators cheered. Many were crucified; others were covered with animal skins and tortured to death by wild dogs. They were covered with tar and set on fire to serve as torches. They were boiled in oil and burned at the stake, as was Polycarp in the city of Smyrna itself in A.D. 156. They proved the genuineness of their faith.

Crown of life (στέφανος stéphanos, Gk.) –“Not used of the kingly crown but of the crown of victory in games, of civic worth, military valor, nuptial joy, festival gladness. Woven of oak, ivy, myrtle, olive leaves or flowers. Used as a wreath or garland.”  It is a figurative symbol of the reward of eternal life (2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 3:11).The reward, or outcome of genuine saving faith is eternal life, and perseverance proves the genuineness of your faith as you endure suffering. The Scriptures teach that true Christians will persevere (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Mark 4:13-20; John 8:31; Colossians 1:21-23; 1 John 2:19).

THE PROMISE

“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” ’ (2:11).

 

What the Spirit says to the churches – This stresses the vital significance of what God says in scripture, and it is our responsibility to heed to it.

He who overcomes – They were not to recant when called upon to face a Martyr’s death.  By continued faith and faithfulness, a believer can overcome specific temptations and tests and receive an eternal reward.

The second death – Conscious, eternal damnation in hell (Revelation 20:14; 21:8). No believer will experience the second death; the overcomer will suffer no loss whatsoever.

The persecuted, suffering, yet faithful church at Smyrna stands for all time as an example of those who “having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.” (Matthew 10:32).

“The purifying fires of affliction cause the church’s testimony to burn all the more brilliantly” – John Waalvoord.

Those who die without Christ, however, will die again – Henry M. Morris.

 

The character of the church at Smyrna is a fair outline of the church period from A.D. 100 - 312. This was when the church was crushed beneath the iron heel of pagan Rome. The Christians faced almost constant martyrdom. They were hated, outlawed, and persecuted. The more Satan persecuted the church during this period, the more the church overcame the one condemning characteristic of the apostolic age, that of having left its first love. Not one word of condemnation was hurled by Christ at this church. From this Satan learned a great secret: Persecution will not stamp out the Church of Christ! This persecution occurred until the Emperor Constantine granted Christians freedom of worship at the beginning of the 4^th century.

THE PARABLE OF THE WHEAT AND TARES (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)

Jesus is identified as the Sower; the field is the world; the good seeds are the Sons of the Kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the wicked one. Satan has a counterfeit for every divine reality. He sows the world with those who look like, talk like, and to some extent, walk like disciples.

MYSTERY OF LAWLESSNESS (2 Thessalonians 2:7)

This is a tremendous spirit of disobedience to God already stirring beneath the surface.  It is at work in mystery form, but not yet fully manifested. It is not fully revealed as it will be by the one who blatantly opposes God and blasphemously assumes the place of God on earth that He has reserved for Jesus Christ.

The restrainer (Holy Spirit) will be in place until the Antichrist is revealed, at the midpoint of the Tribulation, leaving him 42 months to reign.

 

©2012 Kenute P. Curry. All rights reserved.