part 9: Smyrna: The Persecuted Church
Puzzled About Revelation, april 15 2021
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write…”
(Note that there are some technical issues with this video. The notes largely cover the gaps in the video.)
Introduction
Last time, we looked at Ephesus: The Loveless Church (2:1-7).
Today, we will look at Smyrna: The Persecuted Church (2:8-11)
5-fold pattern: Christ, Commendation, Criticism, Instruction, Promise
Call to hear: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22).
I. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: SMYRNA
“Port of Asia”: located 50km N of Ephesus on coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Izmir, Turkey).
“First of Asia”:
o very wealthy city, paved streets (“Golden Street” best in ancient world)
o “Crown of Smyrna” for its beautiful skyline of exquisite buildings and temples to gods Cybele, Zeus, Apollo, Asclepius, and Aphrodite
o Provincial capital for Roman empire, large Jewish population
o Smyrna was first city granted the “privilege” of building a temple in honour of Emperor Tiberius by the Roman Senate in AD23 - Roman Imperial cult
o Emperor worship reached its heights in this city…
“Emperor Worship”:
o Perhaps nowhere was life for a Christian more perilous than in this city of zealous emperor worship. About sixty years later (c. 156), Polycarp was burned alive at the age of eighty-six… His words have echoed through the ages: “Eighty-six years have I served Christ, and he has never done me wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 12, p. 437).
o Under Domitian (A.D. 81-96) emperor worship became compulsory for every Roman citizen on threat of death. Once a year a citizen had to burn incense on the godhead of Caesar, after which he was issued a certificate. Barclay (Seven Churches, p. 29) quotes a request for such a certificate, and the certificate itself:
“To those who have been appointed to preside over the sacrifices, from Inares Akeus, from the village of Theoxenis, together with his children Aias and Hera, who reside in the village of Theadelphia. We have always sacrificed to the gods, and now, in your presence, according to the regulations, we have sacrificed and offered libations, and tasted the sacred things, and we ask you to give us a certification that we have done so. May you fare well.We, the representatives of the Emperor, Serenos and Hermas, have seen you sacrificing. ”
o Such an act was probably considered more as an expression of political loyalty than religious worship, and all a citizen had to do was burn a pinch of incense and say, “Caesar is Lord [kyrios].” Yet most Christians refused to do this.
“Smyrna”:
o Comes from the Greek word for “myrrh”, an aromatic gum/resin extracted from the tree by threshing/whipping the tree and then scraping the resin off into balls to harden; can then be crushed & ground into powder.
o Uses for Myrrh:
Anointing oil (Ex. 30:23)
Embalming bodies for burial
Connection with Jesus’ birth (Magi – Matt. 2:11) & death(John 19:39)
Medicinal properties
crucifixion (mixed with wine - Mark 15:23),
Incense (See Ps. 45:8; Prov. 7:17; S. of Sgs. 3:6, 4:14, 5:1,5,13)
o It is fitting that in the city which derives its name from “myrrh” (a substance associated with “whipping, crushing, burning [as incense], and death), saw so many of the Lord’s faithful ones called upon to pay the ultimate sacrifice for their Lord!
II. SMYRNA: THE PERSECUTED CHURCH (Rev. 2:1-7)
Christ
2:8a: To the angel of the church in Smyrna write…
John was instructed to write to the angel (messenger, pastor) of the CHURCH. In those days, churches were city-wide assemblies; there were NO DENOMINATIONS.
2:8b: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
Jesus identified Himself to this assembly of “crushed” believers as their Creator & Judge, and as the One who already overcame death by His resurrection from the dead—strong words of encouragement to those facing martyrdom & death for Christ!
Commendation
2:9a: I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!
These believers were experiencing 3 kinds of hardships for the Word of God and their testimony of Jesus Christ: (1) afflictions (#2568 – thlipsis = tribulations), (2) poverty (economic hardship), and (3) slander from the “religious but not righteous”.
o Due to their not participating in the local pagan customs or mandatory emperor worship, these Christians were likely severely marginalized and faced economic sanctions. Since the city’s trade and craftsmen guilds required the “CERTIFICATE OF PROOF” of Roman citizenship and of good standing from offering the prescribed sacrifices, these Christians were not able to work, buy or sell…
This is prophetic of a coming ONE-WORLD system ruled by Antichrist where every citizen will be required to take the “mark of the beast” in order to buy and sell or face death.
o Rev. 13:16-17: “It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.”
Yet Jesus said they were RICH! Jesus needed to remind these believers who had given up so much that they had TREASURE IN HEAVEN that would never perish, spoil or fade!
Matthew 5:3-12:
“3 Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
““Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
COMMENDATION
2:9b: I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan.
Jesus KNEW about the malicious lies and harsh words being spoken against His children, coming from “those who say they are Jews” - those who claimed to be part of the people of God (natural descendants of Abraham) but who did not possess faith that Jesus was the Son of God (See John 8:39-44; Rom. 9:7-8).
Jesus calls these people a “SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN”: Satan is the true source of the opposition they are facing, even though it is coming through human hands (See Gen. 3:15; Eph. 6:10-13).
CRITICISM
NONE!
The Church of Smyrna had no need for correction—they were proving their love for the Lord Jesus through a willingness to suffer for His Name!Love that is willing to “endure all things” (1 Cor. 13:7) is pleasing in God’s eyes and does not place an additional burden on them, for love is the fulfillment of the Law (See Matt. 22:37; John 15:13; Rom. 13:10; 1 Peter 4:8).
INSTRUCTION & PROMISE
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.
3 INSTRUCTIONS:
o 1. DO NOT BE AFRAID
o 2. YOU WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION
o 3. BE FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH
ONE PROMISE: THE CROWN OF (ETERNAL) LIFE!
2:11: Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death. (PROMISE)
Great encouragement for them to be faithful unto death and not fear those who can only kill the body but cannot kill the soul!
o Matt. 10:28: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Conclusion
“He who has ears, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
