Smyrna
Letter to the Church at Smyrna
Smyrna
Myrrh, an ancient city of Ionia, on the western coast of Asia Minor, about
40 miles to the north of Ephesus. It is now the chief city of Anatolia, having a
mixed population of about 200,000, of whom about one-third are professed
Christians. The church founded here was one of the seven addressed by our Lord
(Rev_2:8-11). The celebrated Polycarp, a pupil of the apostle John, was in the
second century a prominent leader in the church of Smyrna. Here he suffered
martyrdom, A.D. 155.
Rev 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things
saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
Jesus always existed the same as God. He was in the beginning with God and was
at the creation. He was dead physically for 3 days. He raised from the dead and
is alive forever.
Rev 2:9 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.
Those that hold the church age school of thought say that Smyrna represents the
period when the churches were severely persecuted. Reading church history, there
is a time that the Romans inflicted persecution against the Christians many
times. It seemed to come in waves. Some were worse than others. Some taught that
the 10 days represented a period of ten persecutions. Remember also this
church was a literal church in John's day, it was probably representative of
other similar churches of that day and perhaps all through church history
including this day. There was persecution in some parts of the world throughout all history since the
time Christ walked upon the earth. There are churches today similar to this one. In many
parts of the world at this present time faithful brother and sisters in the Lord
are even now being beaten, jailed and even killed for preaching the gospel of
Jesus Christ. To name a few:
China, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, North Korea, Indonesia, and others.
The world is not worthy of them.
The Smyrna church was people of great poverty. They were poor in material goods
and had no wealth. In the things that count though, they were rich. They
possessed the true riches of things spiritual. They walked with God and had
their treasure stored in heaven. Actually they were richer than those who do not
suffer poverty. God gives us the desires of our hearts but it is far greater
that our desires be for spiritual things than earthly things that can be taken
away from us.
What these people possessed can't even be compared to the weak and deceptive
riches we think are riches.
I believe the Jews mentioned in this verse is not referring to most of the
Jewish people but the religious Jews who claim to be people of God but who
rejected Christ and were persecuting the believers in Christ. The Apostle Paul
at one time was one of these until God showed mercy on him. These also may have
been supposed believers in Christ but who had tried to impose the law on the
Gentile Christians. In other words there were those that tried to add to the simple gospel by saying
they could believe in Jesus but had to be circumcised and do other works of the
law to be saved. This has been a temptation for centuries not only for the
synagogue but for different churches that have sprung up. Those that claimed to
be Jews but were not in this day could mean those that try to preach that the
church replaces the Jewish people. This is called replacement theology and
is wrong. Paul writes that Israel will be grafted back into the vine at a future
date. The church may be part of the future Israel but we never replace them. We
have to view Israel, not as enemies but as future believers in Jesus Christ.
We are to pray for the peace of Israel and we are to love them. Never,
never, never are we to hate them, persecute them or drive them from their
homeland and claim that land for ourselves.
We are saved by repenting from sin and trusting in Jesus Christ alone for our
salvation, but many times we think that isn't enough and we try to add to this by
restoring Old Testament rituals, priesthood, sacraments and ceremonies to add to
salvation or try to make one holy. The blood of Jesus is enough to make us holy
and worthy of eternal life. We don't have to return to Old Testament ordinances,
sacrifices or rituals. All those things were put in place to lead us to Jesus
who was the perfect sacrifice for sins. After Jesus came, the work was complete
and He alone brings us salvation. He alone is the mediator between God and
mankind. We do not need a prophet or priest to perform rites and ceremonies in
order to get us to heaven. Jesus broke that wall of separation between God and
man. When we come to Christ with a heart that turns from sin and trusts Christ
to remove that sin, we are "born again" by the spirit of God. We no longer need
any other intercessor or mediator.
Our ministers and pastors are to feed the flock, bring the word, preach the
gospel and exhort the body of Christ (the assembly or church) but they are not
to Lord over, worship for us or make us dependent upon them for our salvation.
We need to learn to do our own praying, worshipping and begin to spread the
gospel ourselves. We are all equal in Christ and no one is to be exalted above
another. Our submission to one another is in love, truth and kindness not in
force, intimidation and cruelty. Those that use cruel means to run a church,
synagogue or assembly are of the synagogue of Satan whether Jew, Christian or
any other religion.
Rev 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.
The followers of Christ are never promised to be free from persecution. In fact
the godly in Christ are always persecuted in some way. There are many
interpretations of what ten days may refer to. Some say it was ten persecutions
by ten Roman Emperors. Some believe them to be ten literal days and some say the
ten days merely means a short space of time. Whichever it means, we know that it
will not be more than the church can bear. In times of tribulation the church
actually becomes stronger. Those that are faithful until death will receive a
crown of life that can never be taken away from them. We see from Hebrews that
there were times that some did not accept any deliverance from persecution
because they knew that a better resurrection was promised. In other words those
that are persecuted for the gospel's sake will receive a better reward later.
Hebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were
tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better
resurrection:
Heb 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover
of bonds and imprisonment:
Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain
with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being
destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in
mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received
not the promise:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us
should not be made perfect.
From Matthew:
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall
say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for
so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part
in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
The second death is eternal torment in the lake of fire from which there is no escape. When
we stay faithful to Christ until the time we depart from this body, we shall
never fear hell. We can never be hurt again. When this body dies, there is no
more the enemy can do to us. If we die in Christ there is eternal peace and joy
forever.
If we are made fun of or criticized for believing in Jesus Christ, we should be
happy for our sakes but sad for their sakes. Great is our joy to be made
partakers of the suffers of Christ. Foxes book of martyrs tells of many that
were killed for the cause of Christ. Many of them are now in comfort. No one can
ever hurt them again. They died so that we could hear the gospel and receive
eternal life. Many died so that we could have the bible in a language we could
read and understand. Starting with the Old Testament prophets and then Jesus
Christ, many have died that we could live and know God. I pray that their
deaths will not have been in vain. Let us receive this great gospel that
brings eternal life this day.
Letter to the church at Pergamos
Ephesians Bible Study