Smyrna, The Persecuted Church, Revelation 2:8-11

 

Σμύρνα, ης, ἡ

The Letter to Smyrna

The Persecuted Church

Revelation 2:8-11

“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: “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.  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.

“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.” ’

 

The letter to the Church in Smyrna, is the second of seven letters Jesus dictates to John from the island of Patmos. 

The Church of Smyrna, was founded by Paul during his first missionary journey, somewhere between 53 and 56 A.D.

This is the shortest of the seven letters, and it’s one of only two letters, in which Jesus gives no criticism. Only commendations. Just compliments.

Once again, Jesus addresses the letter to the angel, the pastor, of the church.

At the opening of each letter, Jesus provides a description of Himself; which just happens to be, exactly what the church needs. Because, He’s awesome like that.

‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life.”

The city of Smyrna was actually built more than once. It was destroyed around 600 B.C. by King Attalus. Then around 400 B.C. Alexander the Great had a dream to rebuild the city. Then folklore kicked in and the resurrected city became known as the city that, was once dead, but now lives.

Smyrna, was about 40 miles north of Ephesus, where the first letter was sent. It was probably 100 miles or so, from Patmos.

Smyrna in the first century had a population of about 250,000; it was a major seaport, directly across from Athens Greece. It sounds amazing, even impossible, but somehow, they engineered a way to shut off the harbor with a huge chain, to keep merchant ships safe from pirates.

Of all the cities in Asia, Smyrna was considered the loveliest. Often called the “FLOWER of Asia.” Or, “the CROWN of Asia,” because from its center rose a hill, (acropolis), and a ring of temples around the hill, made it look like a crown.

It had a sports stadium, a magnificent library and one of the largest theaters in Asia Minor. It claims to be the home of Homer (known as one of the greatest poets).

The city still exists today, but in 1930 the name was changed to İzmir. Today the population is about 3 million.

 

The Smyrnans literally, worshipped Rome. They actually built a temple, in 195 B.C. to the “goddess Roma,” for the worship of the spirit of Rome. That’d be like building a temple, to worship the spirit of Uncle Sam.

To most folks, the city was beautiful. But to God, and Christians, the ring of temples dedicated to false gods and devils, was ugly as sin.

The persecution of Christians was so severe it must’ve taken a miracle for John’s letter to ever get through. And then, a host of angels and another miracle or two for it to survive time and torture and make it all the way through to me and you.

But miracles happen. They received the letter. So did we.

 

These things says the First and the Last…

Jesus introduces Himself as the First and the Last. Showing the Church, that the Author of the letter is Divine. Just imagine opening a letter, and the first thing your read is, “Hi, this is God.”

That’s what happened.

The First and the Last, was a clear definition of Divinity. It was exactly what they needed to hear. They were not alone. Their God, had not abandoned them. Even if the rest of the world had. They may have felt like Ukrainians today. Bombarded on every side, while the world just watches and says, “be ye warmed and fed.”   

who was dead, and came to life…

They lived in the town that once was dead, and came to life.  This hit home. It wasn’t just junk mail. It was personal.

Now that He’s got their attention, He goes straight to the heart.

I know…

Just like all the letters, Jesus starts out saying, “I know.” Comforting for some, petrifying for others.

Remember, He doesn’t just know because He’s omniscient. He knows, because He cares.

The day before yesterday, while working on this, the doorbell rang, and there stood Becky. There was a shine in her eyes, the kind that comes right before tears. “Do you have a metal detector?”

She lost her ring. At the coast. Two hours away. It was a gift from her husband. Custom made; birthstone for each child, names engraved by each stone. It was beautiful. Expensive. Meant more than money. “Do you have a metal detector?” She asked again.

“No. But I have a story, and a prayer.”

She looked a little disappointed, but politely listened while I shared.

“Once upon a time, a long time ago, I lived in a little, old house, in Minne-snow-ta.

One year it snowed so much I was concerned the roof might cave in. So, I climbed up to the ridge and pushed the snow off the roof. The mountain of snow was from the ground to the eve.

That’s when I noticed my wallet was missing. I owned a floor covering store at the time, and the wallet was filled with customer checks and money.

I stood at the base of the mountain, thinking the wallet was lost until spring. It was worse than a needle in a haystack.

But then I remembered a prayer I’d heard from a wizened Godly woman. I edited it a bit to fit. ‘Lord, I know, You know, where that wallet is. And if You were looking for something, and I could help You, as easily as You can help me, I’d do it. I pray, You’ll help me find that wallet. Thank You, amen.’

With that, I took one swipe at the mountain with a snow shovel…yes, there it was, pretty as a miracle.” 

Becky smiled. Was that shine in her eyes, a glimmer of hope?

We bowed our heads and said a simple prayer, something to the tune of, “Lord, we know, You know, where that ring is…”

Yesterday, while I was working on this, the doorbell rang, and there stood Becky.

They had gone two hours back to the spot, she thought, she’d lost the ring. Brand new metal detector in tow.

There was a shine in her eyes, the kind that comes right before someone tells you a great story.

She stood at the spot, looked up and said, "God I know, You know," turned around and…yes, there it was, pretty as a miracle.

 “I didn’t even need the metal detector.”

 

He knows, not just because He’s omniscient, He knows, because He cares.

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know, He’s watching me.

 

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. Revelation 2:9.

Jesus lets them know that He knows. That they’re not alone. I AM with you.

He shows them how intimately He knows them, and cares for them, by revealing to them, three major battlefields in their lives; pressure, poverty and persecution.

 

1.     PRESSURE:

I know your tribulation…

 

The word tribulation, in the original text (Greek), is thlípsis, meaning: pressure, compression, (what constricts or rubs together), used of a narrow place that "hems someone in"; tribulation, especially internal pressure that causes someone to feel confined (restricted, "without options")

 

It’s the same word Jesus used when He said, “I’ve spoken these things, so in Me, you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.  The same word is used when describing the, “Great Tribulation”

 

Another use of the word, sent chills down their spine. It alluded to a form of torture in which, heavy weights, like large rock slates, were placed on the chest, one by one, until the pressure, the weight, crushed the breath and life, out of the person.

 

Smyrna was named after the word myrrh, because they were the major producer and exporter of this, aromatic gum resin. It was bitter to taste, but sweet to the smell. However, the aroma didn’t come out, until put under pressure, crushed. Myrrh was used to embalm the dead. The gift of myrrh from wisemen to baby Jesus, is likely to have come from Smyrna; and the myrrh used to prepare His body, after death, as well.

 

Now, we know the crushing pressure of death, did not release the stench of death, but the sweet aroma of Life. For neither death, nor the grave, nor the stone rolled over the grave, nor all the might of the roman empire, combined with all the power of the rulers of darkness, could hold Him. 

He who was once dead, now lives. Hallelujah! Amen.  

 

What pressure did the Christians in Smyrna face?

The social norms of that day were utterly opposed to the Christian lifestyle.

It happens little by little. 

At first, emperor worship was appeased by simply showing an attitude of gratitude; respect. But, fire, hell and dictators, are never satisfied. The same evil still exists today; it just moved from emperor temples to the White House and Kremlin, and such places all around the globe. 

This will continue until Jesus throws them all, lock, stock, and barrel, into the lake of fire.

The demonic, Domitian, (he’s the emperor that had John banished to Patmos), made emperor worship mandatory. By executive order, it became the law of the land. Once a year, every person had to burn a pinch of incense and say, out loud, three words, “caesar is lord.” Already, back then, the evil elite, tried to control speech.

Most Smyrna-ites didn’t have a problem with it; since they already had a love affair with Rome.

Once the good citizen complied with the caesar worshipping mandate, they received a certificate, so they could buy and sell (like a vaccine passport). I wonder if a mark was stamped on the certificate. Perhaps the anti-Christ dictator caused all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive the mark. No one could buy or sell, except those who had the mark…

Why does that sound so familiar? (Revelation 13:16-18).

 

2.     POVERTY

I know your poverty

 

There are two words for, poverty, in the Bible. One was living paycheck to paycheck. Just barely getting by; but getting by. The other, ptócheia, was absolute poverty, not getting by, at all. Starving. This, was that, poverty.

 

Their stand against the politically correct, their courage to not compromise, not even a pinch, not even a few false words, (not even a little cheating on taxes, speeding on highway, indulging at parties, flirting at gym, white lie at work, gossip after church), caused them to be outcasts, cancelled, unable to work, banned from social media, shunned, like lepers.

 

But they wouldn’t bend, they didn’t bow, and for this Jesus said, they wouldn’t burn…and no matter what their bank account said, Jesus said they were rich.

 

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21.

 

3.     PERSECUTION

I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Revelation 2:9.

 

Christians were between a rock and a hard place. Hated by both Jews and Romans.

 

The Jews called them, Nazarenes, because they followed Jesus of Nazareth. This was a derogatory term, like, white trash, or Nazis. 

The Jews thought they were the chosen, righteous, elite. But in reality they were deep state swamp creatures. Jesus said they were a synagogue of satan. They considered themselves above the law, politicians working backroom deals, and bribes and blackmail.

Their scapegoat was Christians. Whenever anything went wrong, they blamed the Christians. No matter what the Christians did, the Jews, perverted it, twisted it and slandered them. They mastered calling, good evil, and, evil good.  

Since Christians had communion representing the body and blood of Jesus; the Jews said, the Christians were cannibals.

Because Christians called their common meal “Agape Feast” or “Love Feast,” the Jews spread lies that the Christians had orgies.

Sometimes, families split over following Jesus; so Jews accused them of being anti-family; which was a big deal to Romans.

The Romans slandered the Christians, too.

They accused them of atheism, because they denied the Roman “gods.”

They called them, arsonists; because Christians taught the world would be burned up with fervent heat. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10.

Not much has changed. 

Today the dark powers demand, we sprinkle sweet niceties like incense. They condemn those who dare question, vaccines, masks or mandates. Label as racist, homophobic, bigot, any who discuss the Truth regarding the perversion of LGBTQIA, the genocide of babies, the corruption of CRT. They demand everyone kneel and say a few words like, black lives matter, America is racist, the election was fair; the Freedom Truckers, and January 6 Protesters are insurrectionists, but the rioters, looters, shooters, murderers and rapists, from the 2020 summer of love are patriots.

Back then, they too, were called revolutionaries, extremists, fanatics, insurrectionists, anarchists, deplorables, because they wouldn’t bend, bow or break, to political correctness, sprinkle a little incense, and say, “caesar is Lord.” 

Jesus called them, blessed.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12.

 

But the persecution went deeper than just words, slander and lies. Most were martyrs.

 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. Revelation 2:10

Jesus exposed the real enemy, the devil.

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

This darkness cannot stand Light.

Liberty is Light.

Freedom is Light.

Jesus is Light.

Evil fights to extinguish, every glimmer of freedom, liberty, Light.

Through the darkness, the weight of persecution, and layer upon layer of slander, and lies, the Church in Smyrna, continued to shine.

Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot extinguish, it. John 1:5.

 

Imprisonment: Since they couldn’t silence them, they imprisoned them.

Prison was a rat infested dungeon. It was one step from death. The next step was being thrown to wild beasts, boiled in oil, tarred and burned as a human torch, or burned at the stake…like Polycarp.

Polycarp had a dream one night of his pillow catching on fire. He knew, this was a warning that they would try to burn him at the stake, for his faith.

 A couple days later, the soldiers arrived. Polycarp expected them, welcomed them, fed them, asked them, if he’d be allowed, just one hour in prayer. The soldiers ate. Polycarp prayed.

The gentle kindness, and powerful prayer, must’ve softened the heart of the soldiers. They asked the old man, time and again, if he’d simply, just once, denounce his Christ and profess caesar as Lord. Do that, and live.

But all the might of the roman empire, combined with all the power of the rulers of darkness, could not make one, old man, bend, bow or break.  

For 86 years— said Polycarp, —I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong; how can I then blaspheme my King Who saved me?

With that, it was ordered he be burned at the stake.

It is told that some of the Jews, so happy to hear the verdict, defied the Sabbath, and ran to gather wood for the fire.

Polycarp complied, without flinching without fear. The fire was lit. At that moment a wind whirled around Polycarp, splitting the flames, so they could not kindle upon him.

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:2.

A soldier pulled his sword…

The next words Polycarp heard were, “Well done My good and faithful son.”

Heroes are made in war…alas, many die there, too.

…you will have tribulation ten days.

Some say, ten days, refers to the ten most cruel tyrant emperors over the next two centuries. Others say it’s an idiom meaning the tribulation will only be for a short time.

The number 10, represents completeness. The tithe represents the whole. You will be in tribulation, temptation, but not beyond what you can bear, with the temptation I will make a way of escape…which may be death.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

You be faithful, until death, however long that takes, and I will give you a crown of life. This is a victor’s crown; the kind given to winners of the Olympic games. The kind given to overcomers.

Amen. Come quickly Lord Jesus, find us faithful, unwavering, watching, shining and ready. Amen.

 

Lest we think, this does not apply to us, or to US, today, please note:

World Christian Encyclopedia, right now, in the age of “tolerance,” shows:

2.2 billion people in 79 countries live under significant restrictions of their religious freedom. 225 million Christians live in countries where it is a crime to name the name of Christ and assemble to worship Him.

Recently, not so far away, in Sudan, forty kids were orphaned. Their parents had been slaughtered for their stand for Jesus.

The kids were commanded to bow and confess allegiance to allah.

All bowed, but one.

The mullah ordered the child killed.

A soldier pulled his sword…

The next words, the child heard were, “Well done my good and faithful son.”

At that moment eight children stood.

They were ordered to bow.

But all the might of the islamic empire, combined with all the power of the rulers of darkness, could not make one, small child, bend, bow or break.  

Even in silence, the children echoed the words…

“For eight years, I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong; how can I then blaspheme my King Who saved me?”

 

The mullah ordered again.

A sword was drawn…

Four heard the words, “Well done…”

Four remained standing.

In a fit of rage, the mullah ordered the rest be sold as slaves.

 

Lord Jesus, come quickly, thwart this evil. Find us standing, without flinching, without fear.