Revelation 2:8-11 Hearing What the Spirit is Saying to the Church, Pt. 3 The Message to at Smyrna.
Revelation 2:8-11, 8 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: 9 I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich),
and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have
tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.
Hearing What the Spirit is Saying to A). Smyrna - A Picturesque City.
Hearing What the Spirit is Saying to
Anciently it was one of the finest cities of Asia, and was called The lovely -the crown of Ionia - the ornament of Asia. It is now the chief city of Anatolia, with a mixed population of 200,000 people, one third of whom are Christians. - Merrill Unger
Smyrna (the modern Izmir) laid claim on its coins to be the first city of Asia in size and beauty and it was indeed a city of great natural beauty. - J. Ramsey Michaels
B). Smyrna - A Prosperous City 35-40 miles away from Ephesus Smyrna was a wealthy city, second only to Ephesus in the entire area, and like Ephesus, a seaport. - John Walvoord.
C). Smyrna - A Pagan City. Smyrna was a center of emperor worship, having won the privilege from the Roman Senate in A.D. 23 (over eleven other cities) of building the first temple in honor of Tiberius. Under Domitian (A.D. 81-96) emperor worship became compulsory for every Roman citizen on threat of death. - Alan Johnson.
C). Smyrna - A Pagan City. Was a place for worshipping Caesar, who was godlike in the minds of its non-jewish, non- Christian, population.
1). The Affliction of A). Afflicted by Persecution 9 I know your tribulation Both the pagans and Jews felt the same way about these Jesus followers the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Synagogue of Satan refers to certain Jews in ancient Smyrna who, motivated by Satan, slandered the church there. - Alan Johnson
They slandered the believers there, making wild accusations, such as. Cannibalism (misunderstanding of communion) Orgies (misunderstanding love feasts ) Being political enemies (refused acknowledging, Caesar is Lord. )
The ultimate source of persecution was Satan. Ephesians 6:12, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Tribulation - to be under pressure or to be crushed. The word means pressure. It was used in that day to refer to crushing an object under the weight of very heavy stones. The word tribulation comes from the Latin word tribulum. It refers to
the stone wheels that were used to crush wheat to separate the kernel from the shell. This church was paying the price for their allegiance to Jesus. The pressure was on and they were suffering. - Alan Carr
The word Smyrna itself means myrrh, a sweet perfume used in embalming dead bodies, and included in the holy anointing oil used in the Tabernacle worship in the Old Testament (Exodus 30:23). - John Walvoord
Hearing What the Spirit is Saying to When myrrh is crushed, it gives off a beautiful fragrance
1). The Affliction of B). Afflicted by Poverty I know your poverty (but you are rich) Because the church took a stand for the things of God, they faced financial persecution
The social and economic life of Greek cities was tied to their pagan worship. Each set of workers had its own guild, and each guild had its own patron god or goddess. Workers began each week by expressing some kind of allegiance to the gods of
the Greek pantheon. Because Christians refused to adopt this practice, they were cut off from the right to make a living -- and that meant abject poverty. - Skip Heitzig
The word used for poverty is the word for abject poverty. They were not just poor. It may be that they were drawn from a poor class of people, but it is more probably that their extreme poverty is explained by the fact that they had been robbed of their goods in the process of their persecution and affliction. - John Walvoord
..but you are rich James 2:5, Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 2 Cor. 6:10, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.
An Example of Suffering - Polycarp 155 AD - the Bishop of the church of Smyrna Martyred - Burned at the stake Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?
2). An Appeal to Rev. 2:10-11, 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
2). An Appeal to A). To Not Fear Impending Tests and Trials. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days.
John 16:33, In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. They had nothing really to fear in this persecution because it could not rob them of their priceless eternal blessings in Christ. John Walvoord
2). An Appeal to B). To Be Faithful Unto Death. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Speaking from personal experience, Christ is encouraging them to not fear but be faithful, for in the end, God would have their back.
3). The Assurance of Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.
3). The Assurance of A). The Assurance of the Crown of Life. Several Crowns in the Word of God: Crown of Righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8) The Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:4) The Crown of Rejoicing (1 Thess. 2:1) The Incorruptible Crown (1 Cor. 9:25)
The Crown of life (the Martyr s Crown) is given to those who endure trials, tribulations, and suffering, even unto death. James 1:12, Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
The reward for faithfulness is the crown (or more accurately, wreath ) of life, a metaphor for eternal life. In the Greek world, wreaths were used as prizes in athletic contests and have also been found among objects buried with the dead, perhaps symbolizing their victories in life. - David Aune
Smyrna was called The Crown City because it was surrounded by hills that resembled a crown. - Alan Carr
Those at Smyrna would be very familiar with the term the crown of Smyrna, which no doubt alluded to the beautiful skyline formed around the city by the hill Pagos, with the stately public buildings on its rounded sloping sides.the crown usually
referred to a garland of flowers worn chiefly in the worship of the pagan gods such as Cybele or Bacchus, who was pictured on coins with a crown of battlements. Faithful servants of the city appeared on coins with laurel wreaths on their heads. - Alan Johnson
The message: You may be poor in the eyes of the world, but you are rich in the eyes of God. You may seem to be defeated by the world, but you are really victorious because of the precious blood of Jesus.
3). The Assurance of B). The Assurance of Victory over Death. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.
The world in its rejection of the Christian message can inflict martyrdom and terminate life in this world, but those who are faithful in their opportunity to receive Christ in this life are promised that they will not be overcome with the second death, the sad lot of those who depart this life without faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. - John Walvoord
Jesus could make these assurances not just because of what He experienced, but because of who He was. The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
The heavier the cross, the more powerful the resurrection!
1). The Affliction of the Church 2). The Appeal to the Church 3). The Assurance of the Church
Revelation 2:8-11 Hearing What the Spirit is Saying to the Church, Pt. 3 The Message to at Smyrna.