Shalom and all:
We have arrived at: THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA
General Background for The Church at Smyrna:
Smyrna is the martyr church, the church that suffered martyrdom for Christ. Interestingly, the word Smyrna means myrrh, and carries with it the meaning of suffering. Today, this city still exists. It is the Turkish city of Izmir. This very large commercial city today has engulfed the old ruins of the Biblical city. It is hard to see the natural beauty that once was here. It had, and still has, a very large and fine harbor. It was known as one of the most beautiful cities in all Asia and was known as the Flowered Crown of Asia. The acropolis is located on Mount Pagos. In fact, the early city goes back to 2000 BC, a Hittite city, build around the slope of Mount Pagos. Alexander the Great expanded the city. There were wide avenues along the slopes of the mountain. The acropolis was encircled with flowers, a hedge, and myrtle trees. There were temples to many Roman and Greek gods here, Zeus, Cybele (Diana again), Aphrodite, Apollo, and Asclepius. Smyrna had a theater and an odeum, i.e. a music center. It was the home of music. Also, it had a stadium, and it was at that stadium that Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna and student of the Apostle John, was martyred, burned alive in AD 155.
This was the center of emperor worship. The Emperor Domitian declared himself god and required all citizens to perform a sacrifice to him, saying "Caesar is Lord". Once you did that, you got a certificate. Without the certificate, you were subject to discrimination and possibly punishment. This, of course, was contrary to the faith of the church.
Jesus recognized the meaning of this word `Smyrna' (suffering) when it was associated with His church there. He said that He knew of their sufferings and their poverty. He had no word of condemnation for them or for the church at Philadelphia. It is interesting to note that only these two cities have had a continuous existence, right up to the present day. Their lampstand has really not been moved, although the churches are under cover. Christians are persecuted still in modern-day, Islamic Turkey, but there are Christians living in these two cities.
As Ephesus represented the apostolic church, so Smyrna represents the martyr church which covers the period AD 100 to about AD 314., from the death of the Apostle John to the Edict of Toleration by Constantine, which was given in AD 313 and ended the persecution of Christians throughout the Empire.
The Message to the Church at Smyrna:
Jesus has only commendations for the church:
And unto the angel of the church of Smyrna, write; These things saith the First and the Last, which was dead, and is alive (Rev 2:8)
This passage refers back to Rev. Ch 1:17-18. John fell down as dead. And Jesus said:
"Fear not, I am the FIRST AND THE LAST; I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive evermore, Amen; AND HAVE THE KEYS OF HELL AND OF DEATH."
Fear not! This is the vision sent to this church, a risen, triumphant Lord who holds the keys of death itself. Jesus is the final chapter. All things find their culmination in Him.
According to one source, five million believers died for Christ during this period. This is a very great number, given the population of the known world at that time. Compare this to the 6 million jews who died in the holocaust in the WWII with a world population at least 20 times what it was in the day of Smyrna. It was a very great persecution on a scale even greater than the holocaust, God forgive them. Then Jesus continues His message to this church:
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. 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 (Rev 2:9-10)
In most translations, the word `works' does not appear. The inter-linear reads as follows:
I know of thee the affliction and the poverty, but rich thou art....
Now there are seven things that Jesus commends this church for:
(1) Tribulation
Not The Tribulation, but tribulation just the same (trouble)
(2) Poverty
The early church was drawn from poorer classes of people. If they had wealth, their wealth was confiscated because of their faith. Many were slaves, ex slaves, and runaway slaves
(3) The blasphemy of them which say that they are jews and are not, but are in the synegogue of Satan.
Jesus saw to the hearts of the jewish believers; these were the true jews. (Refer to Romans 9:6) At this time, many of the church are jewish. This will change, later.
(4) Fear none of those things
An encouragement to His own in the midst of persecutions. In the histories of the times, Christians went to their deaths singing praises to God.
(5) The devil (Satan) shall cast some of you into prison
Jesus sees that the persecutors get their instructions from Satan, they are his tool. We need to recognize the true enemy. It is not the politicians, or the organizations. It is the one who spreads the spirit of antichrist.
(6) Ye shall have tribulation ten days
This is plainly a prophecy. Ten days refers here to ten periods of time. There were ten emperors who severely persecuted the church at this time:
Nero: 64-68 (Paul beheaded under his reign)
Domitian: 95-96 (John exiled to Patmos)
Trajan: 104-117 (Ignatius was burned at the stake)
Marcus Aurelius: 161-180 (Polycarp was martyred)
Severus: 200-211
Maximinius: 235-237
Decius: 250-253
Valerian: 257-260
Aurelian: 270-275
Diocletian: 303-313
(7) Be thou faithful unto death
They were martyrs for Him. He gives them a "crown of life". He says this to the believers in the crowned city, but not a crown of flowers now, but of life itself. (See James 1:12) This promise still stands, not only for this church, but to all who suffer for His sake
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 2:11)
Dwight L. Moody put it like this, "He that is born once, will die twice; he that is born twice will die once." The Christian will not taste death of the spirit. Death where is thy sting?
Learning from the Church of Smyrna
Much of the scripture dealing with persecution still seems foreign to us living in the Land of the Free. However, many of our "taken-for-granted" freedoms are being eroded. If we were to be persecuted on a large scale, would we be faithful? Several thoughts come to mind.
If we are not persecuted, perhaps it's because we are not righteous and living for the Lord as we should. Perhaps we need to become obnoxious so that people will persecute us. That way we will receive the reward promised. I dare you, persecute me! No, this does not display the fruit of the Spirit.
Perhaps we ARE persecuted. After all, we can't pray in our schools, we can't even display a nativity scene in the city park. Is this true persecution? Perhaps to a degree, but not to the point that we can call ourselves truly persecuted, I don't believe. Not yet, anyway. We can still hold an assembly of over a million men in our Capitol City. Thank God for the freedom that we do have, but be vigilant. Expect persecution even in the best of circumstances. People may slander you, or fail to give you credit when credit is deserved. Remember that God will exalt you if you remain faithful to His calling.
Regardless of whether you are persecuted or not, the FEAR of persecution can throw a wet blanket on your spiritual life. Even perhaps the fear of criticism.
The Parable of the Wheat and Tares
It seems clear to me that the Lord was thinking in part about this great persecution to come at Smyrna when he taught about the wheat and tares in Matthew 13. We are called upon to live in the presence of evil, just as the good brothers at Smyrna were. We may even be called upon to give up our lives for the Gospel. Many in Sudan are doing this right now as they face persecution by the Islamic leaders in the North. The government of Russia now seems to be positioning itself to persecute those Christians outside of the orthodox church. Persecution is happening in many places today. It is a hard truth. We are not promised comfort in this world, but we are promised a much better home in heaven one day. We are the wheat that will be saved from the conflagration that is coming upon the earth and the eternal suffering that will befall all mankind that fails to accept the grace of the Lord.
Lord, Thank you for our freedom to worship you in safety, yet we confess that we are manytimes fearful of others criticism of our Christianity. Forgive us Lord.
Lee |
