Sermon Tone Analysis
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Destination—Smryna
If you were here last Sunday, you remember that we talked about the message to the church at Ephesus
After reading the message to the Ephesians, you might feel justified in this idea.
Jesus had a strong message for them, one that warned them of what would happen if they did not examine their heart and motivation.
But today we have a very different message—one of understanding and encouragement.
Destination-Smyrna
Today we make a brief visit to Smyrna, only 35 miles to the north of Ephesus
unlike Ephesus, the city of Smyrna still stands to this day.
The ruins of the ancient city are surrounded by the modern buildings of Izmir, Turkey.
Also a great port city.
It’s proximity to Athens made it a gateway to Europe
Had beautiful architecture and tropical climate
They held exclusive rights to the import and export of the fragrant spice, Myrrh.
Used for fragrance but also in burial procedures.
Sold large amounts to Egypt where they would embalm bodies with the afterlife in mind.
Could it be that the myrrh which the wisemen brought came from Smyrna?
Or the myrrh which the women brought for the body of Jesus in the tomb?
History
600 B.C. the Lydian King, Alyattes conquered Smyrna and reduced it to a tiny fishing village
Alexander the Great had a vision to rebuild the city and it became the a major port and one of the most important cities of its day
They took great pride in their history.
Their literature filled with references to death and resurrection.
“We are the city that was dead and now is alive again”.
Smyrna understood the rise of Rome and declared herself loyal to Rome.
They were extremely loyal.
They were a part of the cult of emperor worship:
Not prevalent in Rome, but common throughout the empire
Not only did they have a temple dedicated to the goddess, Roma, they also had a temple dedicated to the Emperor Tiberius.
A an emperor was declared to be a god after his death
A picture of one who would die, yet live again as a god.
In the temple, they prayed for Rome and would pray to the gods and to the emperor.
Issues—Slander, imprisonment, torture and death
“I have served my master for these eighty and six years.
How can I now deny his name?”
“..who died and came to life again”.
Direct opposition to emperors who declared themselves divine; died and come back to life as divine.
So this is what things were like in Smyrna
Had beautiful architecture and tropical climate
But what was life like for the Christians?
Revelations
Alexander the Great had a vision to rebuild the city and it became the a major port and one of the most important cities of its day
NIV“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!
I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
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 life as your victor’s crown.
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.
Poverty
They took great pride in their history.
Their literature filled with references to death and resurrection.
“We are the city that was dead and now is alive again”.
Greek word means “extreme poverty”.
Paul uses this same word when writing to the Corinthians.
He commends the church in Macedonia for their joy and generosity in the midst of extreme poverty (NIV)
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.
Entirely on their own,
Why?
We don’t know.
Smyrna was a rich city.
Why?
We don’t know.
Smyrna was a rich city.
But as we study the early church, this seems to be the norm rather than the exception.
Used for fragrance but also in burial procedures.
Quite possibly they were blocked out from doing business in the Agora just like their Ephesian brothers.
Sold large amounts to Egypt where they would embalm bodies with the afterlife in mind.
Could it be that the myrrh which the wisemen brought came from Smyrna?
Or the myrrh which the women brought for the body of Jesus in the tomb?
Slander:
Came from those who claimed to be Jews but were not true Jews.
They endured slander from those who claimed to worship the same God that the Christians worshipped
was said that they had orgies in which they ate the body of Christ and drank his blood.
was said that they were anti-family because they called each other brother and sister.
They didn’t care about their real family which was important in Roman culture.
This slander brought about
persecution
The Jews carried enough influence to bring the power of Rome down on these people.
Example: the Jews turning Jesus over to be crucified.
They played their cards right
Not only didn’t they recognize the emperor as god, they had strange customs
It’s possible that the Jew’s alignment with Rome brought this harsh condemnation from Jesus “The synagogue of Satan”.
Thrown into prison: a rat-infested dungeon filled with human excrement, very little light and very little food
To die: thrown to the wild beasts in an arena or burned at the stake or some other horrific way
Famous martyr—Polycarp Lived from 69-155.
Bishop of Smyrna
“I have served my master for these eighty and six years.
How can I now deny his name?”
So What?
“..who died and
So what does this mean for us?
We read this and think, Man, if this is what it is like to be a Believer, I don’t know if it’s worth it.
Why do we experience afflictions and persecution?
Hardship was promised by Jesus
I think we must be on the same page and realize that hardship was promised by Jesus.
“I know your afflictions and your poverty”
Jesus is not surprised by what they are going through
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