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Smyrna-A Message from the God who knows
Smyrna-A Message from the God who knows
Smyrna is the next church to whom God has direct message for
Smyrna is the only of the 7 cities still in existence- Izmir- 35 miles north of Ephesus
Had a stadium, library, largest public theatre in Asia, birthplace of Homer
200k people
Smyrna was tied strategically to Rome- 195BC first city to build a temple for worship of Rome
23BC- Smyrna won the right to build a temple for Tiberius Caesar for emperor worship
Strong Roman attachment and large Jewish population made Christian life difficult
Polycarp was the disciple of John- who described as the “12th martyr in Smyrna” becaus ehe would no acknowledge Caesar as God
No exact date on when the church was founded but most believe it was during Pauls third missionary journey
Early church letters from Igantius to Smyrna- Early 100 Ad show the church well organized under Polycarp and other elders and deacons
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
“ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto 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. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
One commentator said the latter to Smyrna is more about God than it is about Smyrna
James Hamilton gave a break down of the verses like this
Vs 8- Jesus is bigger than death
Vs 9-Jesus knows his people in their suffering
Vs 10- Jesus calls his people to be faithful unto death
Vs 11- Jesus promises his people life
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
Our 2 key points for Revelation are : God wins and for the church to persevere
God sends John this letter of truth and encouragement to these churches and ultimately to every church and believer
As Jesus reveals himself here in very interesting way- “first and the last, who died and came to life”
He has already spoken this once and uses it again I think to reinforce his authority and power
That is nothing is bigger than Jesus
-He is the one who preexisted all things and made all things
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
He also outlasts all things- we wear out- Jesus never will- He is the “last”
the Alpha and the Omega- as the Father speaks of himself in verse 8
But also he died and know lives
He is the only diety in religions who can claim this- no one else can-
Its one of two disctinctions Christianity from other religions- We have an empty tomb and resurrected King
Second- We are the only religion with an actual atonement for sins by God by His grace
So John reminds them- Jesus is bigger than it all
Dont we need to hear that today?
We live in a time where we have been sucked into the idea that this life is all we have
So we must fix it all, control it all, make it perfect- not that those are bad things but those are not attainable and may not even be apart of Gods plan
What God wants Smyrna to know is that no matter what comes at you, dont fear, Its not bigger than me
Covid is not bigger than God- Doesnt mean live careless, but it does mean that I rest in Jesus
Societal issues are not bigger than God- doesnt mean I live ignorantly, but it does mean I Jesus is the answer for them
Jesus offers some interesting words when Mary Magdalene annoints Jesus feet with oil
For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.
their is some open acknowledgement that in this life that we will always have societal ills, disease, pain and sorrow
Doesnt mean we should ignore them but address them with the one who is bigger than them all- Jesus
“ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Jesus acknowledges 3 ares this peresecuted church has been faithful in
Tribulation- struggle, pain, torture have been a legacy for them
But what else could encourage them more than for the God who wins to remind his church that He knows whats going on
Not outside the eye of God but intimately accquainted
Pain, heartache, tribulation- chip away at people over time
-Little by little they begin to crack and the longer it goes on the worse it gets
Jesus doesnt belittle it or say chin up- he comfortingly says I know
one effect of tribulation or hard times is that we are alone- Jesus says , your not, I know and I am here
Poverty
-Odds are the city has turned against those are Christians-
In the middle east- they dont have to kill converts to kill converts- they will make it so your family kills you because they cut everyone off to buying and selling goods
But he reminds them- your poor in their eyes but your rich in Gods
Their faithful lives are leading to poverty here but they are storing up their treasure in heaven
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
This is the stuff that encouraged the church onward- this what caused them to put through extreme measures and hold fast
Not the fact that they were financially lucrative in the world eyes but rich in Gods
That Jesus was really their greatest possession
Hamilton said” But we will, I think, feel a freedom from all that God has promised to give us, just as long as he gives us the one thing we cant do without: himself.”
They were poor, but yet they were kings and queen seated in the heavenly places
Slander
Judaism was not forced to participate in Roman worship practices
Once Christianity began its marked separation from Judaism- the Jews began turning on the Christians
this may give us an idea of how this began
But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” And he drove them from the tribunal. And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.
As those Jews turn on fellow brothers and sister they prove themselves to be unsaved and unregenerate workers of Satan
It requires more than being a Jew outwardly but inwardly
Its takes more than being a son of Abraham but one who does the works of Abraham
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Its coming- Not if but when for the people in Smyrna
Lets be clear who is on the attack- Satan- the roaring lion
All lies, evil, brokeness, destruction, persecution come from Satan himself
What we find is that God always acts justly and righteously for all people but promises that all things work together for good for His people
For the church in Smyrna- Satan is going to bring the attack and God will allow it
He does so to test his people- genuine faith is tested and proven under pressure
For his people its always for their good
The problem of human suffering, even for a limited time, has always perplexed faithful Christians. Suffering can be expected for the ungodly, but why should the godly suffer? The Scriptures give a number of reasons. Suffering may be (1) disciplinary (1 Cor. 11:30–32; Heb. 12:3–13), (2) preventive (as Paul’s thorn in the flesh, 2 Cor. 12:7), (3) the learning of obedience (as Christ’s suffering, Heb. 5:8; cf. Rom. 5:3–5), or (4) the providing of a better testimony for Christ (as in Acts 9:16).
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Faith is seen in the hard times, not during the feast
We see the 10 days- I think this is symbolic
-Week long persection could be placed on cities all the time
-I think this is a number that says its real but it has a certain end
-Especially when you contrast that with other times spans God uses in this book- Rev 20- 1000 years
-I think its best to say, it will be a testing that wont last forever so hold fast
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Then he asks them to be faithful unto death- Only Jesus can make this plea and place this burden on people
-Jesus places a weight upon the importance on being faithful more so than living
Phillip dodridge said “I am more afraid of doing what is wrong than of dying.”
Jesus is worth dying for and therefore is worth living for
therefore only those who hold fast get the crown of life- eternal life with Jesus
Its not for the faint of heart- Its a gospel of denial
It says to take up your cross and die to yourself
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
We see again- the first death is coming but the second death is avoidable by holding to Jesus
The only way to escape the second death is to believe in Jesus and live like it to the end