“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.” Revelation 2:8-11 (NKJV)
Sometime between the first and second centuries, at the end of the Apostolic Age, a young man named Polycarp sat under the tutelage of none other than the Apostle John. As Polycarp studies under the last remaining Apostle, his faith grows stronger and stronger. So does his knowledge. He shows in many of his writings a strong familiarity and understanding of several of the letters written by Paul, Peter, John, and others (he quotes many of them). Eventually, he becomes the bishop (or overseer/pastor) of a little church in the big important city of Smyrna in Asia Minor and the church grows in spite of (and maybe even because of) a growing danger of persecution by the Romans.
Around AD 155, Polycarp is brought before the Roman proconsul and given an ultimatum: renounce Christ, worship Caesar, or else he’ll be thrown to the beasts in the gladiator stadium. Polycarp’s response was to tell the proconsul to repent and turn to Christ.
The proconsul then threatens him with being burned alive if he doesn’t renounce Christ and worship Caesar. Polycarp famously proclaims: “Eighty and six years have I now served Christ, and he has never done me the least wrong; how, then, can I blaspheme my King and my Savior? You threaten me with a fire that burns for a season, and after a little while is quenched; but you are ignorant of the fire of everlasting punishment that is prepared for the wicked.”
After that, Polycarp is tried and convicted, becoming an early martyr for Christ. It is said that he was placed on a pyre and tied to a stake and set afire. Tradition and legend says the fire wouldn’t consume him, so the Romans ran him through with a sword.
I tell you this story to set up today’s message to the church of Smyrna as addressed in Revelation 2. Keep Polycarp’s story in mind as we study it.
Now, as you read it, you’ll notice this passage is considerably different than the one we read for the church of Ephesus, isn’t it? On the surface, you have to be wondering whether or not the Ephesians had it better off, right? I mean, this revelation of Christ to the church at Smyrna is pretty grim.
Background
Smyrna (the modern city of Izmir in Turkey) was considered by Rome to be the ‘Golden Jewel’ or Golden Crown of their Asian empire. The city itself was established roughly 3000 years before Christ and, unlike most cities of the ancient world, didn’t get thrown together Willy-nilly over the centuries. It was actually planned. Designed. Smyrna’s foundation was built at the foot of a large mountain called Mount Pagus and the buildings of the city—marvels of architecture—were built going up the side of the mountain until the entire city looked like an enormous crown.
Eventually, over the centuries, the city itself died and became somewhat of a ghost town for about 300 years until Alexander the Great and his men came. They rebuilt the city, bringing it proverbially back to life and as the Grecian empire gave way to the Romans, it prospered more and more.
Not only was Smyrna the Golden Crown of Asia for the Romans, a great temple to Caesar was built there and became one of the primary cities in which Caesar worship was established. While there were many temples in this city, none were as important to Rome than Caesar’s. In fact, it became so important that the Romans didn’t care whether you worshipped their pantheon of gods or not, but the worship of Caesar became mandatory. After all, if you didn’t worship Caesar, then how could you possibly be loyal to Rome?
Around the time John wrote the Revelation (circa AD 95), Domitian was emperor and he definitely demanded the worship he felt entitled to. Of all the religions out there, none gave him more hassle than that group of ‘atheists, incestuous cannibals known as Christians’ and he started a severe persecution against them because of it.
So, with all this in the backs of your mind, let’s take a closer look at the passage itself. We’ll start with ‘He Who Promises.’
He Who Promises
Revelation 2:8 “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:”
Last week we discussed what ‘the angel’ of these churches are most likely referring to…their pastors/bishops/overseers. And the time in which this was written, we have a pretty good guess as to who the Angel of Smyrna was who would be reading this letter to his congregation…that’s right, Polycarp.
First and the Last
Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
This bring to mind the pre-existence and the eternity of Christ. While being born in the flesh two thousand years ago in Bethlehem, He has always existed. He was there at the beginning when God said, “Let US create man in our image.” He visited with Abraham. He wrestled with Jacob. He was seen time and again throughout the Old Testament.
A key component in the Gospel of John is his high Christology, especially in chapter one…’In the beginning was the Word (Logos) and the Word was with God and the Word was God.’ By starting this way, John introduced Christ not simply as a good and godly man/teacher, but as the Living God of the universe.
In the light of a pre-existing Christ and a Christ who will still be here when everything else withers away, temporary suffering seems almost trivial.
Who was dead, and came to life
A better translation is ‘I am He who became dead and is alive again’.)
Brings to mind Smyrna’s own demise several centuries earlier and its resurrection at the hands of Alexander.
The big difference here is that Smyrna is not eternal and Christ’s allusion to being ‘first and last’ reminds the church of this.
Why do you think Jesus begins his address to the church of Smyrna this way?
He’s giving his credentials. He’s about to provide great encouragement to them over the coming persecutions they will face. He’s about to make promises. He wants to assure them that of His position over the world and the power He has to work things out according to His will.
This should be a source of great comfort not just to Smyrna, but all of us who face trials and tribulations and suffering.
And with this assurance of just WHO is speaking to them, Jesus moves onto ‘They Who Persevere.’
They Who Persevere
Revelation 2:9–10 “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.”
Works, tribulation, and poverty
Like I said, this is kind of heavy stuff. Honestly, it flies in the face of what’s called the Prosperity Gospel (people like Joel Osteen) that states God wants us to be happy, healthy, and wealthy.
Notice here that Christ doesn’t say in this passage, I know you your works, tribulation, and poverty, but don’t worry…I’m going to take that away from you.
In fact, He states in other places that this would be the norm for those who followed Him:Matthew 10:22 “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
John 15:18–20 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”
Paul goes on to say this: 2 Timothy 3:12 “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
Truth is, many pastors and churches bend over backwards to try to downplay this aspect of following Christ. I can understand the reasoning, after all, these things are only temporary and God has already won the War, so why dwell on the negative?
But I think glossing over these things is ultimately detrimental to the health of the Church. It produces fair weather believers. The moment the heat turns up, many often head for the hills. Or they simply give up altogether believing that Christianity is just another false religion.
But the cold hard truth is that if we are faithful and obedient and give ourselves over to Christ, we’re going to suffer for it.
Jews and the Synagogue of Satan
That’s an interesting statement isn’t it? At this time in church history, Christianity isn’t viewed as a separate religion, but a sect of Judaism. And yet, Jews, who were equally being persecuted by Rome for their refusal to worship Caesar as well, turned on the Christians. They began pointing the fingers at them to Rome. Making accusations against them.
So, the church at Smyrna was caught in a persecution sandwich of sorts: Romans on one side and Jews on the other.
In many ways this reminds me of the Baptist spiritual forefathers, the Anabaptists. They existed long before Luther and the Protestant reformation. The Catholics persecuted the Protestants, but both Catholics and Protestants persecuted the Anabaptists as a common enemy…merely because they practiced believers baptism.
Ever seen a lame dog be attacked by a pack of other dogs? The injured dog is unable to defend itself. The others take advantage of this and pounce. All too often, we as both Christians and churches have a tendency to do this as well. We see when a fellow Christian is struggling and instead of coming alongside them and helping them, we join in on the attacks. Same is true with struggling churches, denominations, etc.
How do you think Jesus feels about this? He called these legalistic ‘Jews’ a Synagogue of Satan, if that helps clarify His thoughts on the subject. He could just as easily call a church a Congregation of Satan or an Assembly of Satan.
We must be unified in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must share in each other’s sufferings as much as we share in our successes. We are not Local Baptist Church against Local Methodist Church. We’re not small country church vs big city mega church. We are the Church (collective)…the whole body of Christ.
Don’t fear the coming suffering…Faithfulness and the Crown
“…the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days…”
Jesus warns this church the persecution is going to get worse. Tribulation in the form of imprisonment for their beliefs is coming.
Worse, He tells them they will have ‘tribulation for ten days.’ What does this mean?
Ten days was the general amount of time someone sentenced by Rome could remain incarcerated until they were thrown into the gladiatorial games (the ten day restriction was set up in case new evidence came about to exonerate someone or if Caesar would provide a stay of execution). You see, being tossed into the arena was a death sentence.
Many Christians in Smyrna were going to die (the first well-known of which was Polycarp about 50 years later).
Augustine of Hippo ~ “The martyrs were bound, imprisoned, scourged, racked, burnt, rent, butchered—and they multiplied.”
It’s the weirdest thing. The more tribulation Christians face, the more and more the Church tends to grow. Third world nations where Christianity is illegal have a thriving underground churches.
Just last weekend, churches across America saw a surge in attendance due mostly to Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
So, how are we supposed to react to persecution exactly? How are we supposed to deal with it?
1 Peter 4:14 “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”
And how do we deal with those who are doing the persecuting??
Romans 12:14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” Seems REALLY hard to do, doesn’t it? But note that the verse here is an imperative statement. It is a command. There’s no wriggle room. This is how we are supposed to respond to such adversity.
I’m reminded of Stephen, who was stoned to death by a young unbelieving Paul and the Sandhedrin. Acts 7:60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Wow. That is an amazing testimony, isn’t it? How many of us could do that? And yet, that’s what Jesus means when he tells us that if we who prevail will be faithful unto death!
We Who Prevail
Revelation 2:10b–11 “…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.”
Be faithful until death…
“The staying power of our faith is neither demonstrated nor developed until it is tested by suffering.” ~ D. A. Carson.
To be honest, it is only through suffering and persecution that any of us face real testing of our faith. Is our faith and our faithfulness dependent on circumstances in our lives? Do we serve Christ is name alone, or are we truly willing to take up our cross and follow Him? For some of us, ‘taking up our cross’ isn’t a metaphor. It could well be a real circumstance we’ll have to face.
Romans 8:35–37 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
Tribulation doesn’t tear us away from God’s love. Does it tear our love away from God? If we hold steady…if we endure…if we continue to trust in His mercy, grace, and love, we become conquerors against Satan’s mechanizations.
“Persecution is like the goldsmith’s hallmark on real silver and gold; it is one of the marks of a converted man.” ~ J. C. Ryle
Crown of life and Surviving the Second Death
James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
Does this teach a works-based salvation? Absolutely not. It merely means our faith is true.
It also goes back to what those who live in Smyrna refers to their city as: The Crown of Asia or the Golden Crown. Some even called the city ‘the Crown of Life.’ Here, Christ is reminding the church that there is a crown far more glorious than that of man’s architectural marvels. One far more enduring…that will never crumble or fade away.
So, what about us? Are we ready for the tribulation that is to come, because friends, it’s coming.
The key to understanding biblical prophecy: there is almost always an immediate fulfillment and a future fulfillment. While the Smyrnans saw this prophecy fulfilled in their lifetimes, rest assured, another round is fast approaching. Another Rome is on the horizon. Already, we see the beginnings with anti-Christian laws surfacing in Canada (especially during COVID). We see it in the murder of Charlie Kirk (and the celebratory aftermath of it all).
And I’m not even talking about the persecution during the Great Tribulation either. As a pre-tribulation guy, most alive today will have been raptured up before that starts. But just because we live in the USA, doesn’t mean it can’t happen to us today. Doesn’t mean they can’t imprison us for preaching the Bible and being labeled Nazis and using hate speech. It’s on the horizon, my friends.
Are we ready? Are you ready? Will we endure the way Stephen did? Or Polycarp? Are we willing today to totally die to self, take up our cross, and follow Jesus? I hope so.
