Smyrna: The Persecuted Church

OPENING

We continue with our sermon series “Red Letters.”

This week we are looking at “Smyrna: The Persecuted Church.”

SCRIPTURE

Revelation 2:8–11 NKJV

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: 9 “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. 10 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. 11 “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.” ’

MESSAGE

Introduction

Address

Compliment

Rebuke

Command

Exhortation

Promise

Introduction

Revelation 2:8 NKJV

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:

The title, “the First and the Last” is reserved for God Himself

Isaiah 41:4 NKJV

4 Who has performed and done it, Calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the Lord, am the first; And with the last I am He.’ ”

Isaiah 44:6 NKJV

6 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.

Isaiah 48:12 NKJV

12 “Listen to Me, O Jacob, And Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last.

who was dead, and came to life

“Smyrna” means “myrrh”

Myrrh is a sweet-smelling perfume used to anoint the dead for burial.

Myrrh had special significance with Jesus:

Myrrh was one of the gifts the wise men brought Jesus as a young child, which was prophetic of His eventual death and burial. (Matthew 2:11)

Jesus was offered wine mixed with myrrh on the cross during His crucifixion to help dull the pain, but Jesus refused to drink it. (Mark 15:23)

Nicodemus brought 100 pounds of a mixture of myrrh and aloes to anoint the body of Jesus for His burial. (John 19:39).

Death could not hold Jesus, and it cannot hold His people!

Address

Revelation 2:8 NKJV

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:

Smyrna the City

Was located about 40 miles north of Ephesus.

Like Ephesus, was a cultural and economic center in Asia Minor.

Was a very rich city.

Smyrna was a Center of Idolatry:

“Golden Street”

Cybele

Apollos

Asklepios

Aphrodite

Zeus

Smyrna was a Center for Emperor Worship

During this time, worship of the pagan gods was declining, and worship of the Roman Emperor was increasing.

in A.D. 23, the first temple dedicated to the worship of the Roman Emperor Tiberias Caesar was built in Smyrna.

Initially, emperor worship was expected of Roman Citizens, but was for the most part voluntary.

In A.D. 81-96, the Roman Emperor Domitian as the first emperor to demand worship under the title “Lord.”

It is under the rule of Domitian that the Apostle John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos where he wrote the book of Revelation.

Once per year, Roman citizens and those who lived under Roman rule had to visit the temple, burn a pinch of incense, and declare “Caesar is Lord.”

Those who did, recieved a certificate verifying that they had completed the requirement to worship the emperor.

This certificate allowed them to have a job and have all the rights of a free citizen of the Roman government.

Those who refused did not receive a certificate and were not able to work and provide for their families.

Even Christians were required to perform this requirement of Emperor worship once a year. All they had to do was perform this duty and declare “Caesar is Lord,” even if they didn’t believe it, and get their certificate.

But this is exactly what the Christians in Smyrna would not do! They refused to call anyone “Lord” except the Lord Jesus Christ.

As a result, many of the Christians in Smyrna suffered intense economic persecution.

We cannot compromise our Christian faith, even for the smallest things!

Compliment

Jesus said, “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty

Revelation 2:9 NKJV

9 “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.

The word “poverty” here doesn’t mean just poor, it means abject poverty.

They literally had nothing.

Many of them had lost their jobs or were unable to get jobs because they didn’t have the certificate.

Doesn’t this sound a lot like something called the Mark of the Beast in the book of Revelation?

In Revelation 13, the Bible tells us in the last days that the Antichrist and the False Prophet will setup an economic system that will require everyone to receive the Mark of the Beast, in their right hand or in their forehead.

No one will be able to buy, sell, hold a job, have access to their 401k or retirement without this mark.

But the interesting about the Mark of the Beast is that it is not just a form of digital currency, or some form of ID that is connected to your social credit score, it will be actually tied to the worship of the antichrist.

So the Mark of the Beast will be economic persecution tied to the worship of a geopolitical leader, similar to what the Christians in Smyrna faced, but on a global scale.

Tribulation, poverty, and facing intense spiritual warfare is not evidence of failure or a lack of God’s favor!

Rebuke

Jesus does not have a rebuke for the true believers in the Church in Smyrna.

Jesus just simply says, “But you are rich.”

Revelation 2:9 NKJV

9 “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.

Jesus was contrasting their physical poverty to their spiritual riches.

Illustration of the Pope:

The story is told that the Pope was showing a man around the Vatican. The man was so impressed by the beauty and the extravagance of everything that he saw. The Pope responded, “We no longer have to say what Peter said, ‘Silver and gold have I none.’” The man responded to the Pope, “but neither can you say, ‘rise up and walk.’”

However, Jesus does have a rebuke for those who are not true believers.

Jesus says, “I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews but are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”

They committed blasphemy and were not true Jews because the rejected the Messiah Jesus Christ.

As a result, Jesus said they were a synagogue of Satan.

Because of their rejection of Jesus, these Jews hated and persecuted the Christians in Smyrna through slander.

They slandered the Christians of cannibalism for partaking in the Lord’s Supper.

They slandered them for being home wreckers because one member of the family became a Christian and brought division.

They slandered them for atheism because they rejected the worship of the emperors and deities of Rome.

They slandered them for rebellion and political disloyalty against Rome.

The Jews so wanted to destroy the Christians that they reported them for these false claims to Rome so that they would be persecuted and be killed for their faith.

No wonder Jesus called these so-called Jews a synagogue of Satan.

Those who have made it their mission to try to destroy sincere Christians are part of Satan’s church!

Command

Revelation 2:10 NKJV

10 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.

Since Jesus did not have a formal complaint or rebuke against the Church in Smyrna, there is also no direct command for repentance.

However, Jesus does say: “Do not fear.”

This is stronger language than it is sounds like. It is actually “stop being afraid.”

In other words, there must have been some in the Church in Smyrna that were living in fear of the Roman government because of the persecution they were facing.

To become a Christian in Smyrna meant almost certain imprisonment or death.

Jesus said understand that the devil is the source of the persecution.

But also understand that God is still in control.

And also understand that God will limit what the devil is allowed to do.

The persecution will only be for 10 days (a limited time).

Instead of a command to repent, there is an encouragement to remain faithful and they will receive the crown of life.

This was the “stephanos” crown given to the winner of a race.

It is the victor’s crown!

W must run this race of life with patience because there is a crown of life that is waiting for us at the end of this journey!

Exhortation

Revelation 2:11 NKJV

11 “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.” ’

We need to hear what the Spirit is staying to us today.

We may not face today in America the same type or same level of persecution that they faced in Smyrna, but there are people across the world today who do.

Example of Polycarp

Was a disciple of John the Apostle.

Was killed, martyred, around AD 155-156, or about 50-60 years after the writing of the book of Revelation.

Had a dream that there was a pillow under his head that was on fire.

He told his disciples, “I must be burned alive.”

The day came when Polycarp was brought into the arena during the games.

Many Christians had already been martyred by throwing them to the lions, but the lions had already been put away.

So the crowds shouted to burn him alive.

Polycarp had been given the opportunity to simply burn a pinch on incense and declare that Caesar is Lord and he would avoid being put to death, but Polycarp refused.

Polycarp responded, “for eighty-six years I have served Jesus; how dare I revile my king.”

The Roman executioners put Polycarp on the stake to be burnt and he said, “It is well. I fear not the fire that burns for a season and after a while is quenched.”

As they got ready to set the wood on fire Polycarp prayed, “I thank You Lord that You have graciously thought me worthy of this day and of this hour, that I may receve a portion in the number of the martyrs, in the cup of Your Christ.”

As they set the wood ablaze, the fire shot up toward heaven, but the flames never touched Polycarp. God set a hedge of protection around him.

When one of his executioners realized Polycarp would not burn, he stabbed Polycarp with a long spear.

Blood rushed from Polycarps body and began to extinguish the fire.

Witnesses said at that moment they saw a dove fly up from the smoke into heaven.

Example of Temistocres Ngabona

He lives in Tanzania, a country in Eastern Africa.

Tanzania is a mostly Islamic country.

But Temistocres was a Christian.

He married his wife Deborah in 2011 who was a Muslim.

Neither Temistocres or Deborah were active in their faiths at the time.

But one day they received a knock on their door and were invited to come to the local Christian church.

They agreed and both were touched by God that day and became fully devoted Christians.

Seveal years later, in 2014, Temistocres started a prayer meeting at the church, every night, for six months.

A group would arrive around 9pm and pray and then a few would stay each night and pray until morning.

When they were about 2 months into the six months, a man by the name of Dioniz joined the prayer group.

One night it was Temistocres and Dioniz who stayed through the night and took turns praying and sleeping.

The church was near a Muslim mosque. That night a swarm of bees entered the mosque and disrupted their service. The Muslims blamed the Christian prayer meeting and a few decided to get revenge.

Dioniz was praying and Temistocres was sleeping when the angry Muslims entered the church.

Temistocres awoke to someone attacking him with a machete.

He used his arms and legs to try to shield himself from the blows from the machete.

Temistocres heard the voice of the Lord say, “take a stone.”

There was a stone next to him and he grabbed it and threw it at the attacker. The stone hit the man and knocked him to the ground.

Another man stabbed Temistocres three more times before they ran off.

Temistocres was badly injured. He had multiple cuts on his arms and legs. One of his thumbs had been severed. One of his legs was almost severed just above the ankle.

Temistocres looked over and watched his friend Dioniz die after succumbing to his injuries.

Temistocres crawled his way out of the church and was later discovered by a woman who helped get him to the local hospital where he recovered from his injuries.

During his recovery, Temistocres thought, “How can we thank God for all he has done for us?”

He and his wife Deborah donated their land, their family inheritance, to the church in order to build another building.

They continued to see the attackers in town, so they eventually had to move to another area.

They built another church there and Temistocres became the pastor.

Today they have 71 members and 150 children who regularly attend.

Not only that, but Temistocres hopes to receive additional training in how to witness to Muslims, the very people who attacked him years ago.

During a recent worship service, Temistocres recalled all that had happened to him and prayed in his native tongue Swahili, “Asante Yesu.” Thank you Jesus!

Promise

Revelation 2:11 NKJV

11 “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.” ’

He who overcomes

Those who remain faithful in the face of persecution.

Even those who die a martyr’s death.

shall not be hurt by the second death

The first death is physical death.

The second death is spiritual death.

Spiritual death is eternal torment in hell.

Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. We don’t have to go there!

CLOSING

2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV

12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

How do we overcome persecution?

Be fearless.

Be flexible.

Be faithful.

ALTAR CALL

Call for salvation.

Call for re-dedication.

Call for faithfulness in the face of difficulties.