The Persecuted Church

The whole multitude, marveling at the nobility of mind displayed by the devout and godly race of Christians, cried out, “Away with the Atheists; let Polycarp be sought out!”

But the most admirable Polycarp, when he first heard [that he was sought for], was in no measure disturbed, but resolved to continue in the city. However, in deference to the wish of many, he was persuaded to leave it. He departed, therefore, to a country house not far distant from the city. There he stayed with a few [friends], engaged in nothing else night and day than praying for all men, and for the Churches throughout the world, according to his usual custom. And while he was praying, a vision presented itself to him three days before he was taken; and, behold, the pillow under his head seemed to him on fire. Upon this, turning to those that were with him, he said to them prophetically, “I must be burnt alive.”

And when those who sought for him were at hand, he departed to another dwelling, whither his pursuers immediately came after him. And when they found him not, they seized upon two youths [that were there], one of whom, being subjected to torture, confessed. It was thus impossible that he should continue hid, since those that betrayed him were of his own household. The Irenarch then (whose office is the same as that of the Cleronomus), by name Herod, hastened to bring him into the stadium. [This all happened] that he might fulfill his special lot, being made a partaker of Christ, and that they who betrayed him might undergo the punishment of Judas himself.

His pursuers then, along with horsemen, and taking the youth with them, went forth at supper-time on the day of the preparation, with their usual weapons, as if going out against a robber. And being come about evening [to the place where he was], they found him lying down in the upper room of a certain little house, from which he might have escaped into another place; but he refused, saying, “The will of God be done.”

So when he heard that they were come, he went down and spake with them. And as those that were present marveled at his age and constancy, some of them said, “Was so much effort made to capture such a venerable man?”

Immediately then, in that very hour, he ordered that something to eat and drink should be set before them, as much indeed as they cared for, while he besought them to allow him an hour to pray without disturbance. And on their giving him leave, he stood and prayed, being full of the grace of God, so that he could not cease for two full hours, to the astonishment of them that heard him, insomuch that many began to repent that they had come forth against so godly and venerable an old man.

Now, as soon as he had ceased praying, having made mention of all that had at any time come in contact with him, both small and great, illustrious and obscure, as well as the whole…Church throughout the world, the time of his departure having arrived, they set him upon an ass, and conducted him into the city, the day being that of the great Sabbath. And the Irenarch Herod, accompanied by his father Nicetes (both riding in a chariot), met him, and taking him up into the chariot, they seated themselves beside him, and endeavored to persuade him, saying, “What harm is there in saying, Lord Caesar, and in sacrificing, with the other ceremonies observed on such occasions, and so make sure of safety?”

But he at first gave them no answer; and when they continued to urge him, he said, “I shall not do as you advise me.” So they, having no hope of persuading him, began to speak bitter words unto him, and cast him with violence out of the chariot, insomuch that, in getting down from the carriage, he dislocated his leg [by the fall]. But without being disturbed, and as if suffering nothing, he went eagerly forward with all haste, and was conducted to the stadium, where the tumult was so great, that there was no possibility of being heard.

Now, as Polycarp was entering into the stadium, there came to him a voice from heaven, saying, “Be strong, and show thyself a man, O Polycarp!”

No one saw who it was that spoke to him; but those of our brethren who were present heard the voice. And as he was brought forward, the tumult became great when they heard that Polycarp was taken. And when he came near, the proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp. On his confessing that he was, [the proconsul] sought to persuade him to deny [Christ], saying, respect to thy old age,” and other similar things, according to their custom, [such as], “Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say, Away with the Atheists.”

But Polycarp, gazing with a stern countenance on all the multitude of the wicked heathen then in the stadium, and waving his hand towards them, while with groans he looked up to heaven, said, “Away with the Atheists.” Then, the proconsul urging him, and saying, “Swear, and I will set thee at liberty, reproach Christ”;

Polycarp declared, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”

And when the proconsul yet again pressed him, and said, “Swear by the fortune of Caesar,” he answered, “Since thou art vainly urgent that, as thou sayest, I should swear by the fortune of Caesar, and pretendest not to know who and what I am, hear me declare with boldness, I am a Christian. And if you wish to learn what the doctrines of Christianity are, appoint me a day, and thou shalt hear them.”

The proconsul replied, “Persuade the people.”

But Polycarp said, “To thee I have thought it right to offer an account [of my faith]; for we are taught to give all due honor (which entails no injury upon ourselves) to the powers and authorities which are ordained of God. But as for these, I do not deem them worthy of receiving any account from me.”

The proconsul then said to him, “I have wild beasts at hand; to these will I cast thee, except thou repent.”

But he answered, “Call them then, for we are not accustomed to repent of what is good in order to adopt that which is evil; and it is well for me to be changed from what is evil to what is righteous.”

But again the proconsul said to him, “I will cause thee to be consumed by fire, seeing thou despisest the wild beasts, if thou wilt not repent.”

But Polycarp said, “Thou threatenest me with fire which burneth for an hour, and after a little is extinguished, but art ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and of eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. But why tarriest thou? Bring forth what thou wilt.”

While he spoke these and many other like things, he was filled with confidence and joy, and his countenance was full of grace, so that not merely did it not fall as if troubled by the things said to him, but, on the contrary, the proconsul was astonished, and sent his herald to proclaim in the midst of the stadium thrice, “Polycarp has confessed that he is a Christian.”

This proclamation having been made by the herald, the whole multitude both of the heathen and Jews, who dwelt at Smyrna, cried out with uncontrollable fury, and in a loud voice, “This is the teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians, and the overthrower of our gods, he who has been teaching many not to sacrifice, or to worship the gods.” Speaking thus, they cried out, and besought Philip the Asiarch to let loose a lion upon Polycarp. But Philip answered that it was not lawful for him to do so, seeing the shows of wild beasts were already finished. Then it seemed good to them to cry out with one consent, that Polycarp should be burnt alive. For thus it behooved the vision which was revealed to him in regard to his pillow to be fulfilled, when, seeing it on fire as he was praying, he turned about and said prophetically to the faithful that were with him, “I must be burnt alive.”

This, then, was carried into effect with greater speed than it was spoken, the multitudes immediately gathering together wood and fagots out of the shops and baths; the Jews especially, according to custom, eagerly assisting them in it. And when the funeral pile was ready, Polycarp, laying aside all his garments, and loosing his girdle, sought also to take off his sandals,—a thing he was not accustomed to do, inasmuch as every one of the faithful was always eager who should first touch his skin. For, on account of his holy life, he was, even before his martyrdom, adorned with every kind of good.

Immediately then they surrounded him with those substances which had been prepared for the funeral pile. But when they were about also to fix him with nails, he said, “Leave me as I am; for He that giveth me strength to endure the fire, will also enable me, without your securing me by nails, to remain without moving in the pile.”

They did not nail him then, but simply bound him. And he, placing his hands behind him, and being bound like a distinguished ram [taken] out of a great flock for sacrifice, and prepared to be an acceptable burnt-offering unto God, looked up to heaven, and said, “O Lord God Almighty, the Father of thy beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of Thee, the God of angels and powers, and of every creature, and of the whole race of the righteous who live before thee, I give Thee thanks that Thou hast counted me, worthy of this day and this hour, that I should have a part in the number of Thy martyrs, in the cup of thy Christ, to the resurrection of eternal life, both of soul and body, through the incorruption [imparted] by the Holy Ghost. Among whom may I be accepted this day before Thee as a fat and acceptable sacrifice, according as Thou, the ever-truthful God, hast fore-ordained, hast revealed beforehand to me, and now hast fulfilled. Wherefore also I praise Thee for all things, I bless Thee, I glorify Thee, along with the everlasting and heavenly Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, with whom, to Thee, and the Holy Ghost, be glory both now and to all coming ages. Amen.”

When he had pronounced this amen, and so finished his prayer, those who were appointed for the purpose kindled the fire. And as the flame blazed forth in great fury, we, to whom it was given to witness it, beheld a great miracle, and have been preserved that we might report to others what then took place. For the fire, shaping itself into the form of an arch, like the sail of a ship when filled with the wind, encompassed as by a circle the body of the martyr. And he appeared within not like flesh which is burnt, but as bread that is baked, or as gold and silver glowing in a furnace. Moreover, we perceived such a sweet odor [coming from the pile], as if frankincense or some such precious spices had been smoking there.

At length, when those wicked men perceived that his body could not be consumed by the fire, they commanded an executioner to go near and pierce him through with a dagger. And on his doing this, there came forth a dove, and a great quantity of blood, so that the fire was extinguished; and all the people wondered that there should be such a difference between the unbelievers and the elect, of whom this most admirable Polycarp was one, having in our own times been an apostolic and prophetic teacher, and bishop of the…Church which is in Smyrna. For every word that went out of his mouth either has been or shall yet be accomplished.1

1 John F. MacArthur Jr., Revelation 1–11, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 72–76.

A translated second-century document entitled The Encyclical Epistle of the Church at Smyrna Concerning the Martyrdom of the Holy Polycarp relates the striking story of Polycarp’s martyrdom:

Polycarp was 86 years old when he was martyred for his faith in Christ.

Polycarp was from Smyrna.

He was martyred half a century after John’s time, after this letter to the church at Smyrna.

Smyrna is THE PERSECUTED CHURCH.

Revelation 2:8-11.

Revelation 2:8–11 ESV

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 9 “ ‘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. 10 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. 11 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.’

Read Big Idea.

Body

Big Idea: The message of the Son of Man to the persecuted church is DO NOT FEAR but BE FAITHFUL unto death.

The Correspondent

Revelation 2:8.

Revelation 2:8 ESV

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

This introduction of the correspondent comes from Revelation 1:17-18.

Revelation 1:17–18 ESV

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Note the way Jesus describes himself in relation to the message he gives them.

A description that also parallel’s Revelation 1:5.

Revelation 1:5 ESV

5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

“Firstborn of the dead”

Remember we said

First in authority

First In power

First in significance

He is the FIRSTBORN of the dead.

He is the one who has died and risen again. He has defeated death.

And so he introduces Himself as the One is FIRST and LAST (Alpha and Omega), the one who DIED and CAME TO LIVE.

In revelation 4 we will see him appear as a Lamb that was slain…

Death to life.

Later he will command the church at Smyrna to be faithful even unto death….

and he will promise that they will receive the crown of life, that the second death will not touch those who conquer.

HE IS LIFE.

He has authority over death.

THUS his commands to DO NOT FEAR and BE FAITHFUL unto death are BACKED by AUTHORITY and POWER (as the firstborn from the dead) to protect them.

His own defeat of death gives credibility to his claim and promise, and gives power to his admonishment to remain faithful.

This description of Jesus and all that it entails would have given the church great comfort.

God, Jesus possessed FULL control over life and death. The one they loved and were about to suffer for, maintained complete control over even death itself. They could trust their fate to him. Nothing could happen that HE did not have control of.

AND if they died physically in their path of obedience to Him, he had them. They were secure. He controlled even death itself. They need not fear AND they could remain faithful even unto death.

He is not admonishing them to a task that He was not also willing to endure Himself.

He himself died.

And He now lives forever more.

AS will they, if they remain faithful…

To the one who conquers, they will not be hurt by the second death…(again, we will consider more fully later, but it is very much related to the way he introduces Himself to them.)

The Church

No record actually exists of this churches founding.

All we know about it, comes from this letter.

At the end of the first century, life was difficult for the church, especially here at Smyrna.

The city, a long ally of Rome, was a hotbed for emperor worship.

It was illegal to refuse to offer the yearly sacrifice to Emperor Domitian.

Thus, many Christians faced execution and persecution.

Polycarp is perhaps the most famous of Smyrna’s martyrs. He would be executed half a century after John’s time.

The City

Revelation 2:8 ESV

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

The largest city in Asia Minor

Had a fine harbor and was the political center for the region.

HIGHLY devoted to Rome…they worshipped Rome and the emperor. A temple was even built that was the center of their worship of Rome.

They were self-governing.

Birthplace of Homer back in 750BC

Sixth Century BC - the Mermnads pounded the powerful city until was no more than a raggedy village.

Alexander the Great would restore the city. The rebuilt city is the one that existed during Johns day

Contained several temples and a large theater that could sit 20,000

The most famous street, the street of Gold curved around the slopes of the Pagos. At one end of the street was the temple of Cybele, Zeus stood at the other. In between, temples existed for Apollo, Asklepios, and Aphrodite.

Name derived from Myrrh, an embalming fluid that was a huge export of the city.

MacArthur notes…

Its association with death perfectly pictures the suffering church at Smyrna. Like myrrh, produced by crushing a fragrant plant, the church at Smyrna, crushed by persecution, gave off a fragrant aroma of faithfulness to God. At Smyrna, unlike Ephesus, there was no waning of love for Jesus Christ. Because the believers at Smyrna loved Him, they remained faithful to Him; because of that faithfulness, they were hated; because they were hated, they were persecuted; that persecution in turn incited them to love Christ more.

John F. MacArthur Jr., Revelation 1–11, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 69–70.

In contrast to Ephesus, Smyrna’s love for God was fiery hot…hot enough that they were willing to endure suffering and death for His sake.

We a similar willingness in Hebrews 10:32-36.

Hebrews 10:32–36 ESV

32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

The believers JOYFULLY endured the plundering of their property…

They endured JOYFULLY their suffering…

Because the depth and strength of their love for God was far greater than any treasure in this life, including their comfort and pleasures.

Their love, hope, and faith in were in something besides this life.

It was in THE PERSON of God.

This letter is not a rebuke.

It is an encouragement to CONTINUE doing what they were already doing.

Smyrna is the living example of what a fiery hot love for God will result it…

All out abandon for the sake of God.

ALL IN, ALL THE TIME type of living.

When your love for God is hot, burning, and all consuming, you will be willing to lay down EVERYTHING for His sake.

Including your own life.

What are we unwilling to lay down for his sake?

The Commendation

Revelation 2:9

Revelation 2:9 ESV

9 “ ‘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.

I know your tribulation…

Trouble that inflict distress, oppression, affliction. Distress that is often brought on by external circumstances.

From the word we translate persecute. It denotes the idea of being crushed, squeezed and put into a narrow place. Hence, affliction and persecution.

It is usually referring to persecution.

Word is also used in relationship to Jesus’ suffering and affliction.

Due to the cities intense Roman and emperor worship, it is no wonder that the Christians faced intense persecution.

In addition, the amount of pagan temples of worship expose that the city also held a mixture of other worship focuses as well.

They also faced persecution from the Jews…who Jesus says are just as much Satan worshippers as the pagans who worshiped the emperor and the false gods.

So he says….

I know your suffering, your persecution.

Not future

NOW

There will be more suffering coming, but he is also speaking to that which already is.

Present

For their love for God and for their stance upon the gospel.

What is absent?

Promise of deliverance, physically speaking.

In fact, it is just the opposite. He knows there PRESENT suffering…

He is going to command them to NOT FEAR the future suffering coming.

What is absent is a promise of deliverance.

In fact, he says more is coming.

Jesus KNOWS THEIR SUFFERING FOR THE GOSPEL.

His word of commendation…

You are suffering well.

You are glorying me by your willingness to suffer for my sake

You are not willing to compromise for the sake of turning down the heat from others

Listen, half devoted individuals, hypocrites would not have stuck around to suffer.

False believers, false professions of faith WILL NOT endure the pain for something that they do not believe to be true, that they do not PASSIONATELY believe in.

Persecution exposes FALSE professions of faith and repentance.

It exposes WEAK faith….but it is truly present, it will redeem and strengthen it.

“The purest Christian graces”, MacArthur notes, “are those forged in the furnace of adversity.”

I know your poverty…

Lacking the means of support.

Without monetary or tangible means to provide for basic needs.

Due to the wealth and beauty of the city, it is likely that their poverty came as part of the persecution they were experiencing for their faith in Christ.

They likely had their wealth and substance plundered and taken, (just like Hebrews 10 described) they were likely not able to conduct business with the town on account of their faith.

The church at Smyrna was rich, despite it’s physical poverty.

2 Corinthians 8:9.

2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Their true wealth and riches are in Jesus. Like the Macedonian church here who gave out of the extreme poverty, Smyrna is rich not because they have an abundance of wealth but because they are in Christ and share in his suffering and the riches of Christ both in Him and in what is to come.

Jesus Himself admonished us to consider where we are laying up our treasures…

Matthew 6:19-21.

Matthew 6:19–21 ESV

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Where you treasure is…there will your heart be also.

The Smyrna church revealed, through their suffering, where their real treasure was.

Their treasure was not here, but in eternity, it is in Christ. They are rich in that their hearts are so devoted to Jesus that they are willing to endure a little earthly suffering for his sake.

Jesus will go on later to warn them about worry and fear and anxiety over temporal things…

Mt 6:25-32.

Matthew 6:25–32 ESV

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

The things we worry about, reveal the passions and concerns of our hearts.

The things we fret about, pander over, and give our time and attention to, they reveal what matters most to us.

Jesus says, do not worry about these things…

TRUST the one who cares for the flowers of the field, the birds of the air, or even the pagan Gentiles who are provided what they need.

INSTEAD he says…

Matthew 6:33.

Matthew 6:33 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Seek what matters most…the rest of your cares will be provided for.

When you seek first the kingdom of God, you will be richer than you could possibly imagine.

They are rich because they sought first CHRIST and HIS Kingdom over this temporary one.

Theirs was not one poverty state, but one of glorious riches.

I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are of the Synagogue of Satan

The unbelieving Jews accused the Christians of many false things…

Cannibalism - based on misunderstanding of the Lord’s supper

Immorality - Based on perversion of the holy kiss that they greeted each other with)

Breaking up of homes (when one spouse repented and believed and the other did not, it inevitably caused problems)

Atheism (Christians rejected the pagan pantheon of deities, thus they accused them of the extreme, atheism).

This explains the cry against Polycarp…

Their accusation against him was certainly not valid, but was done so in response to his rejection of their emperor and false god worship.

Political disloyalty and rebellion (Did they not also do this with Jesus?) (They refused to worship Rome, the emperor or offer the sacrifices required by law.)

These, and perhaps others, were reported to Rome against the Christians in their hope of destroying the church and all those had converted to it.

Church….hear this…when persecution comes, we will not be accused or convicted for true crimes, but false ones. Made up ones. Misinterpreted ones. We will be lied about, slandered, maligned. We will be arrested and killed as bigots, murderers, terrorists, abusers, etc.

These ones who slandered the church at Smyrna…they THOUGHT they were Jews, but they were really the Synagogue of Satan

They sought to destroy the church

THUS doing Satan’s will

They served Satan instead of the God they claimed to serve

When persecution comes for us, I doubt it will even come in the guise of defense of truth, justice, and that which is right.

We will be accused of being the lawbreakers, the intolerant ones, the criminals who would seek to do harm to others.

The way things are moving in our society, we will be made out to be the religious zealots. We will be made to be no better than the terrorists who bombed the World Trade Centers.

That is what is coming for us.

However…

Do NOT fear.

Be Faithful, even unto the death.

And we will win.

The Concern

There isn’t one.

Conclusion

Big Idea: The message of the Son of Man to the persecuted church is DO NOT FEAR but BE FAITHFUL unto death.

The Church at Smyrna typifies the faithfulness of God’s churches over the years that have endured persecution and held up….

The churches that are even doing so today.

Next week, we will return to Smyrna and consider the the commands, DO NOT FEAR and BE FAITHFUL as we consider the call to endure persecution for His name’s sake.

Until then, Church, may we ever be growing in our love for God so that we find ourselves growing together to become more like Jesus for the glory of God.

Application

How can we apply Polycarp's unwavering faith in the face of persecution to our own lives today?

In what ways can we show faithfulness to our beliefs in situations where we might be pressured to compromise?

What practical steps can we take to strengthen our faith, especially when we face trials?

How does understanding Christ's authority over life and death help us in times of fear or anxiety about our circumstances?

What does it mean for us to be 'rich' in Christ, despite any material hardships we may face?

What does being 'all in' for Christ look like in your daily life?

In what specific ways do you think peer pressure/fear of man can challenge your faith, and how should you respond?

How can you support friends who may be struggling with their faith due to external pressures?

What are some examples of ways you can actively trust in God during difficult situations at school or home?

How does the concept of eternal life influence our approach to temporal hardships or sufferings?

What practices can we implement to ensure we are seeking first the Kingdom of God in our everyday lives?

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