The Church at Smyrna

7 Churches of Revelation

Church at Smyrna

Rev. 2:8-11

PROMO SLIDE

Good morning and welcome to worship on this beautiful day!  What an amazing day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it, Amen!

We are one week away from our Connect event.  If you are new to the church, or maybe you’ve been here for a while but haven’t found your connection, this is the place for you!  You’ve got your RSVP on the back of the insert so, make sure you let us know that you plan to attend.

But today, we are in our second week of our series on the 7 Churches of Revelation!  These 7 churches are addressed by Jesus as John writes his apocalypse, his Revelation from our Savior.  There’s been a lot of controversy through the years about what these 7 churches represent.  Some say it was just for the churches of that day.  Others say the 7 represents perfection and that the 7 churches represent the perfection of time; therefore, these are prophetic statements meant for the future.  Another interpretation is that these letters to the churches represent the different eras of church history leading to the second coming…  That the letter to Ephesus represented the church immediately after Jesus, then the letter to Smyrna represented the persecution the church endured under Emperors Nero and Domitian, and on and on through time.  Still others say the letters were written to these specific churches, but the lessons are applicable through all times.

What do I believe?  That these letters were written to the specific churches in Asia Minor, that they contain prophetic messages for their time and ours, AND that they contain truths that are applicable to our churches today. 

Yes, I am a moderate, and I stand in the middle of the debate and say, “yes.” 

And I don’t think that’s a bad place to be… except for the fact that in today’s society, the middle is a dangerous place to stand.  The elites on each side… the 10-20% on the extreme edges demand that there is no middle ground.  They blast the other side with hate and vitriol, not recognizing their own statements of hate, only pointing toward the other side's statements.  Add to the mix the algorithms of social media feeding us more of what we agree with and we find ourselves in an echo chamber hearing only our own voice and those we agree with.  The reality is that those who stand outside of the debate are often the ones being pelted by both sides, even though they are often the only one who can clearly see the truths and the fallacies of each side of the debate.  “The Extreme Center,” as Bishop Scott Jones once called it, is a dangerous place.

Series Slide

So, what does that have to do with the book of Revelation?  I believe it was places like the church in Smyrna who stood in the middle of Society who received the worst persecution… they stood apart from the Proselytes of Judaism and the Pagans of Rome and tried to lift the Good News of Jesus Christ into that society, and they were pelted by both sides because they didn’t agree with them.

But, before I get into any more trouble, and before anyone thinks I’m getting political, I think we need to pause for Prayer.

<Prayer>

Sermon Slide

What do we know about Smyrna?  Smyrna was a wealthy city on the Aegean Sea, north of Ephesus.  These first three churches listed in Revelation: Ephesus, Pergamum, and Smyrna, all contended for the title of the most important Roman city in the region.  In fact, on the coin, the money of Smyrna was the words, “first city of Asia in size and beauty.”  To this day, Smyrna is a beautiful city called Izmir, and the only city to remain from the 7 listed in Revelation.

Not only were they a crossroads like the other cities in the list, they were famous for a sweet-smelling oil or resin from the Commiphora plant, a thorny bush that was used for all kinds of ailments and perfumes.  The flower of this thorny plant was taken and crushed to make the resin that was sold all around the region.  You would recognize it not as Commiphora, but as Myrrh… yes, the same as the gift given at Jesus’ birth, and the same oil used to clean Jesus’ body as it was placed in the tomb.

Smyrna was also a location of games similar to the Olympic Games. At these games, all those who competed would receive a wreath that was placed on their head… but to the victor they would receive the Stephanos… the Victor’s Crown… a wreath of greenery such as Parsley, or Olive leaves, or laurel or Pine.  A perishable crown… they competed for glory… a glory that would perish.

Wow, thinking of that, how often do we work so hard for some perishable item… some symbol of glory that will simply fall apart?  We put our effort into the things of this world, only to see the deterioration and decay that follows… I guess some things never change… but back to Smyrna.

Smyrna was also a place where the followers of Jesus faced real persecution that led to their poverty.  That persecution came from those who called themselves Jews and from those who worshipped the Roman pantheon of gods, including Caesar.

Smyrna was a place known for its worship of Caesar.  Even before the Roman Empire had come into power in the region, the people of Smyrna recognized Caesar as a God… they petitioned to have a temple built for Caesar, and it was granted to them.  When Rome became the ruling power of the region, Smyrna was already fully acclimated to the Roman way of life.

During this time, the Jews were in an interesting place.  Rome recognized them and allowed them to worship YHWH, and they didn’t have to claim allegiance to Caesar as a god.  It was a special provision only for the Jews… everyone else had to swear allegiance to Caesar. 

Now, keep in mind, the Christians were originally a sect of the Jews.  They were afforded the same freedoms that the Jews were afforded.  This gradually began to change, and it was places like Smyrna that brought this debate to a head. 

In our passage, we read that Jesus said, “I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”  What are we to make of that? I mean, those are some harsh words…

Well, many of the scholars today believe that what was happening in Smyrna was that Gentiles had “converted” to Judaism so they could be free of many of the Roman rules. They claimed to be Jewish, but they were not.  Add to that the fact that these “Jews” in name only had turned on the Christians and outed them as something other than a part of the Jewish community.

This caused the Roman authorities to recognize the followers of Jesus as no longer having religious liberty and thus required them to pledge allegiance to Caesar, burn incense in the Roman temples to the gods, and recognize Caesar as the “Lord of lords, King of kings, and the son of god.”

As they refused to make this statement, they would begin losing business in the marketplace.  They and their children would be shunned.  They would find themselves under all sorts of persecution and affliction.  Some would even lose their lives.

We read in Revelation 2:10 that Jesus told them,

“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…”

You know, that sounds kinda promising… It’s only 10 days right… I can do anything for 10 days if I know it is coming to an end… But it likely didn’t mean a literal 10 days.  In 1st Century numerology, numbers had meaning, for example:

2 represents Blessing – It is the Hebrew word beht, which means “to bless.”  On the 2nd day of creation, the heavens and the earth were separated. There are 2 great commandments – Love God and Love your neighbor…

3 represents Resurrection, Revival, Salvation – Moses was the 3rd child in his family… the Torah was given on the 3rd month, Jesus rose again on the 3rd day.

5 represents power, strength, the Torah, and grace

7 represents Sabbath rest, perfection in God or Holiness.

All the numbers have meaning… so what does 10 represent?

10 represents divine order, a complete cycle:  there were Ten Commandments, Ten Plagues, Abraham endured ten trials.

What Jesus is saying is that they will be persecuted until the completion of time.  That the evil one would be against them, but not to fear because the one who was dead is now alive… and those who endure will receive life as their victor’s crown… Those who are faithful and overcome the temptation, those who endure the hardship, those who suffer the persecution in faith will not be harmed by the second death… they will live as their savior lives… they too will live beyond the death they face.

Put another way, in the words of Paul, from 1 Corinthians 15:53-55

For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

    “Where, O death, is your victory?

     Where, O death, is your sting?”

It is interesting to note as we look at this church at Smyrna, all but one other church receives a warning, an admonition, a reprimand, but not Smyrna.  The Lord only encourages them.  The Lord reminds them that they are not like the athletes in the town who run and fight for a perishable crown… they are fighting in this life for an imperishable eternity.

Like the flower of the myrrh plant, they may be crushed, but in the crushing, they will give off a fragrant aroma… they will witness to the glorious gospel of their Lord, Jesus Christ.

This example is best seen in one of the sons of Smyrna, a follower of Jesus who would become their Bishop less than a hundred years after John penned Revelation.  Polycarp was actually a disciple of John.  There is no better example of one being faithful unto death than Polycarp… he learned well from John, who faced martyrdom and lived… who overcame hardship and persecution….

Polycarp died in about 156 AD.  I want to take a moment and read to you the translation of the description of Polycarp's martyrdom written by one of his followers who witnessed his death.  After an edict that all had to vow allegiance to Caesar and bend their knee in worship, Polycarp had volunteered to turn himself in to the officials, refusing to bend his knee to anyone but Jesus Christ.  His disciples would not let him, but he was eventually captured.  Even his captors were captivated by his devotion, they allowed him to have a final prayer before taking him in for his trial in the Stadium. That prayer lasted over 2 hours, including prayers for his captors. On the trip to the Stadium, as Polycarp sat between the public officials, they did everything they could to persuade him to just say “Caesar is Lord and offer incense.”  They said, “There’s no harm in just saying it”… but Polycarp refused.

Now, from the story of his Martyrdom…

9:2 When then he was brought before him, the proconsul asked whether he were the man. And on his confessing that he was, he tried to persuade him to a denial saying, "Have respect to your age," and other things in accordance therewith, as it is their habit to say, "Swear by the genius of Caesar; repent and say, 'Away with the atheists.'" (They called Christians ‘Atheists’ because they refused to accept Caesar as lord.) Then Polycarp with solemn countenance looked upon the whole multitude of lawless heathen that were in the stadium, and waved his hand to them; and groaning and looking up to heaven he said, "Away with the atheists."

9:3 But when the magistrate pressed him hard and said, "Swear the oath, and I will release you; revile the Christ," Polycarp said, "Eighty-six years have I been His servant, and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?"

10:1 But on his persisting again and saying, "Swear by the genius of Caesar," he answered, "If you suppose vainly that I will swear by the genius of Caesar, as you say, and feign that you are ignorant who I am, hear you plainly: I am a Christian. But if you would learn the doctrine of Christianity, assign a day and give me a hearing."

The proconsul threatened him with being devoured by beasts and all kinds of other tortures, but Polycarp did not budge.

Picking up in 11:1

Then he said to him again, "If you despise the wild beasts, I will cause you to be consumed by fire, unless you repent." But Polycarp said: "You threaten that fire which burns for a season and after a little while is quenched: for you are ignorant of the fire of the future judgment and eternal punishment, which is reserved for the ungodly. But why do you delay? Come, do what you will."

12:1 Saying these things and more besides, he was inspired with courage and joy, and his countenance was filled with grace, so that not only did it not drop in dismay at the things which were said to him, but on the contrary the proconsul was astounded and sent his own herald to proclaim three times in the midst of the stadium, "Polycarp has confessed himself to be a Christian."

Then, the people gathered sticks and logs and lumber to pile around him to burn him alive.  They tied him to a stake, stripped him of his clothes and prepared to light the fires.  Polycarp prayed aloud, praising and blessing God for all that was happening.

Then I pick back up in 15:1

When he had offered up the Amen and finished his prayer, the firemen lighted the fire. And, a mighty flame flashing forth, we to whom it was given to see, saw a marvel, yea and we were preserved that we might relate to the rest what happened.

15:2  The fire, making the appearance of a vault, like the sail of a vessel filled by the wind, made a wall round about the body of the martyr; and it was there in the midst, not like flesh burning, but like a loaf in the oven or like gold and silver refined in a furnace. For we perceived such a fragrant smell, as if it were the wafted odor of frankincense or some other precious spice.

16:1  So at length the lawless men, seeing that his body could not be consumed by the fire, ordered an executioner to go up to him and stab him with a dagger. And when he had done this, there came forth a quantity of blood, so that it extinguished the fire; and all the multitude marveled…

One modern scholar wrote in the IVP Commentary:

“Nowhere were the words be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life, more aptly fulfilled than in the life and death of Polycarp.”

You and I will likely never face persecution like the early church… but it does still happen.

Terry and Tina Jacobson are seeing it firsthand in India right now.  A new “anti-conversion” law was just passed, it has kept them from being able to minister in the way they usually do, but they are there, “on business” purchasing the jewelry and jewels for Tina’s business…

If you haven’t heard, the church where Terry would be preaching, and the school he used to teach at have been attacked, and the worshipers and pastors present have been arrested.

Here in the US, we are living in a society where it isn’t so much religious persecution as it is political… if we don’t agree, then let's just kill each other… Does that include religious beliefs? Yes, but it isn’t limited to religious beliefs, and it isn’t against the law to pledge our life to Jesus.  No, we may not face the persecution of Smyrna or Philadelphia, or Jaipur, India, but we face our own temptations to turn from our savior.

So, what are we to make of this little letter to a group of Jesus followers some 2000 years ago?

1. Jesus is with us.  In the midst of the persecution… in the midst of the temptation to follow and swear allegiance to one other than our Savior, we are not alone.  That is the story of Jesus… Emmanuel, God is with us!  Jesus walks among the lampstands… Jesus walks among our church… And knowing that God is with us – knowing that Jesus is with us…

2. We recognize that those who overcome will receive the Victor's Crown… Not a perishable wreath made of dying greenery, but a crown of life… and imperishable life offered only by Jesus, our Savior.

So, today, as you walk out of this church, you will likely not be swarmed by persecutors… oh no, Satan is much too subtle for that… but you will face temptation after temptation to place something else on the throne of your life… You will be tempted to worship something or someone other than Jesus…

So, hold on to the truth that you know, Jesus IS Lord, He is with you, and he is preparing for you a victor's crown.