Smyrna

Revelation 2:8–11 “And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”

History

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 2

an important exporting city known for its beauty, was located on a protected harbor of the Aegean Sea next to a major road system. It was the home of a temple to the Roman emperor Tiberius and was a center of the Roman imperial religion.

Tiberius was the second Roman Emporer and regned for AD 14 to AD 37. His stepfather, Augustus was the first Roman Emporer.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 2:8

a large and wealthy city 35 miles north of Ephesus. Like Ephesus, it was a seaport. In contrast to Ephesus, which today is a deserted ruin, Smyrna is still a large seaport with a present population of about 200,000

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 2:8

The name of the city, Smyrna, means “myrrh,” an ordinary perfume. It was also used in the anointing oil of the tabernacle, and in embalming dead bodies (cf.

“I know”

John 17:10–12 “And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”

Jesus mentions these two words to all of the seven churches. It is more than I know about you but he is saying I Know You. You belong to me. You have accepted me as your savior. You no longer belong to the devil and the world but you are mine.

God claims ownership of those who have accepted Jesus as Savior and does not want them to go back to the world.

Exodus 20:4–5 “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;”

His desire is for you and me to make it to heaven. He does not want us to make “shipwreck” of our faith.

1 Timothy 1:19 “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:”

The church at Smyrna, like the others were able to follow Jesus because not only did he know them, they knew him.

John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”

1a. I know thy works

2 Corinthians 3:2–3 “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”

1b I know thy tribulation

The church at Smyra, like the others, faced severe persecution. They were not only among the heathen of the Roman empire, but also faced persecution from the Jews of the day, who refused to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Then they also faced adversity of those who claimed to be “Jews” but were actually of the synagogue of Satan. They were pretending to be something they weren’t and trying to cause havoc for the Church at Smyrna.

1 John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

1c I know thy poverty

Because of their faithfulness to Christ, this church was not afforded the economic advances of those outside. They were shunned because of their faith in Christ. However they were not willing to give in, even though it meant poverty for them.

James 2:5 “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?”

1d I know you are rich

Smyrna done exactly what James 2:5 said. They chose no to bow to the world or the religions of the day to gain fame and popularity. Even though economically they were poor, they were rich in Christ.

Hebrews 11:25 “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;”

1 Corinthians 1:27 “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”

2. Don’t Fear

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

The church at Smyrna was facing persecution and will continue to do so. They were going to be persecuting for a long time and they were going to have to rely on Christ to get them through.

3. Be Faithful

Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”

Because Christ is faithful, we can be faithful.

Romans 4:3–5 “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

4. Be doers

James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”