Revelation 2:8-11 — Letters to the Seven Churches: “What Is Now”

Introduction

Remember last week, we looked at the Church in Ephesus. They were known as the backsliding church. The church at Ephesus had works, labor, and patience—but no love for Christ. Ephesus had a busy church with high spiritual standards. They could not bear “worthless [evil] people” and would not listen to false teachers. The work had been difficult, but they had not fainted. In every way, it was a successful church from the human point of view. Some of today’s busy churches with their full calendars and weary workers would fit the description.

But, they had forgotten the most important part of the church. They forgot about Jesus.

Today we are going to look at the next church in line: Smyrna. This church could be called the "Suffering Church".

B. The letter to the church in Smyrna (Rev 2:8–11)

1. Destination (2:8)

2:8. The second letter was addressed to Smyrna, 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. It is not a small town.

Revelation 2:8

8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

Christ described Himself as the First and the Last, which was dead, and is alive. Christ is portrayed as the eternal One:

Revelation 1:8

8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Revelation 1:17

17 ...Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Revelation 21:6

6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end...

Revelation 22:13

13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

He was the eternal one who suffered death at the hands of His persecutors and then was resurrected from the grave (cf. 1:5).

Revelation 1:5

5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

These aspects of Christ were especially relevant to the Christians at Smyrna who, like Christ in His death, were experiencing severe persecution.

The name of the city, Smyrna, means “myrrh,” an ordinary perfume. It was also used in the anointing oil of the tabernacle and embalming dead bodies (cf. Ex. 30:23; Ps. 45:8; Song 3:6; Matt. 2:11; Mark 15:23; John 19:39). While the Christians of the church at Smyrna were experiencing the bitterness of suffering, their faithful testimony was like myrrh or sweet perfume to God.

2. Commendation (2:9)

Revelation 2:9a

9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)...

2:9. What a comfort it was to the Christians in Smyrna to know that Christ knew all about their sufferings: I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty—but thou art rich! Besides suffering persecution, they were also enduring extreme poverty (ptōcheian in contrast with penia, the ordinary word for “poverty”).

Jesus said, I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty. The believers in Smyrna faced harsh treatment and scarcity of employment.

When cities had large concentrations of artisans and craftsmen, trade guilds or unions were established. These guilds often required their members to participate in certain pagan activities. The believers’ unwillingness to participate in these activities resulted in exclusion from the guilds and financial hardship.

Though extremely poor, because of this, they were rich in the wonderful promises Christ had given them (cf. 2 Cor. 6:10; James 2:5). They were being persecuted not only by pagan Gentiles but also by hostile Jews and by Satan himself. The local Jewish synagogue was called the synagogue of Satan (cf. Rev. 3:9). (Satan is mentioned in four of the seven letters: 2:9, 13, 24; 3:9.) In the history of the church, the most severe persecution has come from religionists.

3. Rebuke

Revelation 2:9b

9 ...and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Notable is the fact that there was no rebuke for these faithful, suffering Christians. This is in striking contrast with Christ’s evaluations of five of the other six churches, which He rebuked. Smyrna’s sufferings, though extremely difficult, had helped keep them pure in faith and life.

Jesus said: blasphemy of them which say they are Jews. This church not only faced pressure from the pagan world but also found themselves in conflict with the synagogues. Not just any synagogues, but the synagogue of Satan. As opposed to being involved in the activities of God, these synagogues were doing the work of His adversary, Satan.

4. Exhortation (2:10a)

Revelation 2:10a

10 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:

2:10a. The word of Christ to these suffering Christians was an exhortation to have courage: Fear none of those things (Do not be afraid!) (lit., stop being afraid) of those things which thou shalt suffer. Their severe trials were to continue. They would receive further persecution by imprisonment and additional suffering for 10 days. Some have taken these words “for 10 days” as a symbolic representation of the entire persecution of the church; others think it refers to 10 persecutions under Roman rulers. The most probable meaning is that it anticipated a limited period for suffering.

These verses use similar language:

Genesis 24:55

55 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.

Nehemiah 5:18

18 Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.

Jeremiah 42:7

7 And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah.

Daniel 1:12

12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

Acts 25:6

6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.

These are similar as well:

Numbers 11:19

19 Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;

Numbers 14:22

22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;

Job 19:3

3 These ten times have ye reproached me: Ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.

The problem of human suffering, even for a limited time, has always perplexed faithful Christians. Suffering can be expected for the ungodly, but why should the godly suffer? The Scriptures give several reasons. Suffering may be:

1. Disciplinary

1 Corinthians 11:30–32

30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Hebrews 12:3–13

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

2. Preventive (as Paul’s thorn in the flesh)

2 Corinthians 12:7

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

3. The learning of obedience (as Christ’s suffering)

Hebrews 5:8

8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Romans 5:3–5

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

4. The providing of a better testimony for Christ

Acts 9:16

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

5. Promise (2:10b–11)

Revelation 2:10b–11

10 ...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

11 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.

2:10b–11. In their suffering the believers at Smyrna were exhorted, be thou faithful unto death. While their persecutors could take their physical lives, it would only result in their receiving the crown of life. Apparently, up to this time, none had died in this church, but this could be expected. Later Polycarp, having become the bishop of the church in Smyrna, was martyred, and undoubtedly others were also killed. The crown of life is one of several crowns promised to Christians.

1 Corinthians 9:25

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

1 Thessalonians 2:19

19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

2 Timothy 4:6–8

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

1 Peter 5:4

4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Revelation 4:4

4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

The crown of life is also mentioned in James 1:12.

James 1:12

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Believers are encouraged to be faithful by contemplating what awaits them after death, specifically, eternal life.

As in all the letters, an exhortation is given to the individuals who will listen. The promise is given to overcomers, referring in general to all believers, assuring them that they shall not be hurt of the second death.

Revelation 20:15

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The reassuring word of Christ to Smyrna is the word to all suffering and persecuted Christians. As stated in Hebrews 12:11,

Hebrews 12:11

11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.