Revelation for Now & Future Part 5

Revelation 2:8–11 ESV

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

The Letter to Church # 2 - Smyrna

What should we note about Smyrna?

Harbor/Port City (like Ehpesus)

35 miles north of Ephesus.

Heavy Jewish population.

Large city because it was at the head of the Hermus River

Present Day — Izmir, Turkey

Notice the intro… “The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life”

This points back to Rev. 1:17-18

It connects the letter to Jesus and His position as God.

We should picture Jesus here speaking to the churches.

We should recoginize His connection as the author/communicator of the letter.

Omniscience

Revelation 2:9 ESV

“ ‘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”

Struggle

Great level of persecution under Domitian

Slander — the emperor worship demanded by Domitian did not require/excluded the Jews from this requirement.

“I know”

Poverty

Lack of work

A large city means a large number of workers/artisans

There were normally trade guilds in citys like Smyrna.

One had to be a member of the trade guild to find work, but it was common practice to require workers to be a part of pagan worship and in this case emperor worship.

Accolade

“you are rich”

Others may have work and fiscal wealth

You have spiritual/eternal wealth

Jewish Slander

“the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not”

Slander-Blasphemy in Greek

Claim to Judaism came with benefits:

No need for emperor worship

Ability to turn in others for gain.

Jesus clearly wants the reader/hearer to know these are not of Him.

“are a synagogue of Satan”

They are false.

Note that these may have been physical descendants of Abraham, but they were not God honoring.

Further, they may have been conscerned with the growth of Christianity that was lessening their numbers and gaining a foothold.

I want to make statement here about the converse of what Jesus said...

TheChurchis the true Israel.

The Challenge

Revelation 2:10 ESV

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.

“Be faithful unto death”

struggle is coming

prison —usual a ten day sentence

testing — continued persecution even unto death

One might want to compare those Christians in Smyrna to Daniel and his three friends in Daniel 1 & 5.

The Reward

“I will give you the crown of life”

Perseverance of the Saints= Saint Persevere.

They are not earning salvation, but they are remaining in Christ.

1 John 2:19 ESV

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

Romans 8:31–39 ESV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are secure, but the picture that we belong to Him is a life in submission to His will.

Matthew 7:21 ESV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Walking in His Way:

Obey civil authority unless it requires breaking God’s law.

Don’t allow persecution to stop you.

Remember the crown of life is ours, but will be ours. Hold fast to the Lord.