Part 7 | Letters to the Churches

Tonight, we are in Part 7 in our Revelation Study.

Chapters 2 and 3 are comprised of letters that John wrote to each of the seven churches throughout Asia Minor.

As we move throughout these chapters, we are looking at the following elements of each of the seven letters:

(1) Depiction of Jesus

Each letter contains some aspect of the vision of Jesus from chapter 1 that relates to each particular church.

(2) Encouragement

The Lord has a word of encouragement for most of the churches for what they are doing well.

(3) Correction - meaning the failures of the particular church.

(4) Instruction

(5) The Promise (given to those who endure til’ the end)

Perseverance is a common theme throughout Revelation.

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.’

Background

Smyrna was an important harbor city.

The imperial cult was present in John’s Day

An imperial cult is a form of state religion in which an emperor or a dynasty of emperors (or rulers of another title) are worshipped as demigods or deities.

The city had a large Jewish Community

The Church is experiencing persecution—not the least of which is financial poverty.

Those who are not aligned with the beast, are not permitted to buy or sell.

Revelation 13:16–17 (ESV)

Also it(the beast) causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.

With context, it seems—because of their faith—that their physical needs are not being met.

Those who go along with the pagan culture had opportunity to live in luxury.

The church was being persecuted by the Roman world, but also by the Jewish community.

The Jews were exempt from Emperor Worship. Thus, Christians—believing that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah—were protected for a time under the umbrella of Judaism.

However, the non-Christian Jews seem to have felt it necessary to distinguish themselves from the Jewish Christians, which would have removed the exemption from emperor worship.

Depiction of Jesus

Revelation 2:8 (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.

In the address to Smyrna, we find an element of the of the initial vision of Jesus found in chapter 1. There are two points of relevance here to this particular church”

(1) ‘Jesus is the first and the last’ - He is sovereign over all of history

The church in Smyrna is experiencing persecution. The fact that Jesus is sovereign, reminds them that their tribulation has NOT caught God by surprise; He is working through their suffering to bring about His redemptive purposes.

(2) Jesus is the one who died and came to life

The church in Smyrna is admonished to be faithful even unto death.

Jesus suffered until death, and yet He was raised from the dead.

This is surely meant to be a comfort to those who would face such a fate, reminding them that even death doesn’t get the final say.

Encouragement

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.

(1) Jesus is aware of the church’s situation

When we go through trials and tribulations, we often feel forgotten. Jesus’ words are meant to offer encouragement, that He has not forgotten them. He is aware of their situation.

(2) Jesus reminds the church that they are spiritually rich

Though the church may not be rich monetarily, they are rich spiritually.

Psalm 4:7 (ESV)

You have put more joy in my heart

than they have when their grain and wine abound.

Perhaps the church felt like their poverty was owing to their own sin.

In the book of Job, Job’s friends were convinced that his suffering was a result of his sin.

God’s ways are not black and white. We often don’t understand what He is up to.

The fact that they are spiritually rich, would imply that their poverty is not owing to their own spiritual deficiencies or sin.

(3) The Believers in Smyrna are Part of the People of God

Non Messianic Jews (Jews who rejected that Jesus was the Messiah), claimed to be the true people of God, and rejected Christ-Followers.

Jesus encourages the church—implying that they are the true Israel.

We should not take the words that the Jews are a synagogue of Satan as Anti-Semitic. Those words have been used through the ages to persecute the Jewish community.

John Himself was a Jew

Many of the believers in Smyrna were Jews.

The point of Jesus’ words is that those Jews who reject Jesus think that they are doing God’s work—they think they are part of His people—but they are greatly deceived.

Romans 2:28–29 (ESV)

For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Jesus encourages the believers in Smryna, letting them know that He is aware of their situation, and He reminds them that they are spiritually rich and part of the True Israel.

Correction

Jesus offers no point of correction for the believers in Smyrna. This is a church that is faithfully living in accordance with the Gospel.

Instruction

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.

Jesus encourages the church to be strong in the Lord. They must guard from being overcome with fear in the midst of persecution.

Some level of anxiety is natural. Jesus was extremely upset in the Garden before His arrest.

But, the believers in Smyrna are overtaken with fear, what will happen? The temptation would be to renounce Jesus to save their lives.

Jesus lets the church no that they are about to be imprisoned and some of the believers will even lose their life for the sake of Christ.

Who is responsible for the impending imprisonment?

The Jews: The Lord has already called out the Jews who reject Jesus; they are responsible—in part—for the believers’ persecution.

The Devil: But now, Jesus says “the devil is about to throw you into prison.” The statement is a reminder that the believers fight not against flesh and blood but against powers and personalities.

God: I am not asserting that God is responsible for sin, but He will work through the believers’ imprisonment.

Thomas Schreiner points out that the word “tested” means “tempt” from the Devil’s perspective, but “test” test from God’s perspective.

The devil means their imprisonment for evil, but God means it for good.

Sound familiar? Jesus’ words push us back to the story of Joseph.

1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Through testing, God will purify the church in Smyrna and He will take what the enemy meant for evil and use it for good.

Why the Reference of 10 Days?

Remember, this is apocalyptic literature which is highly symbolic. 10—as used here—should almost certainly not be taken as literal. Clearly, some of the believers will die.

Putting a number on the days of imprisonment suggests that it is temporary. It is a light, momentary affliction, when compared with the glory of eternity.

Many scholars agree that “10 Days” is a symbolic allusion to the Old Testament story of Daniel and his colleagues.

Daniel 1:12–14 (ESV)

“Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.

Like Daniel and his Hebrew friends, the Christians in Smyrna would be tested for ten days by others.

The encouragement here is—like in Daniel— God is present and at work.

Ultimately, Jesus’ instructions for the believers in Smyrna are to endure in faithfulness to the end—even when facing death.

Promise

Revelation 2:10–11 (ESV)

... 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 believers who endure to the end, will receive the crown of life.

Crowns (often wreaths) where often awarded to victors in athletic competitions. Keener points out that the crown came to be applied figuratively to sort of honor or reward.

Also, this is a crown of “life.”

The ultimate crown is life itself—eternal life.

Christians will all die bodily (except those who are alive when Christ returns), but as Jesus was raised, we shall too be raised.

Christians will not experience the second death—namely, God’s judgement at the end of the age.

Again: The Lord says this message is to the churches (plural). The letter is addressed particularly to the church in Smyrna, but is relevant for the church throughout the ages.

Application

(1) Jesus suffered and Christians are called to suffer for His sake.

Persecution takes different forms:

What Kind of Persecution Do We Suffer from here in the States?

We suffer on some level by refusing the temptation to give in to the secular culture around us.

We are hated by many in the world today.

No matter what level of temptation we face—we must endure to the end.

We need to remember believers who are suffering to a much greater degree all across the world.

(2) Persecution Often Comes from the Religious

It wasn’t just the Roman pagans who were persecuting the early church. The Jewish community had a major hand in the suffering of the believers.

Why is it that often persecution seems to come from Religious people—particularly from professing Christians?

Share about Detriech Bonhoeffer and the confessing church, and how many professing Christians were outraged that they would stand in opposition against Hitler and their country.

(3) How Does God’s Sovereignty Comfort Us in Suffering?

* When we suffer it should be for doing good rather than for sinning.

Pray for believers who are suffering.