Sermon Tone Analysis
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Revelation 2:8-11
Introduction:
A straight sail from the island of Patmos of some 60 miles brings one to the port of Ephesus at the mouth of the river Cayster.
Traveling up coast some 35 miles almost due north of Ephesus is the city of Smyrna (population @ 100,000).
It is the only one of the 7 cities still in existence today
modern Izmir in western Turkey
Smyrna was a proud and beautiful city and regarded itself as the “pride of Asia.”
An inscription on coins describes the city as “First of Asia in beauty and size” (although other cities were certainly more highly populated).
The people of Smyrna were quite sensitive to the rivalry of Ephesus for recognition as the most splendid city of Asia Minor.
Of the 7 churches, only Smyrna and Philadelphia receive no complaint from the Lord.
There is only commendation, encouragement and a promise of eternal life to the one who overcomes.
Perhaps the reason there is no cause for complaint is that Smyrna was a suffering church.
The letter is devoted almost exclusively to an account of their past and present trials
a warning of yet more persecution to come, and a strengthening word of encouragement from the One who knows all too well the pain of scorn and death.
It is interesting to note that the word “myrrh”, associated symbolically in the NT with weeping, burial, and resurrection, is related to the name of this city: Smyrna.
Why did the church in Smyrna suffer?
The answer is two-fold.
First, as early as 195 b.c. a temple personified as a goddess and dedicated to Rome had been built in Smyrna.
The city soon acquired a reputation for patriotic loyalty to the empire and its emperor.
In 29 a.d.
all Asian cities were competing for the coveted favor of erecting a temple in honor of Emperor Tiberius.
Smyrna won!
It was a city fervent with emperor worship.
The Christian refusal to sprinkle incense on the fire which burned before the emperor’s bust no doubt fanned the flames of hostility against them.
It was dangerous to be a faithful Christian in Smyrna.
Second, great antagonism existed within the Jewish community toward the church.
This no doubt stemmed in part from their conviction that to worship a crucified carpenter from Nazareth was blasphemy.
There was also undoubtedly a measure of bitterness at the loss of so many from their ranks to the new faith.
The Jews were known to inform the authorities of Christian activities
the latter being perceived as treason.
Jewish antagonism against Paul is well known in the book of Acts
at Corinth they so bitterly opposed the gospel that Paul “shook out his garments and said to them, ‘Your blood be upon your heads!
I am innocent.
From now on I will go to the Gentiles’
This strong allegiance to Rome plus a large Jewish population that was actively hostile to the Christians made it exceptionally difficult to live as a Christian in Smyrna
John Piper says this is a letter where, “Things are worse than and better than they seem” (His Sermon title, 6-6-93)
The Lord’s Deity and Resurrection Power Gives Us Encouragement in Present Suffering v.8
Revelation 2:8
The established church - From Ignatius’s letter to Smyrna (early second century a.d.) we learn that the church was already well organized, with a bishop (Polycarp), elders, and deacons
Temples of Apollos, Asclepius, Aphrodite, Cybele and Zeus dotted the landscape of this beautiful pagan city.
Politically the city was close with Rome and the imperial cult (emperor worship)
The Roman speaker Cicero paid Smyrna a great compliment calling her “the city of our most faithful and most ancient allies.”
As a reward for her loyalty in A.D. 23, Smyrna beat out 11 other cities and received permission to build the first temple to honor Tiberius Caesar (A.D. 14-37)
the Caesar who reigned when Christ was crucified.
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Couple this allegiance to Rome with a large and influential Jewish population, and you had all the ingredients for a hostile environment for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
While we do not know for certain how the church began, it is reasonable to suppose that it came about from Paul’s ministry in Ephesus.
Acts 19:10 tells us, “all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”
This was a church that especially needed encouragement.
It was persecuted and suffering.
And, things were going to get worse.
John takes them back to the vision of the glorified Christ in 1:9-20, specifically to verses 17-18
Revelation 1:17-18 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.
But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one.
I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Here are the words they need to hear and the Christ they need to see.
He is the eternal God
Jesus is described as the First and the Last
This is a title used of God in Isaiah 44:6 and 48:12.
Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.
Isaiah 48:12 “Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called!
I am he; I am the first, and I am the last
The characteristics of deity are appropriately ascribed to Christ.
The emphasis is on his sovereignty.
He is the eternal Lord over all of history and He will have the last word!
He has always been aware of the circumstances of His people.
He knows their situation right now.
He has their future in plain sight.
Time is in His hands.
This is a God you can trust now and the future
The city Smyrna may claim to be the “first in Asia,”
but it is Christ who is the “First and Last”
and He alone provides “a superior foundation for security”
The church at Smyrna was a persecuted church, so the letter comes from the sovereign One “the First and the Last”, who died and came to life again.
As he was victorious over death, so they, too, can face martyrdom knowing that faithfulness is rewarded with eternal life
He is the resurrected Lord
If “The First and the Last” draws attention to His deity
“the One who was dead and came to life” speaks to His humanity.
The former emphasized His authority over time.
The later emphasizes His authority over death and life.
Jesus experienced death for us, and a far more horrible death than any human will ever know.
He bore the full judgment and wrath of God for the sins of the world
Turn to John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
He was subject to slander, persecution, rejection, imprisonment and death
He walked this road.
But, “He came to life!”
He conquered!
He won!
Like the sovereign Lord, the church of Smyrna, and you and I, can walk the road of persecution and suffering.
Like Him, they may even walk the road of an unjust death.
Don’t lose heart.
Paul says; To live is Christ and too die is gain (Phil.
1:21)
If you are in Christ it’s a win/win scenario
I felt this tension all week.
We don’t know what it means to suffer in America
We love going on controlled mission trips
Even going to serve Jesus in the hard places has a certain romance to it.
But, it is a call to go and die if it is His will
It will be worth it, and He will sustain you, but it may cost you your life
Listen to this from Christianity Today:
“Every year for 20 years missionary Graham Staines of Australia conducted five-day open-air “jungle camps” in villages of the eastern Indian state of Orissa.
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