Revelation 2:8-11: The Letter to Smyrna

Introduction

Scripture

Revelation 2:8–11 ESV

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 9 “ ‘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. 10 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. 11 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.’

Outline

Revelation 1 - Introduction

Revelation 1:1-3 - Prologue & Benediction

Revelation 1:4-8 - Epistolary Introduction

Revelation 1:9-20 - A Vision of the Son of Man

Revelation 2-3 - The Seven Churches

Revelation 2:1-7 - The Letter to Ephesus

Revelation 2:8-11 - The Letter to Smyrna

Revelation 2:8 - Address

Revelation 2:9-10 - Message to the Church

Revelation 2:11 - Command to Hear

Purpose of Book

The purpose of Revelation is to challenge/encourage believers, who are expectantly awaiting the reign of Christ, to live faithfully for Him despite worldly circumstances, persecution, and the cosmic battle between God and Satan.

Main Point

Jesus encourages the church in Smyrna to persevere in their faith despite the persecutions they are facing and would face from the Devil

Revelation 2:8 - Address

Revelation 2:8 ESV

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

And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

To the angel of the church

Celestial being responsible for oversight

There is help for them in the heavenly realm

In Smyrna

Lexham Geographic Commentary on Acts through Revelation Chapter 48: The Social and Geographical World of Smyrna (Revelation 1:11; 2:8–11) (David A. Desilva)

Key Points

• Smyrna, as it was known in the Roman period, was founded under Alexander the Great and his successors, who established the new city as a thriving commercial port.

• Smyrna had a long history of pro-Roman sentiments, building a temple to Roma even while the Seleucid Empire was at its peak and expanding fast in their direction.

• The city showed its devotion through significant involvement in promoting the imperial cult, which was likely a source of stress for Christians in the city.

• Archaeology has not shed light on the role that the Jewish community played in the harassment that the early Christians addressed by John were experiencing or would soon experience.

Write

Command given to John

The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

Revelation 1:17–18 ESV

17 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.

The first and the last

Revelation 1:8 ESV

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Isaiah 44:6 ESV

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 ESV

12 “Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last.

The Father and Son having parallel attributes thus revealing the high Christology in John’s writings

John encourages the readers, like Isaiah did to the exiles, that Jesus is sovereign over the course of history

Who died and came back to life

Romans 6:9 ESV

9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.

Romans 14:9 ESV

9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Revelation 2:9-10 - Message to the Church

Revelation 2:9–10 ESV

9 “ ‘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. 10 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.

***No Rebuke to Smyrna***

I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich),

Your tribulation

The church in Smyrna faces pressure/distress/trouble because of their allegiance to Christ

Your poverty

Economic and social hardships as a result of being Christians

You are rich

And the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

The slander

Charges of wrongdoing from a legal perspective

Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan

Keep in mind that John is a Jew

John is not writing to spite the Jews in Smyrna, but to encourage the church not to join them/renounce Christ due to persecution

These are ethnic Jews who have rejected God’s saving work through Christ and have partnered with authorities to persecute Christians

Do not fear what you are about to suffer.

Do not fear

Command

What you are about to suffer

Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested,

The devil

Job

Job 1:6–12 ESV

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Job 2:1–6 ESV

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.”

Jesus

Matthew 4:1 ESV

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Throw some of you into prison

Officials responding to complaints of the Jews

Prison was not used for minor offenses

Tested

Means to be tempted by the Devil, but tested by God

The Devil meant imprisonment for evil, but God intended it to be a way in which the believers are matured/strengthened

And for ten days you will have tribulation.

Ten days

Not literal tens days

Means that the testing will be limited

Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Be faithful unto death

Command

Devotion to Christ is the highest priority, regardless of persecution leading to death

I will give you the crown of life

The reward is eternal life just as Jesus has

Revelation 1:18 ESV

18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Revelation 2:11 - Command to Hear

Revelation 2:11 ESV

11 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.’

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Let him hear

Command

Meant to provoke to get the church to hear and obey

Mark 4:9 ESV

9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Isaiah 6:9–10 LES2

9 And he said, “Go and say to this people, ‘You will hear by hearing and not understand; and although looking, you will look and not see.’ 10 For the heart of this people has been thickened; and they have heard heavily with their ears, and they closed their eyes in case they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I will heal them.”

Reality that there are believers and non-believers who hear this message in the churches

Some will be enlightened, some blinded

Spirit

The Spirit is active and at work through Jesus’ letters to the seven churches

To the churches

Both to the church in Smyrna, but also to the churches of all ages

The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.

The one who conquers

Those who conquer the tribulation that is faced on earth and continue in perseverance

Will not be hurt by the second death

Revelation 21:8 ESV

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Application

Though persecution is a reality, faith and trust in Christ is our primary focus

The ones who are faithful to Christ throughout persecution will not be hurt by the second death

Main Point

Jesus encourages the church in Smyrna to persevere in their faith despite the persecutions they are facing and would face from the Devil