The 7 Churches of Revelation - Smyrna PDF Print E-mail
Written by Pastor Patrick Curley   
Wednesday, 21 October 2009 02:33
Rapture- a word pertaining to the gathering of believers from this world for heaven.  Millennialists see this as a partial event occurring sometime within the seven year tribulation prior to the 1,000 year earthly kingdom of Christ at the end of time.  Amillennialists see this according to 1 Thess. 4:16-17 as the single event of the gathering of all believers, living and dead, on the Judgment Day for the eternal heavenly Kingdom of God.  It is therefore inclusive of the resurrection of the dead.
 
The Church of Smyrna ( Rev. 2:8-11)
Smyrna is the modern day city of Izmir in Turkey on the Aegean Sea.  In the first century, Smyrna was famous for a stadium, library and public theater.  As with Ephesus, Smyrna had a well established emperor cult.  Moreover, it was the first city to build a temple to Dea Roma, the goddess of Rome.  From early on, they had temples to the Roman Emperor Tiberius (ruling14 to 37 AD), Livia and the Roman senate.  Some Roman provinces had no temples to the imperial cult of Rome; Asia had several.  Therefore,  with Smyrna’s strong allegiance and reverence to Rome coupled with a large Jewish population, life was definitely difficult for Christians there.
 
The image Jesus uses for Himself in this letter is of the First and the Last (the first Greek letter, alpha, and the last, omega).  He is therefore eternal and must, then, be truly God.  Jesus also says He is the one who was dead but is now alive.  Jesus’ life is then characterized not only as vibrant but victorious!  He has conquered death.  This will be important when Jesus addresses the suffering of the Smyrnian Christians.
 
The Christians in Smyrna are suffering greatly.  There is extreme poverty among them.  They are also being “blasphemed” by the Jews there described as being from the synagogue of Satan (see John 8:42-47).  In a greater sense, “blasphemy” means “abusive speech” and can be levied against God’s people as well as against God Himself.  It amounts to slander which reflects the true nature of Satan’s name- “slanderer, accuser”.  Those who deny Christ and speak against His Church are satanic by this definition.  To be against God and His people is to be in league with the devil which means “one who casts” (see Zech. 3:1-5, Ephesians 6:16 and Rev. 12:10-12).  The devil hurls or casts insults, curses, false accusations and lies against Christ and His people.  But in Christ, we stand firm. (see James 4:7).   Satan’s power is sin but with sin forgiven by Jesus’ death, his hold over us is over.  He cannot harm us as we abide in the name of Christ.  Like in Job, Satan’s role is limited to the ultimate purpose of God’s good and gracious will though this may for a time may include the suffering of God’s people.
 
Suffering is here understood as a testing.  It will be for ten days (v. 10).  Like the number seven, ten reflects the character of God’s perfection.  It doesn’t have to mean a literal ten days only but can more likely mean a period of short duration (Gen. 24:55; Dan. 1:12-14).  God does not let His people suffer indefinitely.  And as they emerge from their testing and having remained faithful, they are to receive a crown of life; that is, the eternal life of heaven where they will reign with Jesus in splendid glory.  Jesus is First from among the dead and so can grant immortality to those who love Him.  The second death which is spiritual death and hell will be avoided.  
 
Jesus’ rebuke is more subtle here probably due to the nature of Smyrna’s plight.  They are experiencing material poverty, they are being slandered by the Jews and they face the threat of immanent imprisonment.  They were being sorely tested.  For some, this was undermining their joy and confidence in God’s love and trust in His redemption.  Jesus rebukes them for this fear.  Jesus reminds them that they are truly rich and that they should not be afraid.  Jesus commands them to release their fear as that is not of God (see I John 4:18) and will lead to despair and even to unbelief.  Christians, however, are to be characterized by hope and faithfulness.  
 
For Our Discussion
 
1.  How is the Church slandered today?
2. After reading Mark 10:17-25, how would Christians in America bear up under such a test?
3. What is our true wealth as Christians (see James 2:5; Luke 12:13-21; 1 Timothy 6:6-10)? 
4.  How should we use our wealth (see 1 Timothy 6:17-19; 1 John 3:17)?