I have felt it in my life whether it is just things that people say right before I get ready to teach or whether it is something that happens in preparation. The church at Smyrna was to undergo some intense persecution and tribulation. However, Jesus wanted to remind them that their sufferings would anoint them for a Christlike death and burial that could only result in an eternal resurrected life. Is there sin in my life for which confession and repentance is needed? The ultimate reward is life. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. The Church of Smyrna: The Church that Remains Faithful Amidst Persecution (Revelation 2:8-11) Summary and Explanation: Smyrna was home to a large Jewish community hostile to Christians. I lived in mainland China for four years and during those four years I studied the Chinese language of Mandarin. John was then to send the divine dictation to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. (Revelation 1:11). 4 Reasons Why We Have a Hard Time Talking about Loneliness. My exhortation for us with this is that we should be thankful. It can be seen that Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7), though a local church in the apostle's day, is typical of the first century as a whole; Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) characterizes the church under persecution, e.g. But, when we trust in Him, He will give us the strength to endure. What Do We Know About the Ancient city of . The term may also refer to anyone who sacrifices their life or something of great value for the sake of principle. People did not want to sell to them because they were Christians. The crown of life is one of several crowns mentioned in Scripture. An aspect of maturity is being slow to respond to accusation-as our Lord did. She went on and on and on about my faith in Jesus Christ. Her passion is to help wanderers find home. I want that kind of prayer life. But then we would always say, I dont want to go through what they went through. You see, the road to getting there is through suffering. Ancient coin inscriptions describe Smyrna as first of Asia in size and beauty, and The Ornament of Asia.. Pt 2, Kingdom 104: Christianity Misrepresents the Kingdom Pt 1, Kingdom 104: Christianity Misrepresents the Kingdom Pt 2, Kingdom 104: A Focused Representative of the Kingdom, Kingdom 104: Where Are the Masculine-Thinking Men? If so, pray for those who dont know Christ and dont have eternal security. Home values, sales prices, taxes, school data, and more. He will do anything to stop good things that God is doing. 6 Stott, What Christ Thinks of the Church, 43. With a population of over 3 million, Smyrna continues to thrive today as the modern Turkish city of Izmir. They cannot coexist. He is an enemy who will stop at nothing. How can such a church be turned around? I went home that night and I got angrier the more I thought about it. The Second Coming of JesusWho Are the 144,000 in Revelation?Who Are Gog and Magog in the Bible?What Is the Apollyon?Is the Apocalypse Mentioned in the Bible?Signs of the End Times and the Rapture. He says, Do not fear.. We need to be on guard and we need to commit to pray for the church for the leaders. They might face death. The words of Jesus to the church in Smyrna in Revelation 2:8-11 offer insight into the life of a first-century congregation, and there are many applications for today's believers. My time came to rotate through that lab. 5 Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, June 25. Pagan worship, especially of Zeus but also of numerous other deities flourished there. So, I went into her office, which was at the back of the lab. 6. Another warning for us is do not let him use you. Life is not going so great. All rights reserved. Yet, we tend to fill His call with the void of our stubbornness, recklessness, and selfishness. I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Lets pray. I thought, okay we can pray about this. Why is it that when we seek to run "His" church "our" way, we embarrass and dishonor Him and His Way? Is it fire, is it brimstone, is it gnashing of teeth? That is the doctrine or the view of annihilation of hell. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25). But we do experience our own pressures, suffering, and afflictions. The name of Smyrna was equated with myrrh. It is a gift. You see, Smyrna had a lot of religions. (NASB). First, the letter is the shortest of the seven, at only 90 words. But, the word used here means absolute poverty, possessing absolutely nothing. They were not poor. 1. They were doing Satans will and not Gods. Be thankful that He did this that He died for us. The Bible tells us that. From the message to Smyrna, Christians today can glean several important truths. The use of the strong term, blasphemy, here indicates how evil, how wicked, how intense this slander was. In the center of the ancient city, Mount Pagos (modern name: Kadifekale) stood 500 ft. high and was encircled by a garland of architecturally impressive buildings and templeswhich was probably why the hill was known as The Crown of Smyrna.. martyr, one who voluntarily suffers death rather than deny their religion by words or deeds; such action is afforded special, institutionalized recognition in most major religions of the world. We cannot do that as a church of Satan! What can be done to invite Him further into your church? released through Familius Publishing in 2020. The challenge for us is to suffer well. They cannot coexist. I have heard it said and I put this up on the screen to help you, If you are born twice, you will only die once. If you are born physically and then later you are born spiritually, you will only die once and that will be when you die physically, (unless the Lord comes back, in which case you would not die at all). I was kind of scared. Smyrna was a large, important city on the western coast of Asia Minor, famed for its schools of medicine and science. They were Jews by race and that is it. That should leave us to want to bring everyone we know to be with us in Heaven. . How would you encourage someone who is being persecuted for his faith or going through a tough time? She read, He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. (NIV). We can have confidence as believers that we will spend eternity with God and not face the second death. When we suffer, we may think that Christ is absent, but He is not. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! I shut the door and I stood there. Then, I got my purse and I drove home. Look at the conversation between Jesus and the Jews in John 8:31-47. Jesus wanted to encourage them to stand strong, even if it meant physical death. They got drunk. How do you demonstrate faithfulness? I was doing an internship in medical technology at Baton Rouge General Hospital. The members of the Smyrna church, though, are facing persecution because they are more focused on what God thinks than what man thinks. What would Jesus say to such a church? They were dirt poor. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. So, they were infatuated with the Roman government and they worshipped the emperors. In Revelation 2:9 He says, , I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Throughout the history of the Church the more that the Church has been persecuted the greater its purity and strength. We Were Created to Inhabit This Earth Part 1, We Were Created to Inhabit This Earth Part 2, Kingdom 102: The Kingdom of God is Relevant, Kingdom 102: Knowing How to Apply the Kingdom Concept, Kingdom 103: He Needs No Assistance in Keeping His Promise, Kingdom 103: Seven Last Days Churches and Their Believers' Characteristics, Kingdom 103: Reconsidering the End Times, Kingdom 104: Misrepresenting the Kingdom Gospel. She used the Word of God to just muzzle me. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Smyrna was a proud Scripture does not record the founding of the church of Smyrna. We will throw you into prison until you do. Whether you interpret these ten days as referring to a literal 10 days (I take that view), or whether you interpret it as referring to just a brief period of time, or whether you interpret those 10 days as referring to 10 periods of persecution under 10 Roman emperors, the point being made is the same. In what ways are you rich in Christ? Thank you for being that ultimate victor who won victory over death so we might have life eternal. If they sought praise from menif they wanted to please the people around themthey would not be so readily targeted for persecution. These early believers could have participated in a few cultural customslike sprinkling incense on the fire that burned in front of the emperors statue. I do believe that hell is a literal place. Why Did Jesus Give Believers the Beatitudes? They were boycotted. How Are the End Times Described in 2 Timothy? I had a conversation Sunday morning before church with a good friend here. I had not ever said anything about the Lord to her. This is true of the Evangelistic and . This was true of this church, all the seven churches, the church throughout the ages, and churches today. He knows the thoughts and inclinations of our hearts (Psalm 94:11). They were reporting false allegations to the government about these believers, saying things which were not true about them. I. Jesus' Resurrection Gives Us Hope. 6. The Eastern Orthodox Church, also called the Orthodox Church, officially the Orthodox . The application is that a dead or dying church with faithful, Christ-empowered people can be resurrected. 4. As I said in your study this week that fear and trust are opposites. We became great friends. What does He promise to the one who overcomes? All Christians cannot stand on their own feet and you could not do this if you had to. (NASB). 6. They will eventually die and they will eventually be put out of their misery. I understand. He can walk right through it with them. She began to just blast me for my faith. He wants to discourage us. He knows what you are feeling. As we look at this letter to Smyrna, this letter gives us insight into suffering. Whatever it is, it is a hard season of life. Spend some time thanking Jesus for what He endured for us. They had no way to make a living. Are you secure concerning your eternal destiny? How do our stubbornness, recklessness, and selfishness contribute to a church's dysfunction? What do I do about calling a priest father at my Catholic University? John is grabbing their attention by reminding them (and us) who Christ is and what He has done. But, maybe there are some of you who are in a very difficult season of life. What Does God Say about the Church at Smyrna? The trials that you are going to go through will be brief. When we go through the troubles of life, we can either take shelter in Him or seek to go it alone in our fears and pride. He knows the tough times. Judaism I cannot remember all the things said, but I do remember pieces of it that I was a weak little wimp who cannot stand on your own two feet. Physical death is the separation of the soul from the body. 4. Because I was on staff here and was one of the instructors, I had to go to all the parties, all the festivities, and all the graduation dinners. The devil may harm their physical body, but he can not do them any spiritual harm. What does this passage mean? It was almost as if the city was trying to starve them out. That is according to I Corinthians 3:13-14 which talks about that approval, that standing before him, to be evaluated for our works. 9. A third form of suffering for them was persecution in verse 9. I know your afflictions and your povertyyet you are rich! You are struggling. They had absolutely nothing. Kingdom 103: What Gospel Are You Preaching? Some suffered the Roman crucifixion, a horrible way to die. from A.D. c. 100-316; Pergamos (Revelation 2:12-17), 'where Satan dwells' is suggestive of the church mixing with the world . I was ready to share Christ with anybody and, you know, I could handle this lady. Well, Smyrna lay 40 miles almost due north of Ephesus. 2006 R. J. Krejcir Ph.D. 2. A Russian no" for the rights and freedoms" of the Ukrainian people in the 18th century (1) This article is devoted to the policy of the tsarist authorities against the Ukrainian territories which were part of the Russian Empire in the 18th century. . Jesus wanted to encourage them to stand strong, even if it meant physical death. God is very much aware of all that is going on in your life and is not surprised by anything. It is not for you to carry around and have them saying, wow, look at my crown! Your crown is a little small there. Look how many I have. These crowns are not for the purpose of making you feel good about your life on this earth because we are told in Revelation 4:10 that we will go before the throne of God and we will go on our knees and our faces before Him and we will cast our crowns at his feet. Even though He died, He conquered death and He rose again. The people loved the Roman government because it was strong. 2. It may seem like they are the enemy. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. Time and time again, wars, massacres, earthquakes, and plagues have threatened to destroy Smyrna, but the city has always bounced back and rebuilt. Many believe that this church represents the martyrs of all the ages and the sweet-smelling fragrance of their faithfulness until death. 2. It was already being persecuted. How is Jesus described in verse 8 and which attribute(s) of God does His description emphasize? While there, the Holy Spirit spoke to John and instructed him to record everything Jesus was about to reveal via a vision. in Christian Education with a focus on Women's Ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary. Today, we look at the letter to the church at Smyrna, a church known for suffering. And finally, Smyrna was the only congregation besides Philadelphia that did not receive admonishment from Jesus. Death is that separation of the soul and the physical body. The crown of victory belonged to the victor alone, and every other competitor was considered defeated. 19:39). 1.3 Orthodoxy. It went on and on. It was one of the chief cities of Roman-dominated Asia and competed with places such as Pergamos and Ephesus for the title "First City of Asia." 2. Smyrna is the Greek word for myrrha sap-like substance extracted from tree bark. The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. They just put a rope around his hands. My exhortation to you on this one is to be ready, to be ready for the suffering that will come into your life. She and her husband have five childrenthree who have already flown the coop and two adopted teens still roosting at homeplus two adorable grands who add immeasurable joy and laughter to the whole flock. Others roasted alive. After introducing the first vision, John is commanded to write a letter to seven churches. 1.4 . You and I and our congregation may not be a Smyrna church just now. What causes a Christian to become belligerent against Christ and a church to turn on one another, forsaking their call and duty? Christians were viewed as antisocial elitists for refusing to participate in it. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Such was the case for the ancient church at Smyrna. Of the seven churches, Smyrna is one of two that received no reproof from Jesus, and it is the only church of the seven that still exists today, After His ascension, Rome became increasingly hostile toward Jesuss followers. She went on and on and on and I was dumbfounded. We try to go it alone when Christ is beckoning us to trust in Him, go His Way, and give our fears to Him. Nor will we suffer hardships like imprisonment for our faith, and very few of us will face the choice between our livelihood or a life with Christ. Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History). The troubles we face can cause us to fear so we seek to cover them up with our pride and/or bitterness. I need strength. She started and began by reading from Isaiah 53 about Jesus the suffering servant. (1 Corinthians 15:50-57). If you have ever gone to a funeral or to a visitation and you have looked in a coffin to view the body, you see that physical body, but you know something is missing. Anyone who has said I cannot earn salvation on my own so I put my faith in the blood of Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for my sins. It would be fine if they just left me alone. Smyrna was a hotbed for pagan worship. In James 1:12, James write, Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him. Perhaps there are people in the church who are just trying to make life hard for you, but they are not really your enemy. He does not want you to know that Jesus wins and that he loses. How does this fact strengthen your faithfulness? How would these verses encourage you in the midst of tough times? She is so right. 4. What else do we learn about those over whom the second death has no power according to Revelation 20:6? It was the loveliest of all the cities. I sat outside and prayed. So, I would go to these dinners hating it because all they would do was just drink and drink. Kingdom Citizen, not "Christian"--What's In a Name? I do not want to simply stand there. 3:17); it is impossible for a person to be in Smyrna, before the Lord, yet at the same time be in Laodicea, before the world. How can I be changed, so I can learn and grow? Do not be afraid. Toggle Name and characteristics subsection 1.1 Definition. There were a lot of gods and goddesses, in addition to the emperor worship. This second death means that those who fail to accept Christ will also be resurrected, only to die again in the "lake of fire." I believe it is something so horrible that it is hard to describe in words. The ultimate enemy is Satan and that is pointed out in these verses. 2. Maybe you have a financial issue. What Scriptures come to your mind concerning this? 1. Undoubtedly, the church of Smyrna could have justified any syncretistic actions to preserve their livelihood and lives by proof texted scripture or by claiming that their compromise was for the greater good of tolerance, love, and grace. John addresses the Church in Smyrna. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victors crown.(Revelation 2:8-10). What similarities to Revelation 2:8-11 do you see in this passage? Revelation 2:11a - "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.". Unlike Ephesus, which today is uninhabited, Smyrna is still a large city (modern Izmir in Turkey). How did you handle the situation? 2:8-11. Hope-Full: Revelation 2:1-7. As a matter of fact, He promises us that if you are a believer, you will face suffering and you will have some persecution in your life (2 Tim. So, I caught all kinds of grief, you know, comments made like: oh, you would fit well into grandmothers generation. You are really out of touch with reality today. Just cruel comments. We need to look beyond the pain and look for that purpose that He wants to accomplish in our life. Jesus was reminding these suffering Christians in Smyrna who may be facing death in the near future. But, Jesus reminded them that they were poor here on this earth but you are so rich. Smyrna was a church where people's agendas were in opposition to Christ's. Maybe someone you love is hurting. By surrendering our lives to our born-again existence, we join our Smyrnaean brethren as overcomers who wont be harmed in the second death, which is the final judgment of the wicked (Revelation 20:6, 20:14, 21:8) Jesus Christ paid for our sin on the cross at Calvary. How would Jesus words in Luke 12:4-7 encourage someone about to suffer for his faith?
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