What Can We Learn From Smyrna? (Revelation 2:8-11)
GIST: He knows your pain, and He’s your hope.
This morning, we’re continuing our study through Revelation and are coming to the second of seven letters from Jesus to churches across ancient Asia Minor. As we’ve been pointing out, these seven churches represent the Church as a whole, so there is much we can glean from what Jesus says in them. This particular letter was written to the church in Smyrna which is one of only two churches for whom Jesus has no rebukes. Yeah, it’s probably worth our time to look at why. ☺️
Historically, Smyrna is really interesting. Actually, one of the most interesting points is the amount of history it has. There seems to have always been some civilization in this spot. According to the good old Encyclopedia Britannica, “Excavations indicate settlement… dating from the 3rd millennium [BC].” Unlike Ephesus, there is still a thriving community here today. Now called Izmir, it is the third most populated city in Turkey with approximately 4 million inhabitants. Also, unlike Ephesus, there is still a Christian presence in the city today.
At the time of this letter, it was another prominent harbor city in Asia Minor and a center of science and medicine. Historically, it was also known as the most beautiful city in the region, and was often referred to as the crown or diadem of Smyrna (The Encyclopedia of the Bible). However, this city was also the center of Caesar Worship. Along with having temples to major Greek gods like Zeus, Aphrodite, and Apollo (and a temple in tribute to the epic writer: Homer, who was likely born here), "every year, every citizen of Smyrna had to burn incense to Caesar... and receive then a certificate that you had done that. Without a certificate, you would be persecuted because you were violating the highest law in Smyrna. To be without a certificate, as must have been the case for Christians who would not say Caesar is Lord, but only Jesus is Lord, was to risk discovery and death" (John MacArthur on Smyrna). Persecution, in fact, seems to be the theme for the church in Smyrna. In reference to this, nearly every commentary and sermon I studied on this passage mentioned the example of Polycarp. He was a disciple of John and later a pastor in Smyrna in the first century. In his late 80's, years after this letter would have been written, he was burned at the stake due to persecution. After being told to deny Christ, church history records that Polycarp answered (though probably with a far less British sounding voice than the translation that has survived ☺️), “Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never once wronged me; how then shall I blaspheme my King, Who hath saved me?”
I think that leads nicely into the substance of this letter. →
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.'”
I probably had a longer than necessary introduction, but our gist for today is mercifully short. As we look at this church who received no rebukes but faced tremendously persecution, here’s the gist I want us to take away today:He knows your pain, and He’s your hope.
I. He Knows Your Pain
The phrase that struck me the most this week was just these two opening words from verse 9 which actually start each of the seven letters: I know. Honestly, we could just leave it at that. I won’t ☺️, because I feel like we should break down the rest of this text together, but please don’t leave without hearing this: whatever you’re going through, He knows, and He cares, and He is doing something around you. Now, let’s look more specifically how He expresses this in the letter.
What He Knows
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.
Tribulation. They were facing persecution. Life wasn’t easy. Because they were standing faithfully for Jesus, they were not only social outcasts, but their lives were in danger...But they weren’t forgotten. Guys, don’t forget this. In your pain, you’re never forgotten or abandoned either. I was listening to Focus on the Family this week, and they were interviewing a missionary who was imprisoned for two years for his witness. What he endured was traumatic, and he felt complete isolation not only from his family and the Church but from God. When we face tribulation, it is natural for us to feel alone. Satan wants this, but it’s not true. Jesus knows. He sees. He cares.
Poverty. I love the parenthetical element to this next statement. This church is said to be poor...but rich. Externally, they had nothing. The Greek term here implies complete destitution. Jesus told us to expect this, right? “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Luke 9:58).
Yet, they were eternally and spiritually rich. In Jesus’ sermon on the mount, He tells us: “19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20).
We live in a wealth obsessed society. Let us never forget there are riches of far more value. Smyrna didn’t have “means”, but Jesus knew what they were laying up for eternity was so much more precious. Clearly, they needed to hear that. Maybe you did this morning, too.
Slander. Not only were they facing persecution and poverty, but they were also the victims of slander. Specifically, this was coming from what Jesus calls the “synagogue of Satan”. Let’s make sure we understand here that this isn’t an antisemitic statement. These were individuals who called themselves Jews but were not. Church history tells us that the church in Smyrna, including Ploycarp at a later date, faced persecution which resulted from Jewish leaders essentially throwing the Christians under the Roman bus in an attempt to get rid of them. These individuals weren’t living like true Jews because Jews were set aside as the people of God. Following Him would be following Jesus. Instead, these who should have been walking with the early church were pulling them down. You might experience that as well.
He knew. He knows. Let’s look at this awesome picture then of→
Who He Is
“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.
First and Last Who Died And Rose. Remember, each letter starts with a description of Jesus from the image we saw in chapter 1. The image used here is one that reminds us of Jesus' eternity and sacrifice. Who is writing to this church in the midst of great suffering? The God who has always been and always will be. The God who holds all of life's trials and joys in His hands. AND, the God who came and suffered and died so that we could be rescued and truly live. He’s the one who knows your hurt, and→
II. He’s Your Hope
The next portion of the letter zeroes in on a combination of promises and admonitions. Let’s look at these promises first. Then, we’ll take the admonishes as those nice, built-in takeaways ☺️.
What He Promises
“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.'”
You Will Suffer. That might not be the most encouraging of the promises here ☺️. However, He’s very clear. They are about to suffer. They will be thrown into prison. These are definites. This might actually speak to why the church stood through so much persecution and not just in Smyrna. It didn’t see suffering as something uncommon to the Christian experience. Instead, they knew it was par for the course and could be used by so→
You Can Be Tested. This actually reads a lot like the story of Job to me. This testing is allowed by Jesus and executed by the devil. Trials present us with an opportunity for growth. Of course, the opposite can also happen. That’s where the testing comes in. Will we cling to Jesus and grow closer or cling to frustration or fear and turn away?
Let’s also not miss this promise that gives us the strength to cling to Him and face what comes→
It Won’t Last Forever. I just want to briefly address the ten days mentioned here. As is often the case in Revelation, much speculation surrounds these numbers. Could this mean ten actual days? Sure. Could it stand for some longer symbolic period of time? Possibly. Either way, what is being emphasized here? No matter how long this persecution is, it is not forever! In fact, relative to eternity, it is very brief. Stand firm. This isn’t the end of the story!
If You’re Faithful Unto Death, You Will Receive Life. The final promises point, again, to the beauty of Heaven. Here, He tells the church facing encroaching death that there is glorious life at the end for those who trust Him. And→
You Might Be Suffering Now, But Death Will Not Hurt You. In life, this church endured much pain. The second death, however, is spiritual (Hell). That isn’t the future for believers. After this life, there is no more suffering.
Now, to the provided→
TAKEAWAYS
Don’t Fear. This world is scary...without Jesus. You don’t have to live like that!
Be Faithful Unto Death. As you look forward to rich, eternal life!
Listen. Don’t miss this! And→
Be encouraged by the God who knows.
God Only Knows by For King and Country
Another Beautiful Version of God Only Knows
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