To the Church Smyrna
Revelation 2:8-11. The church was suffering misfortune and poverty, which are often closely linked. When Christians are being persecuted, they may find it difficult to find employment. However, the poverty of the church in Smyrna was only economic, they were spiritually rich.
1. The Persecution
Smyrna was a Greek city dating back to antiquity located at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. This place was renamed to İzmir, Turkey. Due to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to prominence.
Acts 19:10 suggests that the church there was founded during Paul’s third missionary journey.
2. v9 – Reassurance Jesus knows what we are facing and doing
3. Poor in earthly terms v9 but rich spiritually – Ephesians 1:3:
we receive the love and care of God here and now and that we are his children and will receive his care and provision. He will share his insight and will for the world with us and direct our feet in the paths of right living. He also guarantees us a place in heaven with him at the end.
4. Synagogue of Satan – v9 – By persecuting Christians, the Jews were mounting the same defence against foreign – in particular Hellenistic – influences they had mounted under the leadership of the Maccabees; struggling to preserve their nation and culture against an existential threat.
Anyone that opposes the bible teaching church can be in this camp.
5. Persecution comes with the job – v10 – But don’t be afraid.
“In the UK, it is socially respectable among the secular elite to regard Christianity as weird and permissible to bully its followers a little.”
6. The victors crown – v 11
7. Better death now than death for ever – v11:
Rev 20:14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.