Rev. 2:8-11                  Smyrna: The Rich, Poor & Persecuted Church Intro: Last week we began looking at the seven letters to the seven churches of Asia. We said that it was important that we understand these letters in three ways: 1. The letters are literal and were written to literal churches in Asia. 2. The letters have personal application for every believer in every church in every age. 3. The letters represent the chronological spiritual development of the church over time. In other words, the seven churches mentioned represent the seven stages/ages of the church from Pentecost to the Rapture.              The City: Smyrna Smyrna is a Greek word for myrrh, a plant that when it was crushed became fragrant perfume. Myrrh was a resinous perfume used for the living and the dead (Matt. 2:11 & John 19:39 tell us Jesus was given this shortly after His birth by the wise men and His body was anointed with this by Nicodemus). The city was the center of emperor worship. During the reign of Domitian it became a capital offense to refuse to offer a yearly sacrifice to the emperor.             The Church: Smyrna is not mentioned in Acts, so we don’t know how the church there was founded. It may have been planted by Paul when he was in that area or by one of his converts. Due to the city’s emphasis on emperor worship, many Christians were executed for their refusal Polycarp was perhaps the most famous Christian martyred from here. Like the perfume, they were going to be crushed so as to produce a fragrant smell. Prop: Christians should not be afraid even in the Persecution. I. We need to consider the Description of Christ to the church of Smyrna (1).        Christ describes Himself to this church as “the first and the lasts, which was dead and is alive” (2:8). Christ’s description of Himself is obviously a reference to the depiction seen by John in 1:17-18. Why did Christ identify Himself this way? A little more history may help. Smyrna was captured and destroyed in @ 600 B.C. It was later rebuilt in 290 B.C. by Lysimachus (one of Alexander the Great’s generals). The Smyrnans were proud of the fact that they belonged to the city that was once dead but was now alive. Also, Smyrna was considered the most beautiful city in Asia & the most beautiful city ever built by the Greeks. On their coins was found the inscription the “the first city of Asia”. “the first & the last” = Old Testament title for God (Isa 44:6) Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. (Isa 48:12) Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. This title affirms Christ’s equality of nature with God. He is the eternal & infinite God existed before anything was created and will exist after the heavens & the earth are destroyed.          “he was dead, and has come to life” = is a reference to His sacrificial & physical death on the cross and His physical resurrection from the tomb after three days. He has conquered death, it has no power over Him. The church at Smyrna ultimately belonged to Christ. They were citizens of heaven instead of the city. Christ is so designated here to bring comfort to the persecuted believers at Smyrna. They were going through difficult times, and He understands what difficult times are like. He is God, and He is their Lord. He transcends time and all temporal matters. And since they are united with Him, they too can transcend temporal matters, even tribulation & death should that come. He is a man of sorrows and acquainted with all our grief (Isa. 53:3). These are comforting words to all who are going through a difficult time. II. We need to consider the Diagnosis of the church of Smyrna (2:9).      A. The Good News to the Church [Commendation] (2:9). Jesus said I see all of the things you are doing. And, what He saw was:           1. Jesus saw they were socially & physically pressured. (I know thy “tribulation”). “tribulation” = literally means “pressure” & an was another way of saying persecution by tribulation. The church as Smyrna was facing unbelievable intense pressure because of their faithfulness to Christ. Emperor Worship – Smyrna was fanatically devoted to Rome. To show their allegiance they practiced offered sacrifices to the emperor. It was a matter of patriotic pride as well as a religious thing. They were pressured out of patriotism Pagan Worship – The people at Smyrna worshipped Zeus, Apollo, Aphrodite, Asklepios and Cybele. Almost every aspect of social life revolved around pagan worship. Christians were viewed as Atheists & elitists. They were pressured to conform. For these reasons: Christians were tortured, boiled alive, crucified, burned at the stake, or thrown to the lions           2. Jesus saw they were materially Poor. (I know thy “poverty”). There is the Greek word Penes = struggle to “just get by” kind of poor (not the Greek word here). Then there is the Greek word Ptocheia = beggarly poor, absolute destitute type of poverty (used here). The Christians is Smyrna were boycotted/blacklisted by the trade unions because they were seen as disloyal to Rome and Atheists . As a result, those who had possessions undoubtedly lost them, and most of these folks were completely destitute materially. Materially they were poor, but they were spiritually rich. They had what truly mattered: love for Christ, salvation, holiness, grace, peace, fellowship, and a savior who loves and cares for them, and treasure laid up in heaven.          3. Jesus saw they were religiously Persecuted. (I know the “blasphemy” of the “Jews”). The unbelieving Jews would commonly accused Christians of cannibalism (they misunderstood the Lord’s Supper), accused them of immorality (misunderstood the holy kiss Christians used to greet each other), accused them of breaking up marriages (conflict resulted when only one spouse got saved ), the Jews also turned in the Christians for atheism & political disloyalty. These unbelieving Jews may have thought they were doing God’s work, but God says they were actually of the synagogue of Satan. Jesus said I see all of the pressure, persecution & tribulation you are going through to conform . Jesus said, “I see your deep poverty ” Jesus said, “I see those who blaspheme you & persecute you falsely .”       B. The Bad News to the Church [Condemnation].           In most of these letters there is a Good News & Bad News type of thing (Commendation & Condemnation) type of Diagnosis. However, in this letter Christ only has good things to say. There isn’t any bad news. Why not? Persecution tends to produce purity!          (Jam 1:2) “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let Patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” III. We need to consider the Demands given to the church of Smyrna (2:10).      A. Be Fearless in Tribulation = Jesus tells them not to “fear.” Jesus warns them that Satan will cast some of them into prison. There is a spiritual battle going on. Satan will hate and does hate God’s children.            “ten days” some view as being 10 periods of time, 10 years (length of persecution under Diocletian), 10 literal days, or as “frequently” since the Jews sometimes used it (ten) in that manner (Jacob told Laban you changed my wages ten times [Num. 14:22]). There isn't a reason not to take this as literal days that I know of.  Which ever way – Satan’s persecution will be intense but relatively brief, in the grand scheme of things.       B. Be faithful unto death = Christ told them He wanted them to continue believing in Him, professing his name, striving for his Gospel, attending to his ordinances, following him whithersoever he went, and preaching his Word, and watching over his sheep; though this should expose them to sufferings, even unto death (partly taken from Gill’s commentary). We all need to keep thing in perspective. In relation to all eternity, we need to be faithful & fearless no matter what may come our way. IV. We need to consider the Promise given to those in the church of Smyrna (2:10-11).         “Crown of life” = stephanos (victors crown) = He assures them He will reward them with a new life that is eternal if they should die for Him.         “will not be hurt of the second death” = He will spare His children (all Christians are “overcomers” from the second death, which is unspeakably worse than the first death, both in the dying pangs and agonies of it (which are the agonies of the soul, without any mixture of support) and in the duration; it is eternal death (taken from Matthew Henry). Conclusion: This is a message we desperately need to hear today. The church in America needs to consider today what the Spirit said to the Church at Smyrna. The church is full of fearful and unfaithful Christians. It is sad & discouraging when you stop and think about it. It is hard to get people to be “fearless” or “faithful” today. People are afraid to take a stand for Christ afraid of what others may think or what it may cost them .in prestige, or financially, or in some other way .  People are NOT faithful for Christ either – people are hit & miss in their church attendance & responsibilities. People can’t hardly be counted on (they will sign up but not show up, volunteer and the fall through, accept a job and then half heartedly do it or at least they don’t seem to do their best for the Lord). Invitation: More than likely there is here today: People who have been fearful of what others might think, or what a stand for Christ might cost you, or fearful of persecution                      People who need to determine that with the Lord’s help they will be faithful and repent of their past unfaithfulness.