The Persecuted Church (Revelation 2:8-11)

It is well-known that there is a common format to the seven letters sent by Jesus to the selected churches in the province of Asia. The format usually had five points and they are the particular characteristic of Christ that is appropriate to the specific church, a commendation of the church by Christ, a criticism made of the church by Christ, counsel for the church from Christ and comfort for the church from Christ – with the exceptions that the church in Laodicea receives no commendation and the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia receive no criticism. So we are going to consider a church in the city of Smyrna that pleased the Saviour as he searched and probed the hearts of her members, as he walked around the churches assessing the kind of light each of them displayed. So what can be said about the city in which this church’s light shone?

Smyrna, situated about forty miles north of Ephesus, was a very nice place to live. It was a revived city, the original one having been destroyed in the seventh century BC, the new one now being about two hundred years old. This gave opportunity for a well-laid out city plan, with attractive buildings such as its pagan temples. It was a wealthy city, possessing two harbours, and was the centre of commerce of the surrounding area. At the time John wrote, there was probably a population of about 200,000, among who was a large community of Jews. The city was marked by its devotion to Rome, from whom it received many favours and privileges. Today, Smyrna is called Izmir, and is the third largest city in Turkey.

Smyrna was not a very nice place to live if you were a Christian. The fact that the city officials would implement Roman government rules would ensure that the church would face trouble as a consequence of the emperor’s determination to stamp out Christianity. Further the city was a centre for emperor worship and had built a temple to the Emperor Tiberius. John’s letter reached the church during a period in which the Emperor Diocletian had made emperor worship compulsory by each citizen making an annual affirmation of the emperor’s deity. Connected to the ongoing opposition faced by the church is the incident for which Smyrna is well-known in church history – the martyrdom of Polycarp, an early church father, who was slain in the year 156 at the age of eighty-six. An account of his martyrdom was sent by the church in Smyrna to other churches, where it is said that he was the twelfth martyr of the church in Smyrna. In all probability, he would have been a member of the church when this letter was sent by John because we know that Polycarp had been a disciple from his youth, and he would have been about twenty when this letter from John arrived. Mention is also made in early church writings of a brother of Timothy called Strataeas, who lived in Smyrna, and with whom Paul stayed when travelling from Galatia to Jerusalem.

Character of Christ

Jesus here combines two of the descriptions of him found in chapter 1. He says, first, that he is the first and the last, and, second, he was dead and is now alive. The first description stresses the deity of Jesus and the second is a reminder that he is also human. He is the first and the last because he is the one who began the whole historical process and he is the one who will bring it to a conclusion; in other words, he is both the Creator and the Judge of all men. We are not to think that he is only concerned about the beginning and the end, for throughout it all he remains the eternal King, aware of everything, in control of all things.

Not only was he the eternal King ruling with absolute power, but he also became one of us at his incarnation. But he was born for a purpose, which was to die to deliver people from the penalty of death and from the power of death. The first he did by his own death when he suffered at Calvary by experiencing the wrath of God against sin. The second he did by rising in majestic honour from the tomb, the conqueror of death, the first step in his triumphant march to the throne of God.

It is important to remind ourselves that Jesus does all this out of love. He governs all things out of love and he lived and died because he loved. The objects of his love are twofold. First, there was his love for his heavenly Father. The Father had given him these important roles to accomplish and out of love to the Father Jesus died for sinners and rules on their behalf. (Of course, it was out of his own love that the Father required these tasks from Jesus.) Second, there was Jesus’ love for sinners. It was because his heart burned in love for them that he came forth from the ivory palaces of heaven to live, die and rise again on their behalf. And it is out of love for sinners that he rules throughout the world today.

It is straightforward to see the significance of these two titles for the church in Smyrna. They, as were the other churches, were facing the might of the Roman Emperor, with the threat of martyrdom above their heads. It would be great comfort to know that in reality Jesus was in control and that he had already conquered death. There was also comfort from knowing that Jesus also had known opposition resulting in death from the Jews.

But it is not enough to appreciate what these descriptions would have meant to the suffering Christians of Smyrna. We have to ask ourselves concerning what they mean to us. How do we respond to the fact that Jesus is the Controller of history, that every second of our lives is in his hands. Just he gave the creation birth at the beginning, so he gave us life; just as he will bring history to a close when he returns, so he will bring our lives to a close. The day of our death has already been fixed. Jesus is the one with the keys of death. Surely we should at least speak to him about it.

Commendation of Christ

Jesus says he knows several things about the situation in Smyrna. He mentions their actions, he mentions the opposition they received (tribulation), and he assesses the consequences. They had lived bright Christian lives, for which they had been opposed; the result was that they had lost their possessions.

Jesus reminds us that it can be costly to serve him. Many Christians in our own country experienced that in the past and many throughout the world are experiencing it today.

Although it is costly to serve him, it is not a catastrophe. They may have become poor in the world’s estimation, but in reality they were rich. In what ways was this the case? They had the wealth of forgiveness, the riches of assurance that God would be with them all the way, and they had a rich estate to go to when they died.

As we listen to this commendation of Christ, we should sense his delight with a church that served him in a difficult situation. Smyrna did not have the problem that Ephesus had – she had retained her first love. So, although her deeds were not sinless, they were acceptable because they were the evidence of love. That may be a word for some of us. Perhaps we are reluctant to do anything for Jesus because we know our actions will be imperfect. Jesus knows that, but he is looking for evidence of your love.

In passing, we note where the persecution had its source – in the Jews of the city. Jesus does not say anything about the lives of these Jews but he does say something about their religion. When they meet in their synagogue, they are no different from the pagan temples of Smyrna; like them, the synagogue was under the control of Satan. There are not many ways to God. The Jews can discuss the Old Testament, can attempt to practice its teaching, but because they have rejected the Messiah they are spiritually blind and controlled by the devil.

Counsel of Christ

The Saviour informs his people in Smyrna that the suffering is going to continue. Some are going to be arrested and brought to trial (prison was not the penalty, but the place where they would be held before trial), after which some would be executed.

In his counsel concerning this difficult situation, Jesus gives several items of instruction. He does not say that the suffering will not come nor does he say that their weakness would be an excuse if they denied him.

First, they have to have an appropriate attitude. He tells them not to fear any of the situations ahead of them, not the arrest, not the trial, not the public arena where they may have to face the lions. This is not a call to a stoical stiff upper lip response. Rather it is Christ’s assurance that none of the things that they will experience can remove them from his hand or separate them from the love of God. It is knowing this certainty that will enable them to overcome their normal response of fear. Nor does Jesus make such a demand without giving the necessary inner strength. It is his love that gives this assurance.

Second, he reminds them that they are part of a cosmic conflict. It is not primarily the Jews who are the root of the opposition. That ignominy belongs to the devil. This is a reminder that they will need supernatural strength. They will need to love their enemies, not despise them or hate them. Therefore, they will need to see beyond the humans, whom they are to love and attempt to win to Christ, to the devil. That knowledge gives a different perspective to what is going on. The Christians are not primarily the victims of wrong Roman power, rather they are soldiers fighting on behalf of Jesus against their enemies.

Third, he informs that the period of persecution is limited, it will last ten days. It would not involve all of them, nor would it last for ever. This point reminds us that Jesus uses the crucible to perfect his people. While it is heard to understand, suffering opposition for Jesus conforms us to the character of Jesus.

This detail is also a reminder of Christ’s sovereignty, that he limits and even uses the actions of wicked and powerful governments to spread his kingdom. In this, we have an example of Christ’s wisdom. By attacking the church, the devil is defeating his own kingdom. He has been learning this lesson for 2,000 years. As Tertullian affirmed many centuries ago, ‘The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.’ The devil has a far more effective way of destroying churches, which is to corrupt the inner life of believers, their heart devotion to Christ. So why does he persist in instigating persecution? Because he hates the people of God with an irrational and all-consuming detesting. Don’t be surprised at the devil’s attacks.

Fourth, Jesus will give a reward to the faithful ones – the crown of life. This is an allusion to the athletic races, for which Smyrna had a well-known games. When the athlete won the competition, he received a crown of leaves, a temporary sign that he had finished his race. How paltry in comparison with the crown that Jesus holds out to each of his people. The athlete had to beat the pain barrier in order to get the prize, but he persisted because he esteemed the honour would make up for the distress. Similarly, Jesus not only offers life that is full and satisfying, he also offers honour and dignity, he offers a crown and a kingdom, sharing his glory. The crown is given to those who show their loyalty by acts of love.

Comfort of Christ

The second death refers to the existence that sinners will have in hell, here called the second death. Hell is not a pleasant subject, but it does exist. The person in the Bible who spoke most about hell was Jesus Christ and he described it in awful terms. It is the place where the worm dies not, where the flame never goes out, where the darkness never ends. He came into the world to prevent sinners experiencing the second death. They already have the first death, that is the state of sin. But he can take them out of that state, and if he does, then they will not experience that awful destiny.

Application

The lessons from the faithful church in Smyrna are many. First, opposition from the devil can come in different ways. The way he instigated it in Ephesus was by getting the Christians there to engage in right activities without retaining their warm love. In Smyrna, he uses the tactic of fearsome opposition to try and diminish effective Christian witness.

Second, the way to cope with opposition is to think about Jesus and about the blessings that will come our way in the eternal world. The Christians in Smyrna were reminded to think of Jesus as the first and the last, as the One who had experienced death and still was the source of life. Alongside of thinking about Jesus they were to remind themselves that in the future state they would be beyond eternal suffering. Jonathan Edwards compiled a famous set of Resolutions in order to help him with his spiritual life. Resolution 10 was: ‘Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.’

Third, we are not to fear anything that can come in life if it stops us focussing on what happens after death. It is appropriate for us to be concerned with things that may go wrong. But it will do us little good in the long-term if we provide plenty security for our body in this life and forget where our soul will be in the next.