7 Churches - Smyrna

What this episode covers

[teaching text] 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[a] 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.’Revelation 2:7-11“The churches of the land are sprinkled all over with bald-headed old sinners whose hair has been worn off by the constant friction of countless sermons that have been aimed at them and glanced off and hit the man in the pew behind.”H.W. BeecherSMYRNAWhereas the Ephesian church needed to return to past conditions, the church in Smyrna needed to persevere in what was characteristic of it in the present.Dr. Constable’s notes on RevelationThey were the churches that heard no word of condemnation from Him, and it is interesting that these two cities, Smyrna and Philadelphia, are the only two which have had a continuous existence [to this day].J. Vernon McGeeCONTEXT OF SMYRNA8 “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[a] 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.’Revelation 2:7-11Hellenization: the process by which non-Greeks adopt Greek culture, language, religion, and identity.What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace.John WesleyThe Roman Emperor Domitian (A.D. 81-96) was the first to demand worship under the title “Lord” from the people of the Roman Empire as a test of political loyalty.David GuzikMartyr: a person who is killed or suffers because of their religious beliefs.Emperor worship had begun as spontaneous demonstration of gratitude to Rome; but toward the end of the first century, in the days of Domitian, the final step was taken and Caesar worship became compulsory. Once a year the Roman citizen must burn a pinch of incense on the altar to the godhead of Caesar; and having done so, he was given a certificate to guarantee that he had performed his religious duty. All that the Christians had to do was to burn that pinch of incense, say, ‘Caesar is Lord,’ receive their certificate, and go away and worship as they pleased. But that is precisely what the Christians would not do. They would give no man the name of Lord; that name they would keep for Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. They would not even formally conform.BarclayIS PRIVATE DEVOTION TO JESUS REAL DEVOTION TO JESUS?Christians were martyred because they would not bow the knee to Rome, sacrifice to the emperor as a god and treat the empire as if it had ultimate authority. Christian belief had public consequences.Gerald SittserPOLYCARP OF SMRYNAIronically, this persecution achieved the opposite result for which is was intended. Rather than snuff out the Christian movement, persecution fanned it.Gerald SittserSmyrna: bitter; or suffering (mor=myrrh: Hebrew translation of smyrna)Myrrh was used to embalm the dead.38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus[e] by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds[f] in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. John 19:38-40Myrrh becomes very fragrant when it is crushed.14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.2 Corinthians 2:14-17Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.James 1:2-4WE MAY NEVER DIE A MARTYR’S DEATH, BUT WE CAN LIVE A MARTYR’S LIFE.HOW TO LIVE A LIFE OF MARTYRDOM:MY RICHES ARE IN CHRIST “I know your poverty, yet you are rich”MY HOPE IS IN CHRIST “Do not be afraid”MY VICTORY IS IN CHRIST “The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death”Those born once will die twice. Those born twice only die once.D.L. Moody

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