Season 3 Podcast 28 Letter of John to the Church of Smyrna

Letter of John to the Church of Smyrna As recorded in Revelation 2: 8-11, John’s second letter is addressed to The Church of Smyrna. As mentioned in the podcast on the Letter to the Church of Ephesus, the number 7 represents completeness, holiness, or perfection. Each letter follows a similar pattern. John addresses their virtues; he addresses their vices; he issues a warning if they do not keep the commandments.  He promises a specific blessing if they do keep the commandments.Though the letters are intentionally written to represent the church, which is very new and under great persecution, both from the Jews and from the Romans, as a whole, the letters are also meant to be read by all Christians as if they were written to each individually.  All the promises give to the church as a whole apply to Christians individually.Though John is writing the letters, the true author is Christ. In the introduction each letter reveals important information about who Christ is. The church is new.  All the saints are relatively recent converts.  They are being taught about the God whom they worship. “8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write, These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;”We are given the titles of Christ. “These things saith the first and the last.” It brings to mind other pairs of words that teach the same principle often attributed to Christ: Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  “Alpha” and “Omega” are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet’ Isaiah tells us6 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. (Isaiah 44:6)Isaiah lists five of the familiar titles of Christ: Lord, King of Israel. Redeemer, Lord of Hosts, First and last. One could also add, “The Only God” because of Isaiah’s addendum: “beside me there is no God.” It refers to the eternal nature of God. This particularly refers to Christ’s specific role as redeemer.  In other words, “beside me there is no redeemer.” Throughout his teachings, Christ makes it clear that he and the Father are two separate beings, and that Christ came to earth solely to do the will of the father. 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:37-40)The final phrase in John’s introduction is the description, “which was dead, and is alive.” That, of course, refers to Christ’s death and resurrection.  Though no one was inside the tomb at the time of Jesus’s resurrection, after his resurrection he appeared to many of his followers. In addition to the six recorded women, including Mary Magdalene and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and the apostles, there was one group of at least 500 who were privileged to see the resurrected Lord. The truth of the resurrection is extremely important to understanding the scope of the atonement of Christ.