1600-5 Church

REVELATION 2:8-11
B. Smyrna: The Persecuted Satan.
Church, 2:8-11 10 Fear none of those 4 The counsel
things which thou shalt suf- a. The devil will per-
fer: behold, the devil shall secute
1 The recipients 8 And unto the angel of the cast some of you into prison, b. Persecution will be
a. The messenger of the church in Smyrna write; that ye may be tried; and ye limited
church These things saith the first shall have tribulation ten c. Do not fear, but be
b. The Smyrna church
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and the last, which was dead, days: be thou faithful unto faithful
2 The speaker—Jesus and is alive; death, and I will give thee a 5 The promise: To the
3 The commendation 9 I know thy works, and tri- crown of life. overcomers
a. For tribulation bulation, and poverty, (but 11 He that hath an ear, let a. A crown of life, v.10
b. For bearing poverty thou art rich) and I know him hear what the Spirit saith b. A deliverance from the
c. For spiritual wealth the blasphemy of them say unto the churches; He that second death
d. For bearing blasphemy they are Jews, and are not, overcometh shall not be hurt
but are the synagogue of of the second death.

THE CHURCH: SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION

B. Smyrna: The Persecuted Church, 2:8-11

(2:8-11) Introduction: the church is sometimes called upon to suffer terrible persecution. This has always been true down
through history, and it was certainly true in Smyrna. The church was under heavy attack from both the community and city
officials. And there was even more horrible persecution lying over the horizon (v.10). But note: the church was faithful to
Christ and His mission. The church was standing fast for the truth against all attacks. It was a church in which nothing was
wrong, that is, nothing of any major significance. Therefore, it was one of the few churches that Christ did not have to warn.
Smyrna is the picture of just what a church should be: a dynamic witness for Jesus Christ through all circumstances no matter
the trial or temptation. It is the picture of a church that loves the Lord enough to stand up for Him even when the community
attacks its witness.
1. The recipients (v.8).
2. The speaker—Jesus (v.8).
3. The commendation (v.9).
4. The counsel (v.10).
5. The promise: to overcomers (v.10-11).

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(2:8) Church—Minister: there are the recipients of the letter. The letter is addressed to the minister of the church. Re-
member: the Greek word for angel (angelos) means both angel and messenger, that is, it can mean an earthly messenger.
In the case of the church the meaning is the messenger or minister of the church. This is significant, for it means that the mi-
nister is held responsible for the church. In Smyrna’s case—in the case of the persecuted church—the minister is to take the
lead in standing fast against persecution.
g159 He is to stand forth for Christ and lead his people to stand for Christ.
g159 He is not to buckle under and deny Christ; he is to lead his people not to buckle under and deny Christ.
No matter how severe the persecution may be, the minister of the church is to lead his people to hold the banner of Christ
high. Even if it means martyrdom, the minister and his people are to do what Christ says to do in this letter.

DEEPER STUDY # 1
(2:8) Smyrna: there are three historical facts that seem to have a bearing upon the message to the church.
1. Smyrna means bitter. It received its name from myrrh, one of its chief commercial products. Myrrh was a gum-like
resin taken from a shrub and was very bitter. It was used in making perfume (Ps.45:8), oil (Ex.30:23), for embalming
(Jn.19:39), for purification of women (Est.2:12), and for relieving and dulling pain (Mk.15:23). It should be noted that this
church was experiencing what its name said: bitter sorrow, affliction, and persecution (Rev.2:9-10).
2 Smyrna was a proud city—proud of its culture, its beauty, its commercial wealth, its social life. Its citizens called it
the first city in Asia. There was a municipal vanity among the people. Everyone tried to climb the social ladder a step further
than his neighbor. Everyone wanted the first place, the highest seat, the most recognition. To these, Christ proclaims loudly
and clearly, “I am the first and last” (v.8); “I am the one who has the crown of life” (v.10).
3. Smyrna was persecuting the church severely. The city had a large number of Jews who were influential in city politics.
Jews were, of course, steeped in the Old Testament and the prophecies of the Messiah. Many of the early converts to Christ were
Jews. Here in Smyrna, the reaction of the Jews was severe. They reacted severely and did all they could to influence the city of-
ficials to stamp out the church. The Christian believer knew God personally and intimately; therefore, he could not worship or
participate in the festivals to the god and goddesses of his day. He was marked. In some cases jobs were lost, and in all cases, so-
cial life within the city was severed. Mockery, abuse, scorn, and persecution were applied. When Jesus says He is the first and
the last, it is a promise that He is with the believer through it all—from the very first to the very last (v.11). He knows what the
believer is going through, for He has suffered not only the threat of death, but death itself (v.8).

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(2:8) Jesus Christ—Church: there is the speaker, Jesus Christ Himself. Christ has a very special message for the church
that is suffering trouble and persecution, and His message is wrapped up in two titles.
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