Revelation 2:8-11

Dr. Chuck Missler's commentary on Revelation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeyLdrl8ivY&feature=related


Revelation 2:8-11
Letter to the Church in Smyrna


7 ELEMENTS OF THE LETTER TO THE CHURCH OF SMYRNA


1. Name of the Church: Smyrna
Mur = death


2. Title of Christ Chosen
“First and the last, which was dead, and is alive” (Revelation 2:8)


Other “First and the Last” found throughout the Bible:
Isaiah 41:4
Isaiah 44:6
Isaiah 48:12
Revelation 1:11
Revelation 1:17-18
Revelation 2:8
Revelation 22:13


3. Commendation


- Tribulation = thlipsis: 1) a pressing, pressing together, pressure; 2) metaphor for oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits; not to be confused with the “Great Tribulation”


- Poverty but rich—contrast that to the Church of Laodicea, which is rich but in fact poor (Revelation 3:17; 2 Cortinthians 8:9)


Poverty = penia (the state of having nothing superfluous); ptocheia—the word used here (the state of one who has nothing at all; implies beggary)


Their poverty could have been relieved by simply offering a pinch of incense to Caesar (see history below), but they didn’t because they refused to worship Caesar, because they worshiped only the one true God! We see that Jesus commends those who stood strong while being cruelly persecuted in the name of Jesus.


** Who are the Jews “who are not”?


- Jews who blaspheme = Synagogue of Satan; John knows about blasphemy of Jews (John 8:44)


- Legalistic Jews: examples include the leaven of Galatians; the demand of Gentile circumcision (Acts 15:1, 10). Peter was rebuked by Paul (Galatians 2:11; 3:1-3) for being a legalistic Jew, and Peter admitted fault (2 Peter 3:15-16). Early persecution of the Church was in fact brought on
by the Jews and not the Romans: Antioch (acts 13:50), Iconium (Acts 14:2, 5), Lystra (Acts 14:19), Thessalonica (Acts 17:5)


4. Concern
Jesus shared no concern for the church of Smyrna!


5. Exhortation


- What does a period of 10 days mean (Revelation 2:10-11)?
It could be a Hebrew idiom for a short period of time (Genesis 24:55; Job 19:3; Daniel 1:12).


Or, it could refer to the 10 representative periods of time when the Church was persecuted:
54-68 Nero
95-96 Domitian (John exiled)
104-117 Trajan
161-180 Marcus Aurelius
200-211 Septimus Severus
235-237 Maximinus
249-251 Decius
257-260 Valerian
270-275 Aurelian
303-313 Diocletian


- The Crown of Life: stephanos (Greek) was mentioned in this passage; there could be many more crowns that we’re unaware of, but 5 specific crowns are promised in the New Testament:


a. Crown of Life for those who have suffered for His sake (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10)


b. Crown of Righteousness for those who loved His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8)


c. Crown of Glory for those who fed the flock (1 Peter 5:4)


d. Crown of Incorruptible for those who press on steadfastly (1 Corinthians 9:25)


e. Crown of Rejoicing for those who win souls (1 Thessalonians 2:19)


6. Close
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Revelation 2:11)


7. Promise to the Overcomer
“He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death” (revelation 2:10-11)


Chuck Missler has thrown this out there once or twice now during his teachings, so I’ll follow suit and just quote him: “If you’re born once, you die twice. If you’re born twice, you die once.” I think that brilliantly illustrates this Promise to the Overcomer.




Theme of the Letter to the Church of Smyrna
Persecution of the church




3 Gifts Brought by the Magi at Christ’s Birth (Matthew 2:11)
Gold = royalty
Frankincense = deity, priesthood
Myrrh = suffering, death


These gifts stress the 3 roles of Jesus: King, Priest, and Prophet




7 Idols Featured in Smyrna
- Apollo, the sun-god
- Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty
- Aesculapius, the god of medicine
- Cybele, a Phrygian nature goddess, goddess of fortresses? (Daniel 11:38)
- Poseidon, the sea-god
- Demeter, the goddess of corn
- Caesar


Smyrna readily accepted Caesar worship; worship of the emperor was compulsory. Each year, a Roman citizen had to burn a pinch of incense on the altar and to acknowledge publicly that Caesar was supreme lord. In return, he received a formal certificate that he had done so. This act of worship presented a vital test for the Christian, and many who refused perished at the stake or by wild beasts in the arena. These Christians essentially burned at the stake willingly, because all they had to do to prevent themselves from being burned was to burn a pinch of incense!




Bishop of Smyrna


- John appointed Polycarp as bishop.


- Polycarp refused to recant: “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me wrong. How can I now blaspheme my King who has loved me so?”




3 “Tares” (false doctrines) Sown among the Early Churches


- Legalism: denial of Christ’s completed work


- Gnosticism: denial of Christ’s humanity


- Caesar worship: denial of Christ’s Lordship




10 reasons Christians have trials
1. To glorify God (Daniel 3:16-18, 24-25)


2. To discipline for known sin (Hebrews 12:5-11; James 4:17; Romans 14:23; 1 John 1:9)


3. To prevent us from falling into sin (1 Peter 4:1-2)


4. To keep us from pride (2 Corinthians 12:7-10): Paul kept from pride by his thorn in the flesh (Galatians 4:15; 6:11)


5. To build faith (1 Peter 1:6-7)


6. To cause growth (Romans 5:3-5)


7. To teach obedience and discipline (Acts 9:15-16; Philippians 4:11-13)


8. To equip us to comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)


9. To prove the reality of Christ in us (2 Corinthians 4:7-11)


10. For testimony to the angels (Job 1:8; Ephesians 3:8-11; 1 Peter 1:12) (I personally find this one to be especially inspirational!)




APPLICATION OF THE LETTER TO THE CHURCH OF SMYRNA


1. Local
http://www.cogwriter.com/smyrnachurch.htm


Today, Smyrna is thriving city in Turkey, called Izmir, the 3rd largest city in Turkey. It is strategically placed for trade between Europe and Asia, making it a rival to Sardis and the Lydian kingdom. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.


2. Admonitory (to all churches)


- Endure Persecution


- Don’t confuse persecution with the Great Tribulation


- Non-Jews? Replacement theory? This is blaspheme. God is NOT done with Israel! I won't get into the details here, but in the latter half of my post here explains why. Furthermore, it also allows us to understand why the Great Tribulation is also known as "a time of Jacob's Trouble" and why the Church will be raptured before the Great Tribulation:
http://aletheia-seekers.blogspot.com/2011/11/matthew-24-signs-of-end-of-days.html


3. Personal (homiletics)


- The people of Smyrna faced satanic opposition


-  We are promised persecution: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12)


- “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” (James 1:2-4)


- Loyalty of ambassadorship


Missler said, "Do not add the pitch of incense for the worship of Caesar!"


The take home message is if we are true followers of Jesus, we need to LIVE it and stand by it. If we KNOW that Jesus is the King of kings and that we are God's children, how can we turn around and commit sins that we know would break God's heart? Jesus took on the sins of the world, DRANK FROM THE CUP OF WRATH, and died on the cross for us--died a death that we should all die. Nothing we suffer can ever come close.


Yes, Jesus warned us that we will suffer for His name. Why? Because Satan has been after Him since way back. When we stand for Christ, we should know that we're taking on Satan. But we should not cower, because we have the Glory of God on our side. Any persecution we may suffer now would be nothing when compared against the wrath of God or eternal suffering apart from God.


4. Prophetic
Smyrna is the persecuted church




Olivet Discourse: Matthew 24 vs Mark 13 vs Luke 21


Group of Signs of the End Times: The release of the 4 horsemen parallels the Olivet Discourse mentioned in Matthew and Luke.


Luke’s account focuses on the fall of Jerusalem, whereas Matthew’s account focuses on the Great Tribulation.


That is, in chronological order, Luke’s account of the fall of Jerusalem occurs (70 AD), followed by the group of signs (listed below), followed by Matthew’s account of the Tribulation (hasn’t happened yet!).


- False Christs (Matthew 24:4-5; Luke 21:4; Revelation 6:1-2)
- Wars (Matthew 24:6; Luke 21:9-10; Revelation 6:3-4)
- Famines (Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11; Revelation 6:5-6)
- Death (Matthew 24:7-8; Luke 21:12; Revelation 6:7-8)
- Martyrs (Matthew 24:9; Luke 21:24; Revelation 6:9-11)
- Global chaos (Matthew 24:10-13; Luke 21:25; Revelation 6:12-17)


Matthew wrote for the Jews
Matthew 24:8-9 begins with the words “Then shall they…” and “All these are the beginning of sorrows”


Matthew therefore is talking about the events that happen AFTER the group of signs


Matthew warns his people, the Jews, of the Tribulation. However, the Jews didn't listen and still aren’t listening because it has been prophesied that they will remain blind to the Messiah until the end of times (Isaiah)


Mark parallels Matthew for the most part
Exception: compare Mark 13:31-32 with Matthew 24:35-36


Mark noted “neither the Son” know the day or the hour.


Luke wrote for the Gentiles
Luke 21:12 begins with the words “But before all these”


Luke therefore is talking about the events that happen BEFORE the group of signs


Luke doesn’t mention the Tribulation at all, probably because the Gentile Church would be raptured!