Revelation 2:8-11

2 Smyrna: The persecuted church

Background:  Smyrna had an excellent harbor and still does today. It is a beautiful seacoast resort town in Turkey called Izmir. The city is the oldest of the seven and the city was probably established not very long after the great flood. Smyrna came under Roman control about 27 BC. The residents of the ancient city worshiped many pagan gods including Zeus, Apollo, Aprodite, Aesculapius, Cybele, Poseidon, Demeter, and later Caesar. Each year a Roman citizen had to burn a pinch of incense on the altar of Dea Roman, the goddess of Rome. This became a test for the Christians and many who refused were burned at the stake or killed by wild beasts in the arena. Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna in 169 AD., refused to recant and was burned at the stake at the hands of Jewish leaders.

Prophetic application of this church on earth is from the first martyr, Stephen, until 312 AD.

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;

9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Jesus Christ is the first and last who was dead and is alive. Jesus says this assembly had works, tribulation and poverty but He assures them that although poor physically they are rich spiritually. In those days, there were many Jews in the city that said they were Jews but they actually persecuted the true Jews who found Jesus to be the Messiah. Jesus tells us that these false Jews are the synagogue of Satan. When Jesus was in the flesh on earth, He also said many of the leaders of Israel were of their father the Devil when they rejected Him as their Messiah. They later enticed the nation to have Him crucified. Paul tells us in Romans chapter 9 that true Israel is not those descended from Israel (Jacob) by the flesh but only those descended from Jacob and that were elected to the promise.

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

The tribulation and suffering that would last for ten days spoken of in this passage was most likely the times of persecution under the ten Roman Caesars since the birth of the new covenant Church. They were: Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Severus, Maximinus, Decius, Valerian, Aurelian and Diocletian. The last of them had the most believers slaughtered. Bible scholars do not dispute that the ten days of tribulation that Jesus spoke of actually happened. What they dispute is which persecution literally fulfilled it. There most likely was a fulfillment to the local church that was at Smyrna as well as a fulfillment through the prophetic timeline. The ten Caesars probably fulfilled the prophetic timeline.

During the rule of these ten Caesars, it is estimated that five million believers were killed by the Romans as well as by the Jews that rejected their Messiah. Jesus told this church that those who held on to their faith in spite of losing their physical lives would be given a crown of life.

After these ten evil Caesars, it seems that Satan concluded that killing the Christians could not defeat Christianity. He then changed his approach and infiltrated the leadership of the churches by mixing the Church with state political appointees. Under Constantine in 312 AD, Christianity was adopted by Rome. At that time, Satan began the process of corrupting the church from within by joining the church with the pagan world political system.

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Only those with spiritual ears can hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Those that overcome will not be hurt of the second death. Later in this book, we will find out that the second death is the Lake of Fire. It is where all will go who are not written in the book of life. No one who overcomes by washing their sins away with the blood of the Lamb will ever take part in this second death.

This persecuted church is one of only two churches that Jesus has no message of criticism for. The other church is Philadelphia. Jesus in general is well pleased with the people who make up the Church at Smyrna.