The Church at Smyrna

Today we're going to take a look at the second church that was addressed in the letter to the seven churches.  Revelations 2:8-11 says, "And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna wrie; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 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." 

Smyrna was an inland seaport about 50 miles north of Ephesus.  During Roman times it surpassed Ephesus both as a seaport and trading center, disputing with that city and Pergumum the claim to "the first city of Asia."  Many considered it to be the most brilliant city in all of Asia Minor.  Its streets were wide and paved.  It was widely celebrated for its schools of medicine and science.  You don't read much about the church of Smyrna in the scriptures, but based on this particular letter, it is apparent that the church in Smyrna was severly persecuted and suffered a great deal for maintaing their faith.  In reading what Jesus said to Smyrna, you don't read where he condemned that church.  He gave Smyrna commendations and encouragement.  This period was known in church history as "the period of the Roman Persecution of the Church" for it was during this time frame that more Christians suffered tremendous persecution and were killed than in other specific time period. 

During these years some historians have estimated that up to five million Christians were martyred for their faith.  Before this time, Rome considered the Christian movement merely another Jewish matter.  As Christianity was spread throughout the Roman Empire, they were viewed as subversive elements to the authority and power of Rome.  Christians refused to worship Roman gods nor would they bow to the emperor.  Rome began to make the conscious effort to completely eliminate Christians from off the face of the earth.  They weren't allowed to participate in commerce.  In spite of all this, the church continued to grow like wildfire in number even though Smyrna was a poor church.  Their passion for Jesus was strong.  One couldn't afford to be lukewarm for Jesus during this time frame.  You were either cold and not in the church or you were on fire for Jesus and serving the Lord.  The 10 days of tribulation appear to possibly also represent a prophetic message for this church age, referring to 10 literal periods of suffering under 10 different Roman Emperors--Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Severus, Maximinius, Decius, Valerian, Aurelian, and Diocletian.  Diocletian tried to destroy the Bible from the face of the earth.

God promised to the church at Smyrna a crown of life (Revelation 2:10) for their being faithful in serving the Lord in the midst of persecution.  Smyrna and Philadelphia were the only two churches that didn't receive a rebuke from the Lord.  The letter to this church is a direct contradiction to the health, wealth, and prosperity gospel so often taught today.  Read about the church of Laodecia in Revelation 3 and you see how God feels about churches that are rich and increased with goods but lukewarm.  Many times people that are wealthy and increased with goods tend to forget God.  That's tragic but that's how it is.  That aren't many Christians that possess the ability to not let wealth affect their devotion to the Lord.  Wealth tends to blind us and cause us to drift from Jesus while persecution, poverty, and turbulent times will drive us to our knees to depend upon God.  That's why the church during this period flourished spiritually and grew under the 200 years of Roman persecution.  They knew they didn't possess many earthly goods.  If they didn't place their trust in the Lord, they would be destroyed.  God blessed them for being faithful to God. 

I've heard the saying that the church that was born in the fire will leave in the fire.  Persecution reveals those that are real and those that are make believe.  There's a great possibility Christians will experience persecution before Jesus returns for his bride.  There are certain parts of the world where Christians are already persecuted.  It could happen to America, especially when you consider the political situation in our land today.  May God help us!