Revelation Now :
Daily Devotional Bible Studies in Revelation
Next | Previous | Contact Ron | Introduction | Foreword | Index | Tellout Home
The Church at Smyrna is to Suffer : Day 9 
"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty, yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death." (Revelation 2.8-11)
Materially Poor but Spiritually Rich
The church in "Smyrna" was materially poor, but spiritually rich. The city was about 25 miles north of Ephesus. It was nicknamed "Port of Asia" because it had a deep harbor on the Aegean Sea.
The church there struggled against two hostile forces, a Jewish population strongly opposed to Christianity, and those people who supported emperor worship and the goddess Roma. Persecution and suffering were inevitable in this environment. The church at "Smyrna" had stood up well but Jesus reminds them that he is the First and the Last, the one to be worshipped, rather than the imperial cult of emperor worship.
Eternal Reward
The letter to Smyrna encourages the Christians that although they "suffer persecution", they are nevertheless rich. Pain is part of life, but it is never easy to "suffer", no matter what the cause. Christians may suffer, even unto death but their time of tribulation will be short compared to their eternal reward. The Ephesians' "ten days" of persecution would have a specific beginning and end, and God would always remain in control. Jesus commended the church at Smyrna for its faith under persecution. He then urged believers that they need not fear the future if they remained faithful. "Suffering" draws a Christian toward greater faithfulness.
Smyrna's Games
Smyrna was also famous for its athletic games. A crown was the victory wreath for the champion at the games. Those faithful under persecution will receive the crown of victory that is eternal life. Jesus never said that by being faithful to him we will avoid troubles, suffering, and persecution. Rather, we must be faithful to him "in" our sufferings. Only then will our faith prove to be genuine. The promised reward is that Christians "will not be hurt at all by the second death." "Second death" was a term used by the Rabbis for the death of the wicked in the next world. We need to keep our eyes on Christ and on what he promises us now and in the future.
Meditation
What role does persecution play in your life, if any? Does it draw you to greater faithfulness?
Prayer
"Great is thy faithfulness. O God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not. Thy commandments they fail not. Great is thy faithfulness. Lord unto me" (1)
Notes
(1)
"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place."
