Revelation 2:8-11
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TEMPTED TO IGNORE YOUR FAITH OR VIOLATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO CHRIST? HAVE THE PRESSURES OF FAMILY, FRIENDS, OR WORK CAUSED YOU TO COMPROMISE YOURSELF?
‘And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 9 “ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’”
BACKGROUND
Smyrna was a port city of the Roman Empire located just 40 miles north of Ephesus in what is now the city of Izmir, Turkey.
Smyrna was a powerful allied city to Rome that was the center of the Caesar-cult and caused great trouble for the church there in the latter part of the first century. Anyone who refused to say Caesar is lord would be killed. Because Christian’s would only say Jesus is Lord, their lives were in jeopardy. The word, Smyrna, means myrrh. Myrrh was a sweet spice often used to anoint the dead.
In 155 AD the famed bishop of Smyrna, Polycarp, was martyred in the amphitheater. The Jews of the time were so vehement against Polycarp that they gathered wood from local shops to bring to Polycarp’s burning.
The city had a population of about 100,000. Smyrna was completely dedicated to Rome and had several temples dedicated to various Caesars. The city was wealthy, and considered one of the most beautiful cities in the empire. “Smyrna was considered the most brilliant city of Asia Minor, successfully rivaling Pergamos and Ephesus. Its streets were wide and paved. Its system of coinage was old, and now about the city coins of every period are found. It was celebrated for its schools of science and medicine, and for its handsome buildings.” (1)
Paul may have founded the church in Smyrna as Acts 19 refers to his work spreading the gospel all around that part of Asia, though it is not specifically mentioned by name.
HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR REPUTATION AS A CHRISTIAN? WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE UP FOR YOUR REPUTATION?
EXAMINATION
(V.8) “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.”
God does not say things in a vacuum. He often refers to things in contemporary culture to make his points. That is true throughout the letters to the seven churches, and especially Smyrna. As an example, Smyrna had a reputation as, “The First in Asia,” a reference to its beauty and size. Jesus uses this reference to show his predominance when he says he is not only the first, but also the last. He is greater than Smyrna and the gods of its many temples.
Here Jesus is reminding Smyrna about who he is. Jesus is deity. The term, “The first and the last” is a description of deity. In other words, the one who is eternal. It correlates to the saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 21:6). The one who is the first and the last is the one “who died and came to life.” That was only Jesus.
Jesus is the authority over the churches and over the pastors of the churches. His authority comes from three things revealed in this passage:
- His identity as deity (the first and the last)
- His identity as the Son of Man (he died and lived again as a man)
- His works (he died for us and rose again for us)
Jesus’ reference to dying and coming to life is also similar to the history of Smyrna which in ancient times had once been completely destroyed in the 7th century BC and later, rebuilt, i.e., come back to life in the 3rd century BC.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE SOMEONE WHO IS RICH? WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE RICH?
(V.9) “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”
Here is a word of comfort to those in Smyrna. Jesus says, “I know your tribulation…” He knows what they are suffering. He is mindful of them. This is also true with us. He is mindful of our situation and wants to bring us comfort through faith in him as we endure.
The church in Smyrna underwent persecution for their faith, which is why Jesus mentions tribulation. Though the church was well organized, they suffered. The mention of poverty indicates that it was a poor church. Not just poor, but according to the Greek, extremely poor, meaning, “abject poverty, possessing absolutely nothing.”
Christians probably had trouble finding work because of their faith. Yet spiritually, they were rich. Jesus’ brother, James, said something similar to his readers. “God has chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith” (James 2:5). This stands in contrast to the later letter to the Laodiceans whom Jesus said they were rich but were spiritually poor.
In this verse, Jesus refers to the Jews in Smyrna as the synagogue of Satan. This does not mean that all Jews are of Satan. That would be antisemitic. Even Paul said the Jews are loved for the election’s sake (Romans 11:28). Jesus is referring to the Jews that brought persecution on the Christians of Smyrna all the while claiming to serve God. Remember Jesus’s words to his disciples, “The hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God” (John 16:2). Remember Paul’s words, “A Jew is one inwardly” (Romans 2:29). Ultimately the word, Satan, means accuser. The Jews of Smyrna stood against the Christian’s accusing them before the local government of teaching against the city’s practices. In this sense the Jews of that locale stood against their own religious history in siding with the pagans of Smyrna.
The Jews of Smyrna stood in opposition to the Christians there, though it is not known why. However, in Paul’s travels throughout the empire he was often opposed and attacked by Jews for his preaching of the Gospel in the synagogues.
IS SATAN ALLOWED TO OVERCOME CHRISTIANS?
(V.10) “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested…”
Note that the first thing Jesus says is, “Do not fear…” He is preparing them for what is to come.
Most commentators note that in the ancient world prison was a place where one usually waited for trial or to be executed. This fits with the context here as they will go to prison and later he encourages them to be faithful to death.
In our modern Christianity we are sometimes told that the devil cannot touch the children of God. This verse tells us that is untrue. These were faithful believers and the devil was about to attack. Can you think of who else in the New Testament that Jesus did this to? It was Peter. Jesus told Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32). Notice that Jesus didn’t say he prayed that Satan would not attack. He let Satan attack because he was going to do something in Peter’s life that would strengthen him. And then Peter could strengthen the others.
Who else did God permit Satan to attack, and badly? Job! Consider that God is the one who brought Job to Satan’s attention. What did God let Satan do to job? Job lost his wealth, his children, his health, and even his wife turned against him. Yet, God rewarded him in the end.
Notice also in the letter to Smyrna that because Jesus warns them about what is to come that he is permitting the devil to attack them. But it is for a purpose. “That you may be tested.”
WHY DOES GOD TEST HIS PEOPLE WHEN HE ALREADY KNOWS EVERYTHING? HOW IS A TEST DIFFERENT FROM A TEMPTATION?
Testing is a proving ground designed to strengthen and grow us while a temptation is designed to get us to sin. “God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one” (James 1:13). God tests. Satan tempts. God uses Satan’s temptations to test and to prove.
(V.10) “… and for ten days you will have tribulation.”
No one knows what the ten days refers to. Some think it refers to ten emperors who would persecute the church, or ten waves of persecution. “There were ten persecutions from Nero to Diocletian (a.d. 312). They were under Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Antoninus, Severus, Maximian, Decius, Valerian, Aurelian, and Diocletian. Also, Diocletian’s persecution lasted ten years.” (3)
More likely Jesus is giving a limit to their suffering. It’s only ten days, it will not last forever. The number is symbolic, as ten was often used that way elsewhere in scripture. They will not have to endure more than they can bear. At some point their suffering will end, whether through death or other means.
(V.10) “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
The crown of life is a reference to a status statement that Smyrna had in the empire. They were said to have the “crown of life.” Or also known as the garland of life. Various people who worshiped the various Roman deities wore different types of garland on their heads identifying them with that god. “The worshipper, while engaged in the service of a deity, wore a garland of the kind sacred to that deity,—myrtle in the service of Aphrodite, ivy in that of Dionysos, wild olive in that of Zeus Olympius.”(2)
So, Jesus uses this moniker for his own ends. Jesus, here, is offering them the real crown of life—eternal life with him in heaven.
HAVE YOU EVER KNOWN ANYONE WHO MADE A GREAT SACRIFICE FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL?
But notice his statement, “Be faithful unto death.” Let me share with you a story about a man who came to see me in Mongolia. He was a missionary to China and was taking some time off in Mongolia. He told me that he was afraid to go back to China because he was convinced that if he went back he would be arrested, put in prison, and die. He was truly frightened about what he believed would happen to him. He did not want to return to China and was seeking my advice. At that moment I wasn’t sure what to say. But then this passage to Smyrna came to my mind. I said, “Let me paraphrase in modern language what Jesus was telling this church. ‘Guys, things are bad. They’re going to get worse. Then you’re going to die. Be faithful anyway.’
At that moment the man slid off his chair and dropped to the floor on his knees. He thrust his hands in the air and yelled out, “God is speaking through you right now!” We talked a little more then he left my office determined to return to China. I never saw him again.
This is what God is saying to us. Be faithful anyway, no matter what happens to you. Even if you die. Be faithful anyway.
(V.11) “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.”
In Greek, the phrase, “will not be hurt by the second death” is a strong double-negative. It means they absolutely will not suffer the second death of Revelation 20. Though they will suffer natural death, their eternal life is absolutely assured.
INTERPRETATION
What is Jesus’ big idea for this passage? Stay faithful. No matter what, through any trial, temptation, poverty or pain, stay faithful.
Polycarp was the bishop of Smyrna for many years. He was a disciple of John the Apostle and likely appointed as the bishop of Smyrna by John. He served the Lord for 86 years of his long life. At the end of his life he was taken to the theater in Smyrna to be burned at the stake. The governor at the time urged Polycarp to profess loyalty to Caesar, which Polycarp would not do. He answered the governor, “Eighty and six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and Savior? You threaten me with a fire that burns for a season, and after a little while is quenched; but you are ignorant of the fire of everlasting punishment that is prepared for the wicked.” Polycarp was burned at the stake and pierced with a spear for refusing to burn incense to the Roman emperor.
This letter to Smyrna is the shortest of all seven letters to the churches of Revelation, but it is the most powerful, urging faithfulness to Christ at any price. What price is too high to pay for receiving the love of Christ?
APPLICATION
- Use scripture to speak to your culture. Jesus did not speak in a vacuum. He identified himself and his rewards and requirements using symbols from the culture of the day. We can do the same.
- God sometimes permits the devil to attack, and in dramatic or painful ways. Pray against temptation, as Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, but always be ready for a time when God may let Satan have his way for a time.
- Do not be fearful of the future but be faithful in the present. Faithfulness in the present is the key to experiencing the future rewards that await us.
- Earthly defeat is not the same as spiritual defeat. Loss on earth may lead directly to heaven. Be prepared to lose all for the sake of Christ.
(1) Banks, E. J. 1915. “Smyrna.” In The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, edited by James Orr, John L. Nuelsen, Edgar Y. Mullins, and Morris O. Evans, 1–5:2818. Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company.
(2) Ramsay, William M. 1911–1912. “SMYRNA.” In A Dictionary of the Bible: Dealing with Its Language, Literature, and Contents Including the Biblical Theology, edited by James Hastings, John A. Selbie, A. B. Davidson, S. R. Driver, and H. B. Swete, 4:555. New York; Edinburgh: Charles Scribner’s Sons; T. & T. Clark.
(3) Hindson, Edward E., and Woodrow Michael Kroll, eds. 1994. KJV Bible Commentary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
