This city was called Smyrna until 1930 when it was changed to Izmir. It is the 3rd biggest city in Turkey today with a population of 2 million people.
Smyrna = is a Greek explanatory word for myrrh, from a root meaning ‘was bitter’ (take note it is past tense). Myrrh is a tree resin which pours forth when the bark of this thorn-bush is pierced. To harvest myrrh the tree must be wounded. It has a bitter taste, it was crushed and used in perfume, in incense, as medicine, and as a preservative in burial. It is a symbol of death but has a heavenly smell. It was one of the three gifts brought to Christ at His birth by the wise men from the east.
The message this carries to the church in this city is that they must go through bruisings and piercings which will cause them to pour forth a precious ointment and be a sweet smell to Christ and useful to His kingdom on earth.
Rev.2:8, “And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;”
“…unto the angel…write...hear what the Spirit saith...”— John was the penman but it was from Christ; the angel messenger was the preacher in the local church but it was the Holy Spirit speaking. These seven letters wake us up to the reality that God uses weak clay vessels to bring His Word to local church but it is Christ and the Holy Spirit speaking. To discount the word of the physical messenger when the message is truly sent from Christ is serious indeed.
The personal revelation of Christ given to this church is found in the words "...the first and the last..." In 1:8 we also read, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Then in 1:17-18, “Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;”
This term is used by Christ in order to reveal His divinity to this persecuted church. This term "first and last" is used three times by Isaiah the prophet to reveal that it is an exclusive title for God. By using this Christ was saying 'I am God. I was before everything and I will still be here when everything is over. All you go through is for a short time. Its all within my control.' They would need this revelation of Christ to stregthen them through the trials they must suffer.
Isa.41:4, “Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.”
Isa.44:6, “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”
Isa.48:12, “Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.”
Rev.2:9, “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.”
Thy works = I know all your deeds - Remember this is Christ commending them. We tend to think that the revelation that He knows all that we do is a negative thing. But it is not. This is an encouragement. He remembers all that you have ever done for His kingdom. He never forgets. He see's all that you do when no one else see's it.
Tribulation (thlipsis) = pressure; afflicted; anguish; burdened; persecution; trouble. This church was going through real physical opposition for following Christ. They were a suffering Church and Christ knew it. He was intimately involved and aware of it. He commends them for it. He encourages them in the midst of their suffering. He knows all about it.
Poverty (ptōcheia) = beggary (to be a beggar)—physical not spiritual or mystical. It was not only a suffering Church it was also a poor church. They had no funds. They had reached the point of poverty and Christ knew it and commends them for keeping on through it all. There is no teaching here about getting out of poverty. There is no mention of 'a poverty spirit', lack of faith, or any other such thing. He knows their poverty but He is with them in it.
“but thou art rich” – They were physically poor but Christ calls them spiritualy rich. Financial riches mean nothing in Christ's eyes. He does not judge riches by money. A man could have great physical riches but not be commended by Christ. Here is a poor church that He commends but their riches are spiritual. In what way were they rich? i) First of all Christ gives no rebuke to this church, ii) He does not give correction or point out where they need to adjust their order, iii) He does not call them to repentance. Christ calls five of the seven churches to repent but not this one — they were spiritually rich.
Blasphemy (blasphēmia) = evil speaking; railing. Christ also knew that the Jews of the city were speaking evil against them. Their suffering was primarily stirred up by the words of religious Jews. In fact Christ says that they call themselves Jews but they were not true Jews ("say" legō = lay forth; systematic discourse). He calls their synagogue a synagogue of Satan. Satan was opposing this church by using religious people and systems. They thought themselves religious but they were in fact tools of Satan.
Rom.2:28-29,“For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
Rev.2:10, “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.”
Thou shalt suffer - Here is a prophecy from Christ. Here is a promise from Christ. Not a promise that they will be delivered but a promise that they will suffer as a result of being faithful in following Him. Suffering is a part of God's will. This was suffering for righteousness sake.
Devil (diabolos) = false accuser; slanderer. It would be as a result of lies that some would be cast into prison. The Devil is behind all false accusation and slander. Don't allow it in the church. Don't ever allow the Devil to use you to bring false accusations against another believer.
Tried (peirazō) = to test; scrutinize; examine; prove; tempt — i) God tries the heart, ii) the Devil tempts the heart, iii) Man proves the heart. In these persecutions which this church passed through everything was tested by the Lord. He does test the heart of genuine believers and genuine churches. He allows things to come which will indeed test us to the very core. But be aware it is not Him doing it; it is the Devil. He simply allows it and uses it.
Ten days – short period of time. There is an end to it. Trials are hard if we think there is no end. Christ promises that it will be for a time only. He puts a limitation on what man and the Devil does. He simply instructs them to be "faithful unto death." To be faithful means to be true, trustworthy, or to have faith that endures. He is asking them to pay the ultimate price in order to remain faithful. Christ does not make life easy; but He will so reveal His divinity to our hearts that it will stregthen us to endure to the end.
When we read church history we find that Polycarp (69–155 AD) a bishop in this church at Smyrna suffered Martyrdom when the Jews stirred up local authorities against him. Polycarp had been a disciple of John. No doubt he had read this short letter and been strengthened by it for future trials.
Christ promises a Crown of life to such – Jms.1:12, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” This crown is given to all who endure faithful through temptation; not just for martyrdom. Poverty may well be your trial but one day you will receive a crown of life.
Rev.2:11, “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.”
Overcometh = to subdue; conquer; overcome; prevail; get the victory. This Church did get the victory over slander, lies, persecution, poverty, the Jews, the Devil, prison and death itself. They did overcome. Their reward was the promise of not being hurt by the second death. Many things did hurt them in life but this second death would not hurt them at the point of death. What is the "second death"?
Rev.20:6, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
20:14,“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
21:8, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
The second death means to be cast into the Lake of Fire. But these overcomers are promised the first resurrection and a thousand year reign with Christ on the earth. Friends we may suffer many things in this world and even lack every physical blessing but if we be rich with true spiritual riches in this life then we shall be richer still when we reign with Christ eternally. Take your eyes off time and place them upon Christ and eternal glory.
LISTEN TO SERMONS ON THIS SERIES