“Revelation 2:8-11”

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

“‘And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until 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 by the second death.”’”

---End of Scripture verses---

The Lord had no negative complaint to make against the church in the city of Smyrna. Even though they were situated in a worldly prosperous and highly idolatrous environment, they remained faithful and true to the one and only, true God of all heaven and earth. Smyrna, like its neighbor Ephesus, was an important center of trade and commerce, ideally situated on a resplendent harbor on the Aegean Sea. In 26 A.D. a temple in honor of Tiberius Caesar was erected there, and the city quickly became a major center for emperor worship. “Later, when emperor worship became compulsory during the reign of Domitian (A.D. 81-96), each citizen was required to burn a pinch of incense on the altar of the shrine to the godhead of Caesar. Having done so, he was given a certificate to guarantee he had satisfied this duty.” (Harkrider) This was more a matter of political loyalty than religious fidelity.

The God who sees all and knows all was perfectly aware of their “tribulation” and their “poverty” (verse 9). The brethren in the city of Smyrna obviously endured a great deal of affliction at the hands of the heathen populace, and also from the Jewish enclave. But, through it all they stood firm in their convictions, and would not buckle to the pressure of worshiping Caesar or crumble under the treachery of those “who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” “Barclay wrote that Jews in Smyrna compromised their faith by their willingness to burn incense to Caesar…Tradition says that in Smyrna the Jews eagerly informed the Romans where they might find Christians in order to persecute them. It was in Smyrna that Polycarp, a disciple of the apostle John, was put to death.” (Harkrider)

Living in the midst of a world of wealth, the Christians in Smyrna suffered material “poverty,” but they were “rich” spiritually. They followed in the footstep of their Master before them and believed in His promises: “that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). The true, enduring riches are those that can be found in faithful obedience to Christ alone. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21). “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)

Jesus informed His faithful disciples that they were “about to suffer” affliction, and Satan would cast some of them into prison (verse 10). The Lord has never promised to remove all of the obstacles from our way or the troubles from our lives, but He does promise to never leave us nor forsake us as we travel down earth’s troublesome paths (Hebrews 13:5). Although God will not insulate us from all sorrow and pain, He assures us that we need “not fear what” we “are about to suffer.” If we have a healthy, reverential fear for the Lord who has the power to both give and destroy life eternally, we have no reason to be afraid of what man can do to us (Matthew 10:28-31). Our “tribulation,” like that of our brethren in Smyrna, will only last for “ten days”. The number 10 is the symbol for fullness or completion. We will suffer for a “full” period of time, but not for eternity. Our suffering, like theirs, will one day come to a glorious end.

Christians who are “faithful until death” will receive “the crown of life.” The Lord has promised “an unfading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:4) to “all those who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). Even though we be forced to suffer the pain of death for our loyalty to Jesus, we will not be “hurt by the second death” (verse 11). The first death is when our spirits separate from our bodies (James 2:26). The second death is when our spirits are eternally separated from our heavenly Father. But Jesus promises us the comfort and assurance that: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” (John 11:25-26).

Please read Revelation 2:12-17 for tomorrow.

Have a blessed day!

-Louie Taylor

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