God knows and He cares for you. I noticed it and after a few weeks I thought you know I think I need to say something to her. Second death. They had no way to make a living. He just reminded them that what you have in Christ is far greater than anything on this earth materially that you will have. They cannot coexist. Olympian games were held in Smyrna. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. He always will exist. The Eastern Orthodox Church, also called the Orthodox Church, officially the Orthodox . Why do we do it? 2006 R. J. Krejcir Ph.D. He is the One who overcame life and death for our benefit, and when we seek to run His church our way, we embarrass and dishonor Him and His Way. Yet, He is there, guiding us with a beacon that says. That night my roommate came in and I was telling Tina about what had happened and my plan for the next day, and how I was going to really get her. Smyrna was a hotbed for pagan worship. 7. Do you ever feel that way that you are under that kind of pressure that it is just going to suffocate you? . Life is not going so great. She is so right. Finally, one of the soldiers took his sword and he ended the life of this great martyr, Polycarp. Pt 2, Kingdom 103: Student or Disciple of the Kingdom? I wish I had more time to go into detail of his story. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Throughout history, Smyrna has suffered its fair share of hardship. I went into her office and I said you know I just wanted to ask you a question. He was martyred for his faith in A.D. 156. Christians are not exempt from suffering. Myrrh represents mortal death, and the title of the "suffering church" is often ascribed the . Smyrna: The Suffering Church Revelation 2:8-11. John is grabbing their attention by reminding them (and us) who Christ is and what He has done. After college (the first time), Crickett was on staff with C More. Some can endure physical sufferings under tribulation and poverty, yet few can . We are called to be faithful, even if it means death. Even though He died, He conquered death and He rose again. The Second Coming of JesusWho Are the 144,000 in Revelation?Who Are Gog and Magog in the Bible?What Is the Apollyon?Is the Apocalypse Mentioned in the Bible?Signs of the End Times and the Rapture. List reasons why those Jews were not considered real Jews in Jesus eyes. The first thing He tells them is be fearless. There was coming another form of suffering and that is prison in verse 10: Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for 10 days. The application is that a dead or dying church with faithful, Christ-empowered people can be resurrected. Be thou our vision. Give it to the Lord, trust His hand, and look ahead to the blessings that await you eternally. Explain your answer. Spend some time thanking Jesus for what He endured for us. As I said in your study this week that fear and trust are opposites. 19:20; 20:10-15). Kingdom 103: The Kingdom Mindset of Authority, Kingdom 103: Ephesus, Its Believers' Characteristics, Kingdom 103: Ephesus, Its Believers' Characteristics Pt 2, Kingdom 103: Smyrna, Its Believers' Characteristics, Kingdom 103: Pergamos, The Compromising Church, Kingdom 103: Thyatira, Its Believers' Characteristics, Kingdom 103: Thyatira, Its Believers' Characteristics Pt 2, Kingdom 103: Sardis, Its Believers' Characteristics, Kingdom 103: Philadelphia, Its Believers' Characteristics, Kingdom 103: Philadelphia, Its Believers' Characteristics Pt 2, Kingdom 103: Laodicea, The Lukewarm Church, Kingdom 103: He Came Under the Cloak of Darkness, Kingdom 103: Authorized Power for the Heavenly Government, Kingdom 103: Never Assume in Marriage Pt 1, Kingdom 103: Never Assume in Marriage Pt 2, Kingdom 103: Love in Marriage Needs to be Refreshed, Kingdom 103: Fatherlessness, the Source of Disobedience and Sin, Kingdom 103: The Simplicity of the Kingdom Gospel, Kingdom 103: Kingdom Culture Displayed to the Blind. I had just started walking with the Lord that year before and I had gone on a beach project with Campus Crusade that summer. Annette has also written curriculum for character growth and development of elementary-age children and has developed parent training seminars to benefit the community. 105 views, 1 likes, 1 loves, 0 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Buncombe Baptist Church Lexington: Welcome to the home of Intentional. They had no means whatsoever. You will not worship the Roman emperor, then we will make you! How Are the End Times Described in 2 Timothy? 4. According to Revelation 1:11, on the Greek island of Patmos, Jesus Christ instructs John of Patmos to: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven Churches: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamum, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea." The churches in this context refers to the community or local congregations of Christians living . So, there will be attacks on us to not study this Word, to not do this. 2. I came back that fall and I was so on fire for the Lord. The pressure came with these students. 1. Just say Caesar is lord to save your life. And he would not do it. 4 Reasons Why We Have a Hard Time Talking about Loneliness. 2. Why Did Jesus Give Believers the Beatitudes? As a matter of fact, she began to teach me. Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History). 3. He is not referring to eternal life here because you do not work for eternal life. My human flesh cries out and I will do everything I can to avoid it. However, Jesus wanted to remind them that their sufferings would anoint them for a Christlike death and burial that could only result in an eternal resurrected life. That is according to I Corinthians 3:13-14 which talks about that approval, that standing before him, to be evaluated for our works. The name of Smyrna was equated with myrrh. Even though the people would throw them into prison, it says the devil is about to cast some of you into prison. He is the ultimate enemy and we need to be on guard. I lived in mainland China for four years and during those four years I studied the Chinese language of Mandarin. At first, the emperors did not want anything to do with it, but by the time Domitian became the Roman emperor, he made it mandatory that all citizens would worship the emperor or face death. All Christians cannot stand on their own feet and you could not do this if you had to. Hope-Full: Revelation 2:1-7. That is the doctrine or the view of annihilation of hell. Christ will use us in the plights of others as hands to grab on to and pull others up when they are sinking. We became great friends. I was kind of scared. Are you secure concerning your eternal destiny? Annette Marie Griffin is an award-winning author and speaker who has managed and directed childrens and youth programs for more than 20 years. She would not spend one minute helping me, somebody who had thrown their life away believing in this fantasy of Jesus Christ. You cant associated with us in these festivities to our gods. It was almost as if the city was trying to starve them out. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Janene Keeth (nicknamed "Crickett") holds a M.A. I. Jesus' Resurrection Gives Us Hope. Look at Revelation 2:8 with me, 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: (NASB). Satan, meaning the devil, will cause citizens of the Kingdom (believers) to be thrown into prison and even killed. Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) Perhaps the most well-known of the seven letters addresses the church in Laodicea. God is very much aware of all that is going on in your life and is not surprised by anything. If they kill you, they just ended your physical life. Whether it is because of our faith or whether it is because He wants to deepen our faith, we will suffer. As a result, the Smyrnaean believers lived in genuine poverty for their faith. My exhortation for us with this is that we should be thankful. Thank you for being that ultimate victor who won victory over death so we might have life eternal. If you are only born once, you will die twice. If you are only born physically, you will die physically and you will die spiritually. What can be done to invite Him further into your church? Pt 2, Kingdom 104: Christianity Misrepresents the Kingdom Pt 1, Kingdom 104: Christianity Misrepresents the Kingdom Pt 2, Kingdom 104: A Focused Representative of the Kingdom, Kingdom 104: Where Are the Masculine-Thinking Men? He fled briefly and then they caught him and he did not run that time. Be hopeful. I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. How do you respond to suffering and tribulation? I had some coworkers in Dallas who used to joke about the parties they were going to have in hell. Why is Smyrna being praised? He does not want us to move toward spiritual revival. We can have confidence as believers that we will spend eternity with God and not face the second death. Ch 1 Pt 2, Kingdom 104: Where Are the Masculine-Thinking Men? They had no food. Is there sin in my life for which confession and repentance is needed? Located just 35 miles north of Ephesus, at the head of the Aegean Sea, the thriving city of Smyrna was known for its beauty, wealth, and achievement. In what ways are you rich in Christ? Smyrna, an ancient city now surrounded by the modern city of Izmir, was originally established around 1000 BC by Aeolian Greek settlers in "Old Smyrna" (Bayrakl Hy) on a small peninsula jutting out from Asia Minor into the Aegean Sea, similar to Old Tyre. I do not agree with that. As a matter of fact, He promises us that if you are a believer, you will face suffering and you will have some persecution in your life (2 Tim. ), Note: Jesus use of the strong term blasphemy, which was usually reserved for hostile words against God, indicates the slanders wickedness, intensity, and severity.4, 4. Ephesus is the first of the seven letters. He is the overcomer and it says here in Revelation 2:11. Appreciation for this transcription work goes to Marilyn Fine. She came in and I said, Good morning, how are you doing? The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. In between were the temples of Apollo, Asklepios, and Aphrodite. Be encouraged as you study the message sent to this church. What it tells us about Smyrna and its Christians has big implications for us today. How did you handle the situation? While there, the Holy Spirit spoke to John and instructed him to record everything Jesus was about to reveal via a vision. The crown of life is a special reward for endurance in your persecution. Most American Christians today will not be called to die a martyrs death. Why would this promise be especially encouraging for the church at Smyrna? One source is they were under constant pressure from the government to worship the Roman emperor because, you see, the city of Smyrna was a strong ally of Rome. An aspect of maturity is being slow to respond to accusation-as our Lord did. Her debut childrens book, What Is A Family? Most scholars agree that the name Smyrna was a reference to the myrrh, which was the chief export of the area. If they sought praise from menif they wanted to please the people around themthey would not be so readily targeted for persecution. Its system of coinage was old, and now about the city coins of every period are found. Smyrna was a church where people's agendas were in opposition to Christ's. What Is the Abomination of Desolation in the End Times? May I be accepted this day before you as an acceptable sacrifice. They lit the fire, but strangely enough, the wind blew the fire away from his body so it would not touch him. It is the only one of the seven cities still in flourishing condition. The Church in its "Ephesian Period" having lost its "First Love," the Lord is now about to "chastise" it, so as to cause it to return to Him. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death. (Revelation 2:11). He wants to stop us. Its streets were wide and paved. How is Satan described in this passage and how does he work against believers? Even if these believers face death at the hand of the persecutors, it is not the end for them. What Does God Say about the Church at Smyrna? Faith banishes fear.6. Jesus wanted to encourage them to stand strong, even if it meant physical death. Smyrna, originally peopled by Asiatics known as the Lelages, is located 56 kilometers (35 miles) from Ephesus and 79 kilometers (49 miles) from Pergamos (Pergamon). If I am afraid that means I am not trusting God. That is the idea. He has always existed. When we suffer, we may think that Christ is absent, but He is not. Before they lit the fire, he prayed, Oh Lord, almighty God, I thank you for counting me worthy of sharing the cup of Christ among the number of your martyrs. I want that kind of depth. Kingdom 103: What Gospel Are You Preaching? Pagan worship, especially of Zeus but also of numerous other deities flourished there. Jesus is upfront about the fact that we will experience trouble in this world, but He has also promised that His peace, grace, and abiding presence are our refuge during our trials (Matthew 28:20). We may not be worshipping Satan, but when we run the church by our ways and agendas, we are, in fact, worshipping Satan, because Christ is not only ignored, He is being opposed! Today, it is known as Izmir, Turkey. She prayed and asked God to give me strength to go in the next day and to handle this the way that Jesus would. Why would there be a need to be tested further? I have heard it said and I put this up on the screen to help you, If you are born twice, you will only die once. If you are born physically and then later you are born spiritually, you will only die once and that will be when you die physically, (unless the Lord comes back, in which case you would not die at all). He says, Do not fear.. They took him to the amphitheater where the proconsul tried over and over to persuade him to renounce his faith. The Church at Smyrna would have been familiar with the extreme honor associated with a victors crown. The city was well known for its Olympic-style athletic contests. They will eventually die and they will eventually be put out of their misery. Things are smooth. She went on and on and on about my faith in Jesus Christ. The only place the Bible mentions the Church at Smyrna is in Jesus letters to the churches: 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. Pt 2, Kingdom 103: The Unchanging Person and the Unshakable Kingdom, Kingdom 103: Staying Focused on Your Purpose Pt 1, Kingdom 103: Staying Focused on Your Purpose Pt 2, Kingdom 103: Staying Focused on Kingdom Priorities, Kingdom 103: Be Encouraged Through Difficult Times, Kingdom 103: Singleness, Divorce and the Results Pt 1, Kingdom 103: Singleness, Divorce and the Results Pt 2, Kingdom 103: Singleness From God's Viewpoint, Kingdom 103: Forgiveness, Always a Priority, Kingdom 103: Kingdom Principles Are Relevant to Our Way of Life, Kingdom 103: The Indwelling of His Spirit (the Governor), Kingdom 103: In the Kingdom, They are Filled with His Spirit, Kingdom 103: The Holy Spirit is for All Humanity. "In Roman times, Smyrna was considered the most brilliant city of Asia Minor, successfully rivaling Pergamos and Ephesus. He knows what you are feeling. We need to be on guard and we need to commit to pray for the church for the leaders. They were hated. Maybe those are metaphors. They were reporting false allegations to the government about these believers, saying things which were not true about them. 4. 2. Do not be afraid. It reads, You will not in any way be hurt by the second death. As a believer, you do have eternal life and He is saying you may suffer the first death, you may die physically, but you will never die again. 8. Oct 04, 2021 41:20. Do not fear. Second, in a lesson especially relevant for todays Western Christians, Jesus praised the church at Smyrna for choosing poverty over compromise. What does He mean when he refers to their being rich in the midst of poverty? What will I do about it? In this same verse, Jesus offers great comfort to His church by assuring them that He is the God who sees, knows, and cares about their troubles. 6. The church at Smyrna was to undergo some intense persecution and tribulation. (Look also at the story of Job in Job 1.). The troubles we face can cause us to fear so we seek to cover them up with our pride and/or bitterness. It may seem as if people were the enemy, the Jews in the synagogue of Satan, or the government that wants you to worship its emperor. Well, the second thing we need to remember is that the ultimate test is suffering. 1. The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. Then, I got my purse and I drove home. You are so dependent on this myth and you are crazy. The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia in Their Local Setting by Colin Hemer. Rev. 1.4 . The first death means when we physically die and then go into eternity for rewards and to wait for the resurrection and the everlasting life. It has been described as the most beautiful of the seven cities. Then, they would want to pray with us. They were dirt poor. It is like going to a birthday party without a present to give to the host. It was mighty. He has witnessed their continual affliction and the slander theyve suffered from those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. The fact that these hardships have not escaped their Saviors attention surely would have strengthened the Body and served as a loving reminder of Jesuss abiding presence. What was Jesus message to the church in Laodicea in Revelation. Until recently, we who live in the United States and Canada have had many personal liberties, particularly the freedom to worship God.In the post-World War II era, most other modern Israelitish nations have also enjoyed such freedoms, and thus most in the church of God are not accustomed to widespread or severe persecution. Jesus has no censure for the church In fact, it has been said that more Christians have lived in this region than any other Turkish city in the world. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death. Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 1-5). She hated Christians. You and I and our congregation may not be a Smyrna church just now. How can the fact that Jesus knows us more intimately that we can imagine, and desires us to be in Him strengthen your faithfulness? Facing Life Successfully and Effectively Pt 1, Facing Life Successfully and Effectively Pt 2, The Power of Motive and Faith in God's Word, Your Faith in Jesus the Christ: the Work of God, Your Faith in Jesus the Christ: the Work of God Pt 2, The Challenges of Your Faith In God's Written Word, God Created Marriage as a Foundational Institution, Populating the Earth Wasn't the Primary Purpose of Marriage, Citizenship Pt 2--Becoming a Kingdom Citizen, Citizenship Pt 3-The Concept of Dual Citizenship, Citizenship Pt 4: The Invisible Citizenship, The Kingdom Versus the Government of Man Pt 2, The Birth of the Kingdom, The Spirit of Dominion, Ruling the Visible World From the Invisible Realm, We Were Born to Rule, But Not Over Each Other, Jesus' Assignment Was to Restore the Kingdom, The Kingdom--Preached In Word, Demonstrated In Power, Understanding Principles of Kingdom Culture, Understanding the Kingdom Concept of Culture Pt 1, Understanding the Kingdom Concept of Culture Pt 2, Understanding the Kingdom Concept of Culture Pt 3, Culture and Its Many Manifestations Part 1, Culture and Its Many Manifestations Part 2, Culture and Its Many Manifestations Part 3, Culture and Its Many Manifestations Part 4, The Kingdom: Social and Economic Differences, Kingdom Culture vs The Culture of Christianity, Change Is Inevitable When Obeying the King's Word, Faith in the Written Word and Hardship Pt 1, Faith In the Written Word and Hardship Pt 2, The Principles and Benefits of Purpose Pt 1, The Principles and Benefits of Purpose Pt 2, The Principles and Benefits of Purpose Pt 3, The Principles and Benefits of Purpose Pt 4, The Principles and Benefits of Purpose Pt 5, The Principles and Benefits of Purpose Pt 6, The Principles and Benefits of Purpose Pt 7, The Principles for the Nature of Your Purpose, The Lord Provides for His Purpose, Not for Our Plans Pt1, The Lord Provides for His Purpose, Not for Our Plans Pt 2, It's Imperative That One Knows Their Purpose, Your Purpose is Being Accomplished Through Christ. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. We need to really commit to pray. It is not for you to carry around and have them saying, wow, look at my crown! Your crown is a little small there. Look how many I have. These crowns are not for the purpose of making you feel good about your life on this earth because we are told in Revelation 4:10 that we will go before the throne of God and we will go on our knees and our faces before Him and we will cast our crowns at his feet. 5. When we work our lives and church with our corrupt personal power we are in fact abandoning His power and Fruit. Thank you for the strength that You give us when our flesh just does not have it. Verses 9 and 10 also go on to tell us a third thing we need to remember in order to suffer well. I understand. He can walk right through it with them. Ask God to strengthen your faith so that you can endure the suffering in your own life more victoriously. I was ready to share Christ with anybody and, you know, I could handle this lady. Kingdom 103: Your Goals, His Purposeand Then What? The church in Smyrna faced bitter persecution and death, yet it emitted a fragrant testimony of faithful commitment to . As believers, we should expect persecution and suffering in this life. He does not like it and he will unleash his wrath on this church or any group of believers because he does not want you to grow. For instance, telling them that they were practicing cannibalism because they were partaking of the Lords Supper, eating of the body of Christ, drinking His blood. A person spends 35 pence from a small stall. Judaism Revelation 2:11a - "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.". Each of the letters to the churches is directly from Jesus and includes a piece of the description about Jesus from Revelation 1. Jesus was reminding these suffering Christians in Smyrna who may be facing death in the near future. You see, Smyrna had a lot of religions. The Message to the Church at Smyrna. That is all they have done, but your spiritual life continues on forever. You are so in love with the Lord. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! Father, I pray that we would be people who suffer well, who would please you in a way that we handle anything that comes up. Absolutely nothing is hidden from our all-knowing, all-seeing God. The letter to the church at Smyrna is unique for several reasons. What harm can it do? That is the kind of pressure, a suffocating pressure that they are under.