Episodes
Monday Sep 19, 2016
Letters to the Church Smyrna
Monday Sep 19, 2016
Monday Sep 19, 2016
Letters to the Church: Smyrna
Revelation 2:8-11
Smyrna (v. 8a)
· A major city in Asia Minor
o Ismir, the third largest city in modern Turkey, is built on the rubble of ancient Smyrna
· Contains a protected harbor and was built upon the slopes of Mount Pagus
· Contained temples to Cybele, Apollo, Aesculapius, Aphrodite, and Zeus
· It was the center of Imperial worship for all Asia
A Vision of Jesus (v. 8b)
· Jesus describes Himself as “the First and the Last” (see Rev. 1:8, 21:6; 22:13)
o A reference to His eternal nature
o Which stands against the temporality of the Church’s suffering
· He is the one who ‘has become dead’ and lives again
o A reference to His ultimate victory
o One in which the Church will share (v. 11b)
“I know…” (v. 9)
· Jesus commends the Smyrnan Christians for their:
o Endurance under persecution
o Perspective in their poverty
§ Because they are rich in Christ
o Fortitude while being slandered
· “Synagogue of Satan”
o Possibly a reference to the “Curse of the Minim” (c. 90 AD), which expelled Jewish Christians from synagogues
Encouragement (v. 10)
· This letter has no correction
· But rather, an encouragement to continue to endure under the growing hardships the Church will face
o Including imprisonment
o And even death
§ Gladiator games
§ Martyrdom of Polycarp (Feb. 23, AD 155)
The Call to Conquer (v. 11)
· Those who endure such tribulation will experience need not fear death
o Because Jesus has conquered it
So What?
· Are we known for our faithful endurance? Have we ever really experienced tribulation?
Meditation Verse: Revelation 2:11
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