SMYRNA: Faithfulness in Suffering
8 To the angel of the church in Smyrna write, 'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and
came to life: 9 "I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy
of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear any of those things
which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be
tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until 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. He who overcomes shall not be
hurt by the second death."' (Rev. 2:8-11)
I. THE PRIMARY MESSAGE
The church of Smyrna was a persecuted church. Jesus called them to fearlessness and faithfulness that would require
some of them to die for their faith. He honored them for their enduring persecution and financial poverty. He told them
that more persecution was coming but promised them the crown of life.
II. THE CHURCH OF SMYRNA
A. Smyrna was a large harbor city on the Aegean Sea (west coast of modern Turkey) with over 100,000 residents. It
continues today as the city of Izmir with a population of about 200,000. This heavily persecuted city is the only city of the
seven mentioned in Rev. 2-3, that still exists today. Satan could not stamp out their testimony. It was one of the most
beautiful cities in Asia being referred to in the ancient world as “the Crown of Asia” or “the Flower of Asia. It was a
prosperous harbor with many roads connecting it to the major cities of Asia.
B. All were required by law to worship at a pagan temple. The most prominent were the temples to Zeus and the
goddess Cybele. Emperor worship was a unifying factor in the Roman Empire. Once a year, all were required to burn
incense on an altar for Caesar. Christians who refused to participate in this were considered criminals of the state.
They were burned at the stake or killed by wild beasts. There was a large influential Jewish population who persecuted
the church.
III. JESUS’ REVELATION OF HIMSELF
8 These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life… (Rev. 2:8)
A. The First and the Last – refers back to Rev. 1:17-18 and is mentioned seven times (Isa. 41:4; 44:6; 48:12;
Rev. 1:8, 17; 2:8; 22:13). In Isaiah (3x) and Revelation (4x). He is the “First” source of all blessing and is the “Last” to
stand. This assures us that all His promises will come to pass. The beginning and end of the His plan for our life are
in His loving powerful hands.
B. Jesus was dead, and came to life – to a church with martyrs, Jesus revealed Himself as a man who died but
conquered death. Jesus as the eternal God who was “First” became a man who embraced the pain of death and as
One with the power over it. He experienced the worst that men can do to us and triumphed over it. Jesus understands
what His people go through.
IV. AFFIRMATION FOR FAITHFULNESS
9 I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews
and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (Rev. 2:9)
A. I know your works and tribulation – Jesus saw their labors in ministry in the midst of on-going tribulation or
persecution especially by the Jews.
B. I know your poverty – the persecution caused them to lose business opportunities as well as their property,
leaving many of them in financial poverty.
32 You endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and
tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated…34 and joyfully accepted the
plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.
(Heb. 10:32-34)
C. Scripture teaches us to expect persecution (Jn 16:33; Acts 14:22).
12 All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (2 Tim. 3:12)
D. The End-Time persecution will greatly affects finances.
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their
foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number
of his name. (Rev. 13:16-17)
E. Jesus will show forth His ownership over gold in the End-Times as He transfers wealth.
7 “I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations (Jesus)…8 The silver is Mine, and the gold
is Mine,” says the LORD of hosts. (Hag. 2:7-8)
F. But you are rich – they were spiritually rich in God. In Lk. 12, Jesus taught a parable about the foolishness of
neglecting to acquire riches in God. They were spiritually rich though financially poor (1 Pet. 1:6; 4:13-14). This was
the opposite condition of the Laodicean church who boasted of their financial wealth but were spiritually poor (Rev. 3:17).
Smyrna was a poor-yet- rich church whereas Laodicea was a rich-yet-poor church.
21 He who lays up treasure for himself…is not rich toward God. (Lk. 12:21)
G. Poverty is not a sign of spirituality. However, often the poor are more eager to follow and the rich continue to find it
harder to enter the Kingdom initially as well as in the deeper aspects of it.
5 Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith…? (Jas 2:5)
10 As poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing yet possessing all things. (2 Cor 6:10)
23 Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter (initially and progressively) the kingdom of heaven.
24 Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom
of God. (Mt. 19:23-24)
H. I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not – Jesus was aware of the Jewish people who claimed
to be God’s chosen and to honor His Word but in reality served Satan. The apostle Paul was like one of these Jews but
God showed him mercy (1 Tim. 1:13).
I. The synagogue of Satan – they denied Jesus’ divinity and resurrection and considered His miracles as being done
by Satan. Jesus referred to this as blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Mt. 12:24-32). A synagogue of Satan is one which
actively persecutes worshippers of Jesus. Some were Jews from the seed of Abraham physically but were spiritually
of Satan.
44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. (Jn. 8:44)
32 Whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him… (Mt. 12:32)
V. CORRECTION FOR COMPROMISE – NONE
A. Jesus gave no rebuke to this church because in pressure they remained faithful. Only two of the seven
churches in Rev. 2-3, have no correction (Smyrna and Philadelphia). In their trials they remained pure in belief
and behavior.
B. It is noteworthy that the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia were the only ones that received no correction
and were also the only ones afflicted by a “synagogue of Satan”.
VI. EXHORTATION TO RESPOND
10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison,
that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death… (Rev. 2:10)
A. The devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested – Jesus wanted them to know that
some would face prison and even death. Jesus said it would happen to prepare them. They were imprisoned for refusing
to worship the Emperor as God. History tells us that Jews reported Christians to the Roman authorities as being criminals
of Rome.
1 These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues;
yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service….4 These things I have told you, that
when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them… (Jn. 16:1-4)
B. This persecution is clearly the work of Satan. Satan inspired evil men to imprison some of them to tempt them to
draw back from their faithfulness to Jesus. Satan worked behind the scenes with these apostate Jews to imprison
Christians. God allowed Satan to do this as He allowed Job to be tested (Job 1). Even John the Baptist was put into
prison by men inspired by Satan.
C. The Lord delivers some from prison like Peter (Acts 5:19; 12:7-11), yet allows some others to die in prison like
James and John the Baptist (Mk. 6:27; (Acts 12:2). Paul was imprisoned and delivered then imprisoned again
(Acts 16:24-27; 22:4; 26:10; 2 Cor.11:23).
D. Jesus allows imprisonment of His servants to magnify His testimony through their faithfulness. It tests the depth of one’s
love for Jesus and thus openly proves the worthiness of Jesus to them.
6 Now for a little while…you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more
precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of
Jesus Christ, (1 Pet. 1:6-7)
40 They had called for the apostles and beaten them…41 They departed…rejoicing that they were counted worthy to
suffer shame for His name. (Acts 5:40-41)
E. Be faithful until death – there will be many with the grace of martyrdom in the End-Times. The Church must be
established in the NT theology of martyrdom. Satan overcomes many saints physically in martyrdom yet in this they
overcome him spiritually by victorious love for Jesus.
7 It was granted (by God) to him (Antichrist) to make war with the saints and to overcome them (physically through
martyrdom). Authority was given him over every…nation (Rev. 13:7)
11 They (martyred saints) overcame him (Antichrist) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony,
and they did not love their lives to the death. (Rev. 12:11)
2 I saw…those who have the victory over the Beast (Antichrist)…having harps... (Rev. 15:2)
F. You will have tribulation ten days – this can be taken both literally and prophetically. Some point to the literal ten day
period of the gladiatorial contests in which Christians were thrown to the wild beasts. There is nothing in the text that
leads us to interpret the number ten in a symbolic way. Some see this as prophetically speaking of the ten periods of
persecutions under the Roman Emperors (from Nero to Diocletian) in which Christians suffered great persecution. The
length of their trial was ten days. In other words, it was short in comparison with eternal blessings.
G. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer – They did not need to fear death because they
would live forever (Mt. 10:28).
VII. PROMISE FOR OVERCOMERS
10 Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says…
He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. (Rev. 2:10-11)
A. I will give you the crown of life – this is not the same as the gift of eternal life that all born again believers receive
by faith. This is a special reward specifically for enduring persecution that results in enabling one to experience more
of God’s glory (2 Cor. 4:16-18).
16 Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory… (2 Cor. 4:16-17)
B. Each believer will experience varying measures of God’s life (presence) in the age to come. God’s Eternal
Life has an infinite measure of glory. The crown of life refers to experiencing fuller dimensions of God’s life or glory.
The crown of life parallels the tree of life (Rev.2:7).
C. In our resurrected body we will all have different spiritual capacities and abilities.
41 There is one glory of the sun…another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 42 So
also is the resurrection of the dead. (1 Cor. 15:41-42)
D. God will only give the crown of life to believers who are approved as worthy of it. This crown is not related to
salvation but to our place of function in His Kingdom (government/infrastructure).
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved (found consistent), he will receive
the crown of life…promised to those who love Him. (Jas 1:12)
E. There are nine NT references to the crown that a believer may receive from the Lord. Twice the crown is referred to
with the descriptive title the “crown of life” (Jas 1:12, Rev 2:10); once the “crown of righteousness” (2 Tim. 4:8); and once
the “crown of glory” (1 Pet. 5:4). The different titles probably refer to different nuances of the same reward (1 Cor. 9:5,
Rev 3:11, 4:8).
F. This eternal reward included the increased capacity to experience and impart God’s life (zoe), glory or the
anointing of the Spirit. The authority to impart God’s life or anointing in our ministry to others in the age-to-come is an
aspect of the crown of life. There will be great joy in having the grace to participate in ministry assignments that are
especially near and dear to Jesus.
G. There are two Greek words describing two different types of crowns in the New Testament. One is the crown
of a ruler (Gr. diadem), the other is the crown of a victor (Gr., stephanos) who won a race in the Greek athletic games.
The Greek word “stephanos” is used in Jas 1:12. Crowns of authority are only given to those who endure in resisting
temptation until the end.
10 Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Rev. 2:10)
11 Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. (Rev. 3:11)
H. We must see the relationship of being challenged by our hardships to receiving eternal rewards.
16 Our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed…17 For our affliction …is working for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory… (2 Cor. 4:16-17)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be
revealed in us. (Rom. 8:18)
6 You have been grieved by trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith…though it is tested by fire, may be found to
praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ… (1 Pet. 1:6-7)
I. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death – the second death is separation from God in the lake
of fire forever (Rev. 20:1, 14). To overcome is to remain faithful in persecution. The saints were hurt relationally,
financially and physically by staying faithful to Jesus. Jesus assured them that although the first death ‘hurt’ them briefly,
the second death will not hurt them at all!”
J. On the most terrifying day when the second death is administered, all will see that the works done in faithful love
for Jesus are safe. This is when persecutors will see the fullness of what they lost by persecuting the Church.
K. The Judgment Seat of Christ and then the second death show forth the “great reversal” in history when righteousness
is seen as wise and valuable and sin is seen as a terrible waste of life. Jesus assures those persecuted that they were
not in jeopardy of suffering any permanent loss. It is better to suffer the first death as a martyr, than to suffer the second
death.
L. The second death is mentioned four times (Rev. 2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8). The first death is the death of our physical
body. The spirit of the unbeliever goes to Sheol (Hebrew) or Hades (Greek).
VIII. SUMMARY OF JESUS’ MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH OF SMYRNA
A. Jesus affirmed their endurance and then urged them to be fearless and faithful even to death.
B. Some see the church of Smyrna as prophetically referring to the period of the martyrs under the Roman
emperors (100-313 AD) until Constantine declared Christianity to be the official state religion of the Roman Empire in
313 AD. The ten persecutions under Rome in this period:
1. Nero (54-68 AD)
2. Domitian (81-96 AD)
3. Trajan (98-117 AD)
4. Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD)
5. Septimus Serverus (202-211 AD)
6. Maximinus (235-238 AD)
7. Decius (249-253 AD)
8. Valerian (257-260 AD)
9. Aurelian (270-275 AD)
10. Diocletian (303-313 AD)