Verses 8-11 (Smyrna)
The Persecuted Church
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;
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.
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.
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.
The name "Smyrna" means "myrrh" or "sweet scent." It represents the period of the persecuted Christian church, from around AD 100 until around AD 313.
15. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Description of Christ
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;
The knowledge that Christ is conqueror over death and the grave was the only true comfort for Christians during this period.
Tribulation
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.
There is comfort in the thought that Jesus knows. "I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty." "I know the blasphemy" of professed brothers and sisters in Christ, and of their betrayal. I know; fear not.
36. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38. (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
These persecutions, beginning under Nero about the time of the martyrdom of Paul, continued with greater or less fury for centuries... Great numbers were thrown to wild beasts or burned alive in the amphitheaters. Some were crucified; others were covered with the skins of wild animals and thrust into the arena to be torn by dogs. Their punishment was often made the chief entertainment at public fetes. Vast multitudes assembled to enjoy the sight and greeted their dying agonies with laughter and applause.
Wherever they sought refuge, the followers of Christ were hunted like beasts of prey. They were forced to seek concealment in desolate and solitary places... The catacombs afforded shelter for thousands. Beneath the hills outside the city of Rome, long galleries had been tunneled through earth and rock; the dark and intricate network of passages extended for miles beyond the city walls. In these underground retreats the followers of Christ buried their dead; and here also, when suspected and proscribed, they found a home. When the Life-giver shall awaken those who have fought the good fight, many a martyr for Christ's sake will come forth from those gloomy caverns. (GC 40)
Poor, yet rich
How can one be poor, yet rich?
10. As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
The persecuted Christians in the Roman Empire may have seemed poor and despised in the eyes of the world, yet they made others rich. They gave their lives as a witness for Christ. The world was made richer because of them, "of whom the world was not worthy" (Hebrews 11:38).
Trouble from the inside
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.
Smyrna not only suffered persecution from the outside. There was persecution from the inside as well.
Who were the people referred to in the letter to Smyrna? Here are their characteristics:
- They speak blasphemy.
- They say they are Jews, but they are not.
- They belong to the synagogue of Satan.
They speak blasphemy. Several types of blasphemy are identified in the Bible:
- Cursing God expressly (Lev. 24:10-16)
- Recognizing other gods (Isaiah 65:7; Ezekiel 20:27-28)
- Claiming to be above God (2 Kings 18:31-37; 19:1-6,22)
- Claiming to be God (John 10:33,36).
- Claiming to forgive sins (Mark 2:7; Luke 5:21).
- Oppressing and maligning God's church (Isaiah 52:4,5; Ezekiel 35:12)
- Imputing God's work to the devil (Matthew 12:24-31; Mark 3:22-30)
- Mocking God (Luke 22:64-65)
- Speaking in opposition to God's Word (Acts 13:45; 18:6)
- Acting contrary to God's law, making others to blaspheme (Rom. 2:21-24)
They say they are Jews. In Biblical language, this means that they claim to be converted believers in Christ.
29. 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.
29. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
39. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
But they are not. In other words, they are lying. Just like the Jews in Jesus' time, these pretentious believers did not act like true Christians. Even though they apparently belonged to Christian church, they actually were part of the synagogue of Satan.
44. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
There have ever been two classes among those who profess to be followers of Christ. While one class study the Saviour's life and earnestly seek to correct their defects and conform to the Pattern, the other class shun the plain, practical truths which expose their errors. Even in her best estate the church was not composed wholly of the true, pure, and sincere. GC 43.2
Encouragement
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.
The ten days represent ten years (See the Day-Year Principle). Christians suffered persecution from as early as the days of the apostles. Between 303 and 313 they suffered one of the most violent and persecutions under the Emperor Diocletian. It was also one of the most extended geographically.
The persecution extended into all the Roman governments, but more particularly in the eastern provinces, and as it lasted ten years, it is impossible to ascertain the number martyred, or to enumerate the various modes by which they were made to suffer. Many were beheaded in Arabia; many devoured by wild beasts in Phenicia; great numbers were broiled on gridirons in Syria; others had their bones broken, and in that manner were left to expire; in Cappadocia, and in Mesopotamia, several were hung with their heads downward over a slow fire. In Pontus a variety of tortures were used ; in particular, pins were thrust under the nails, melted lead was poured upon them, but all these torments were to no effect. In Egypt some Christians were drowned in the Nile, others were hung in the air till they perished, and great numbers were consumed with fire. Scourges, racks, swords, daggers, poison, crosses, and famine were used in various places to despatch the Christians. Phrygia, a town consisting wholly of Christians, was surrounded by soldiers, to prevent any from escaping, and then set on fire, and all the inhabitants perished in the flames. After this persecution had continued for several years, many of the provincial governors, weary of the repeated scenes of suffering that they had been compelled to witness, addressed the emperor, beseeching him to withdraw his edict, and stop the effusion of blood. With these requests he complied, and this long and cruel persecution was at length brought to a close. (John Fox, Book of Martyrs, Hurst & Company Publishers, pp. 49-50)
Promise
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.
The death we experience in this world is the first death; it is a deep sleep until the resurrection morning.
25. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
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.
The second death will be experienced only by those who have refused the gift of eternal life.
14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
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.