Revelation 2:8-11 | The Faithful Church

Revelation 2:8-11
The Faithful Church

I. Historical background to the church and city

1. City
   1. It is located some thirty-five miles north of Ephesus and was also a seaport city like Ephesus.
   2. Its loyalty to Rome was well known.
      1. The city became the seat of emperor worship, and in AD 26, when several cities were competing for the privilege of erecting a temple in honor of Emperor Tiberius, Smyrna was granted the honor.
      2. Emperor worship amounted to taking a pinch of incense and throwing it on the altar of coals in worship of him once a year.
      3. “This was an enthusiastic center for such because of its close ties with Rome. Under Domitian (a.d. 81–96) emperor worship was made compulsory for every Roman citizen. Failure to comply meant death. Each year every citizen had to burn incense on Caesar’s altar, after which he was issued a certificate. To be without a certificate, as must have been the case for Christians obedient to Christ, was to risk discovery and the death penalty. About a half-century after John’s time Polycarp was burned alive at the age of eighty-six as the “twelfth martyr in Smyrna.” Joining hands with the Romans to oppose Christianity was a very large Jewish community in Smyrna. The Jews repeatedly informed against Christians or incited the local governor to attack them.”^[1]
   3. Some believe the name Smyrna is related to myrrh, a substance used in embalming. That connection fittingly reflects both the city’s name and the suffering the church was facing.
      1. “Σμύρνα (Smyrna) means ‘bitter,’ certainly an appropriate description for the lot of the Christians who lived there. They experienced severe persecution and all the hardships that accompany it. The Greek term is used in the LXX to translate מֹר (mōr) or מוֹר (môr) which means ‘myrrh,’ a resinous gum used as an unguent and for embalming (e.g., Ex. 30:23; Ps. 45:8 [45:9, MT; 45:8, English]; Cant. 5:5, 13). This ‘embalming’ idea suggested by ‘Smyrna’ increases the name’s appropriateness to the church situation in light of the martyrdom for which these saints were apparently destined.”^[2]
         
         
      2. Myrrh emits more of its pleasant scent when it is crushed.
2. Smyrna was known as the crown city.
   1. We will return to this connection at the end of the study.
3. Church
   1. This church was about to be crushed.
   2. It is interesting that the church noted for the crushing persecution is named after a burial spice.
   3. The overall message is faithfulness in persecution.
   4. Church History – Polycarp, a disciple of John whom he appointed as bishop, would have been the pastor at this fellowship.
      1. He was put to death in AD 166. We will read the account of his martyrdom.
   5. In the closing promise, Jesus states that He will give the crown of life to those who overcome.

II. v. 8 Jesus reveals Himself to the Church

⁸ And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, “These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:”^[3]

1. Jesus writes to special circumstances and reveals Himself in such a way that it would have special meaning to the church.
2. The first and last.
   1. This is the description of Jesus given in Revelation 1:17.
   2. It implies that nothing happens outside the realm of His character and control.
      1. He is there at our conception and at our death. All that takes place in between is known to Him and is a part of His divine plan for us.
   3. Jesus will be around for all time and will be with you in your hour of trouble.
      1. This sovereign rule would have comforted them.
3. We do not go through hard times without Jesus’ presence.
   
   Acts 18:9-10 ⁹ Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; ¹⁰for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”
   
   1. As we consider Jesus’ love, compassion, understanding, authority, and power, we should be comforted by the fact that He will always be with us.
4. The one who was dead.
   1. This is the description given of Jesus in Revelation 1:18.
   2. Jesus had been faithful unto death and isn’t asking them to do anything that He hadn’t first done.
   3. He knew that the crown of life was waiting for them.
   4. He knew how their testimony would serve as a powerful witness to the superiority of the relationship believers have with Christ.
   5. This spiritual life was not worth giving up, even if it meant martyrdom.
5. The one is alive.
   1. He had defeated death and confidently speaks to those now facing martyrdom, telling them not to worry, for He passed through that terrible hour of trial triumphantly.
   2. He was the one who had been martyred and was raised triumphant.
   3. This would serve as a source of comfort for this church, which was getting ready to go through harsh persecution and martyrdom itself.

III. v. 9 The church is commended.

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.

1. The commendation is somewhat inferred from the statements rather than expressly stated.
2. The Lord knew their works.
   1. The Lord is fully aware of how we use time, resources, and talents.
3. Faithful in tribulation.
   1. We will spend our study time on this very topic.
4. They were rich in their poverty.
   1. Better to be spiritually rich and materially poor than to be materially rich and spiritually poor.
5. They were slandered.
   1. The NKJV uses the word “blasphemy,” but a better translation for the English reader would be “slander.”
   2. The early church was accused of performing terrible acts.
      
      “Though the exact nature of the slander is not revealed in the text, some of the characteristic accusations hurled at first- and second-century Christians are fairly well known. These included the charge of cannibalism since Christians were heard to talk about ‘eating the body’ and ‘drinking the blood’ of Christ. Because they had ‘love feasts,’ they were accused of immorality, specifically of an orgiastic nature.”^[4]
      
      
   3. Of course, when you can demonize a group of people, it makes it easier to do them harm.

IV. v. 10 Jesus exhorts the faithful church.

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.

1. Do not fear.
   1. Of course, this would be an insensitive remark to make to someone if there wasn’t some amazing reason not to be fearful.
      1. The reason Jesus was able to say “don’t fear” was the powerful reality and hope of the resurrected life.
   2. This is an amazing command.
      1. Jesus says we should not fear.
      2. It is a given that we would not let the fear of hard times keep us from Jesus, but here He says, “Don’t even be afraid.”
      3. Not because He would take them out of it, but because He would be with them and deliver them from the captivity of death.
   3. Why persecution? Why didn’t Jesus stop it?
      1. God has given man free will and allows him to do wrong while seeking to persuade them to do right.
      2. Historically, the gospel prospers under adversity.
         
         2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. For all those who seek to live godly will suffer persecution.
         
2. Be faithful unto death.
   1. Consider with me for a moment that the whole reason these believers were going to face persecution and death was that they wouldn’t deny Jesus Christ.
      1. Now, in the face of certain death, Jesus says you will die because of me, but make certain you remain faithful in the discharge of your faith even until your last breath.
   2. They were about to watch family, friends, and leaders be brutally killed for their faith.
   3. So, what kind of command is this? Is the Lord being callous and insensitive?
      1. Is he asking them to do something impossible?
      2. Is this somewhat egocentric to ask people to have this kind of devotion to you? NO!!!!
   4. This isn’t the first time the Lord has called His followers to such devotion and commitment.
      1. Jesus had asked Peter to follow Him right after prophesying of the martyrdom he would face for his devotion.
         
         John 21:18-19 ¹⁸ Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish. ¹⁹ This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
         
         
      2. All believers.
         
         Mark 8:35-36 ³⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. ³⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
3. Ten days.
   1. This is a difficult number for us to assign meaning to.
   2. Some have suggested it was a code, or ten stages of persecution down through the ages.
   3. One interesting idea is that these 10 days represented how long they would be incarcerated before being killed in the gladiatorial games.
      
      “More recently, with some merit Hemer has argued, based on inscriptions and ancient literature, that the “ten days” was a period in which those who were to be sent forth in gladiatorial combat were imprisoned. If Hemer’s interpretation is right, then it is conceivable that Christians in Smyrna were actually being forced to enter gladiatorial combat or, at least, to be the targets of such combat.”^[5]
      1. We cannot be certain, but this is an interesting suggestion.
4. I want to spend the rest of our time considering this faithfulness that Jesus so boldly and definitely called Peter, the church at Smyrna, and all believers to.

V. What is faithfulness?

1. Definition.
   1. πιστός pertaining to being worthy of belief or trust, trustworthy, faithful, dependable, inspiring trust/faith^[6]
   2. So, the essence of this word is to carry out and accomplish what has been commanded and entrusted to us.
   3. Keeping the commands He has given us is part of faithfulness, of being a witness, and of fulfilling the ministry He has called us to.
   4. Faithfulness is not only measured by our willingness to die, but also by the simple obedience to what Jesus has called us to.
2. Areas that test our faithfulness.
   1. To be the husband or wife God has called you to.
   2. To be the parent.
   3. To be a witness at work.
   4. To walk in uprightness.
   5. To obey the call upon your life.

VI. Faithfulness in tribulation.

1. I’m sure the temptation to take a pinch of incense and burn it on the altar of Caesar would have been tremendous.
   1. These ideas would have easily come to mind: “Don’t share your faith, don’t let them know you are a Christian, and don’t be bold about not partaking in the idolatry of the people.”
   2. Yet Christ expected that they would.
2. We have an account from about AD 111-113 of Pliny corresponding with Trajan about how to deal with Christians.
   1. Bust of Trajan.
      
      
      
      
   2. In this letter exchange, Pliny informed Emperor Trajan that if Christians recanted after three interrogations, they should escape punishment.
   3. To recant, one had to offer incense as illustrated in the image below.
      
      
      
      
   4. Pliny states that, “Those who denied that they were or had been Christians, when they invoked the gods in words dictated by me, offered prayer with incense and wine to your image, which I had ordered to be brought for this purpose together with statues of the gods, and moreover cursed Christ–none of which those who are really Christians, it is said, can be forced to do–these I thought should be discharged.”^[7]
   5. If believers would not recant, Pliny had them executed.
   6. Due to this persecution, Pliny spoke happily of the return to the temples and of purchasing animals to worship again.^[i]
3. The Lord called them to be faithful unto death.
   1. Take it all the way. Don’t allow anything in this life— even life itself—to keep you from being true to what I have called you to and you have committed to follow.
   2. Jesus feels that if we are unwilling to die to the pleasures of this life or to die at all, that we are not worthy of Him.
      
      Matthew 10:37-38 ³⁷ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁸ And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
      
      
   3. Remember, Jesus was called “the faithful witness” in Revelation 1:5.
   4. Polycarp
      
      “But when the magistrate pressed him hard and said, ‘Swear the oath, and I will release thee; revile the Christ,’ Polycarp said, ’86 years have I been His servant, and He hath done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?’ But on his persisting again and saying, ‘Swear by the genius of Caesar,’ he answered, ‘If thou supposes vainly that I will swear by the genius of Caesar, as thou sayest, and feignest that thou art ignorant who I am, hear thou plainly, I am a Christian. But if thou would learn the doctrine of Christianity, assign a day and give me a hearing.’ The proconsul said; ‘Prevail upon the people.’ But Polycarp said; ‘As for thyself, I should have held thee worthy of discourse; for we have been taught to render, as is meet, to princes and authorities appointed by God such honor as does us no harm; but as for these, I do not hold them worthy, that I should defend myself before them.’ Whereupon the proconsul said; ‘I have wild beasts here and I will throw thee to them, except thou repent’ But he said, ‘Call for them: for the repentance from better to worse is a change not permitted to us; but it is a noble thing to change from ungodliness to righteousness’ Then he said to him again, ‘I will cause thee to be consumed by fire, if you despise the wild beasts, unless thou repent.’ But Polycarp said; You threaten that fire which burneth for a season and after a little while is quenched: for you are ignorant of the fire of the future judgment and eternal punishment, which is reserved for the ungodly. But why delay? Come, do what you will.’  These things then happened with so great speed, quicker than words could tell, the crowds forthwith collecting from the workshops and baths timber and logs, and the Jews more especially assisting in this with zeal, as is their wont. ….the firemen lighted the fire. And, a mighty flame flashing forth, were to whom it was given to see, saw a marvel, yea and we were preserved that we might relate to the rest what happened. The fire, making the appearance of a vault, like the sail of a vessel filled by the wind, made a wall round about the body of the martyr; and it was there in the midst, not like flesh burning, but like [a loaf in the oven or like] gold and silver refined in a furnace. For we perceived such a fragrant smell, as if it were the wafted odor of frankincense or some other precious spice. So at length the lawless men, seeing that his body could not be consumed by the fire, ordered an executioner to go up to him and stab him with a dagger. And when he had done this, there came forth [a dove and] a quantity of blood, so that it extinguished the fire;”^[8]
      
4. I get concerned when I see so many who once confessed Jesus as the Lord and Savior denying Him.
   1. Not with words but with lifestyle.
      1. I am not talking about the Christian who struggles, falls, and gets back up.
      2. I am talking about the person who stops fighting, has accepted disobedience as part of their life, and has justified it as no big deal.
   2. Trials, cares of this world, and emptiness all seem to be major contributing factors to the denial of Christ.

VII. vv. 10b-11 Jesus’ promise to the church.

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 to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.

1. Give the crown of life.
   1. James 1:12 makes reference to this crown for believers.
   2. It signifies eternal life.
      
      “The crown promised here is the stephanos, the victor’s crown, as opposed to the diadēma or diadem. The stephanos was not worn by royalty, at least not as a sign of that position, but rather was awarded to the athlete who had won an athletic event. In other words, it was a ‘winner’s crown,’ and the Smyrnans are invited to see themselves, whatever their sufferings, not as losers but as winners.”^[9]
      
      
   3. It is interesting, as mentioned in the opening, that this city was referred to as “the crown of Smyrna.”^[ii]
      
      
      
      
   4. Even coins were minted of Smyrna showing a crown upon the patron goddess, Tyche of the city.
      
      
      
      
   5. Those who served as municipal officers or priests in the cult were called crown wearers (stephanerphoros).
      1. “The priests of the Imperial Cult wore their crowns (coronatus) with the image of Caesar Augustus on them. The municipal officer or priests of this cult were called stephanephoros (to wear a crown; Philostratus, Lives of the Sophists 2.26).”^[10]
   6. While this city was going to take life from these believers, not allowing them to enjoy the benefits of being citizens of this illustrious city, Jesus promised they still would in the end.
   7. I will crown you victorious.
   8. This reminds us of the perspective that this world is passing away, but the believer will endure forever.
   9. Never give up what endures forever for that which will fade away.
2. Keep from the second death.
   1. The second death is eternal death in the lake of fire (Rev 20:14; 21:8).
   2. If a person is born once, they will die twice; but if they are born twice and die, they will die only once.
3. This church was facing physical death, but the one who had conquered death is promising victory over the second death.

VIII. Conclusion

1. Know that God has a wonderful life for me in heaven. It can be realized only through faithful commitment to Him.
2. Realize that Satan is seeking to elicit a denial of Christ from your life.
3. Remember that hard times have been promised.
   1. Jesus never told us that we should expect to have a life free from difficulty, trials, and persecution.
   2. If we do not see these presents in our lives, then it is an unusual time. The Church in America has experienced a blessed time of rest and peace that has enabled her to take the gospel around the world.
   3. But this peace and rest have caused many of us to expect only peace and rest through circumstances.
   4. Many times, I have heard statements that speak of ceasing to follow Christ because it is too hard. It includes ideas like God not being there to make their life smooth and easy.
      1. God never promised smooth and easy; He promised rough and bumpy, but with His presence.
      2. To quit following Christ is to reject His presence in your life now and consequently eternity.

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^[1] Robert Thomas, Revelation 1-7: An Exegetical Commentary (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1992), 160.

^[2] Ibid., 158.

^[3] All Scripture quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

^[4] Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 96.

^[5] Ibid., 98.

^[6] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 820.

^[7] Pliny the Younger, Letters, 10.96.5.

^[8] Martyrdom of Polycarp, 9–16.

^[9] Paige Patterson, Revelation, 99.

^[10] David Graves, “Jesus Speaks to Seven of His Churches,” ed. Bryant G. Wood, Bible and Spade 23, no. 2 (2010): 50.

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END NOTES

^[i] Pliny, Letters 10.96-97

Pliny to the Emperor Trajan

It is my practice, my lord, to refer to you all matters concerning which I am in doubt. For who can better give guidance to my hesitation or inform my ignorance? I have never participated in trials of Christians. I therefore do not know what offenses it is the practice to punish or investigate, and to what extent. And I have been not a little hesitant as to whether there should be any distinction on account of age or no difference between the very young and the more mature; whether pardon is to be granted for repentance, or, if a man has once been a Christian, it does him no good to have ceased to be one; whether the name itself, even without offenses, or only the offenses associated with the name are to be punished.

Meanwhile, in the case of those who were denounced to me as Christians, I have observed the following procedure: I interrogated these as to whether they were Christians; those who confessed I interrogated a second and a third time, threatening them with punishment; those who persisted I ordered executed. For I had no doubt that, whatever the nature of their creed, stubbornness and inflexible obstinacy surely deserve to be punished. There were others possessed of the same folly; but because they were Roman citizens, I signed an order for them to be transferred to Rome.

Soon accusations spread, as usually happens, because of the proceedings going on, and several incidents occurred. An anonymous document was published containing the names of many persons. Those who denied that they were or had been Christians, when they invoked the gods in words dictated by me, offered prayer with incense and wine to your image, which I had ordered to be brought for this purpose together with statues of the gods, and moreover cursed Christ–none of which those who are really Christians, it is said, can be forced to do–these I thought should be discharged. Others named by the informer declared that they were Christians, but then denied it, asserting that they had been but had ceased to be, some three years before, others many years, some as much as twenty-five years. They all worshipped your image and the statues of the gods, and cursed Christ.

They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so. When this was over, it was their custom to depart and to assemble again to partake of food–but ordinary and innocent food. Even this, they affirmed, they had ceased to do after my edict by which, in accordance with your instructions, I had forbidden political associations. Accordingly, I judged it all the more necessary to find out what the truth was by torturing two female slaves who were called deaconesses. But I discovered nothing else but depraved, excessive superstition.

I therefore postponed the investigation and hastened to consult you. For the matter seemed to me to warrant consulting you, especially because of the number involved. For many persons of every age, every rank, and also of both sexes are and will be endangered. For the contagion of this superstition has spread not only to the cities but also to the villages and farms. But it seems possible to check and cure it. It is certainly quite clear that the temples, which had been almost deserted, have begun to be frequented, that the established religious rites, long neglected, are being resumed, and that from everywhere sacrificial animals are coming, for which until now very few purchasers could be found. Hence it is easy to imagine what a multitude of people can be reformed if an opportunity for repentance is afforded.

Trajan to Pliny

You observed proper procedure, my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those who had been denounced to you as Christians. For it is not possible to lay down any general rule to serve as a kind of fixed standard. They are not to be sought out; if they are denounced and proved guilty, they are to be punished, with this reservation, that whoever denies that he is a Christian and really proves it–that is, by worshiping our gods–even though he was under suspicion in the past, shall obtain pardon through repentance. But anonymously posted accusations ought to have no place in any prosecution. For this is both a dangerous kind of precedent and out of keeping with the spirit of our age.

^[ii]