WEDNESDAY
Yesterday we say that Jesus had nothing good to say to the church in Laodicea. They were incredibly wealthy materially, but at the same time, incredibly impoverished spiritually. The good news is that they can buy (for free) from Jesus what they need to remedy their situation.
Laodecia is a negative example as Jesus says nothing positive about them. Alternatively Smyrna is a positive example. Jesus only says positive things about them.
Smyrna was a beautiful city. In AD 26 or 27 a temple was built for emperor Tyberias, his mother and the senate. Smyrna became a center for the imperial cult. Inscriptions honored Domitian as emperor, high priest and son of god. The city boasted of a temple to the goddess Cybele, Zeus, Tyche, and Dionysus. In 155, about 60-70 years after Revelation was written, Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, was burned at the stake for refusing to call Caesar Lord. The Jews in Smyrna had a hand in his execution.
Revvelation 2:8-11 To the Church in Smyrna
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
This introduction is fitting for a persecuted church. It gives them hope that even in the midst of their persecution Jesus is the first and the last and in him is eternal life. Therefore, no matter what happens to them Jesus is in control and they have eternal life in him even if they are put to death. This could also be an allusion to the history of the city. About 600 years prior the city was destroyed and rebuilt.
9 “ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Contrary to the Laodiceans they are materially poor, but Jesus sees their richness of faith. The term for “tribulations” in v. 9 is broader than just persecution. It refers generally to trials and difficulties in life.
The Jews were likely slandering the Christians by reporting them to the Roman magistrates, ratting them out for not giving allegiance to Caesar. John has strong words for them, calling them the synagogue of Satan, ie. they were doing Satans work by handing the Christians over to be persecuted.
Again, the message is “do not fear”. Just as Jesus says to John when he first sees the image of the glorified Christ in chapter 1. Do not fear! Here they are not to fear what they are about to suffer. The devil is the one working behind the governing bodies who will throw them into prison. This we will see played out in John’s dramatic visions in the coming chapters. This testing and tribulation will be for a relatively brief time, ie. 10 days. This could refer to a specific persecution they are about to face (Polycarp in a few years) or it could refer to all of the persecution the church will face in this era until Jesus returns. It seems best to take it as an immediate application to an impending severe persecution, but we can of course take great comfort in knowing the truth that all tribulation will feel like a short time compared to the eternity of the new creation.
The tribulations that they were facing were likely that they were being imprisoned because they failed to accede to the imperial cult. It could also be that they had they had flouted social conventions deemed necessary to being a good citizen. They were likely poor because they refused to participate in the trade guilds which would have required them to give worship to the emperor and the Greco-Roman gods.
How are the Christians to conquer? Well, they are to remain faithful to Jesus, not denying him or foregoing his way even if they are to face death. Even if it means living a life of poverty they are to worship Jesus alone and not give in to the imperial cult or the trade guilds.
To those who are victories, Jesus will give them the crown of life. They will have eternal life with Jesus. They will reign with him forever in the new creation.
11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
Listen and do. This is a theme we will see throughout the book. The words of Jesus again are the words of the Spirit. They are one and the same. The one who conquers, as we have previously said, will live eternally in the new creation.