As I shared last week, I recently had the opportunity to speak on Revelation 2:8-11, and I found it both inspiring and convicting. These verses give us a glimpse into the church in Smyrna and how their members were willing to give their all for Christ.
Revelation 2 contains the letters that were written to four of the seven churches in Asia located in modern day Turkey. The other three churches are addressed in Chapter 3. John has some condemnation in his letters to five of those churches…telling them what would happen if they didn’t change some of their ways…but two of the churches received no criticism and those churches were in Smyrna and Philadelphia.
Verses 8-11 contain the Apostle John’s letter to the Smyrna church as he conveys what the Lord wants them to know. I was curious as to what was happening at that time and why these Christ-followers weren’t criticized. Was it because everything was going swimmingly in their lives with no problems? Hardly so.
Revelation 2:8-11 says,
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.”
Smyrna was one of the most beautiful cities of its day. Some historians even debate that Smyrna was the most elegant city that the Grecians ever built. The city sloped down toward the sea and along the sides of the hill was a very large amphitheater where over twenty-thousand people could sit. It was in this amphitheater that worship to Caesar took place.
The problems began for the Christians who refused to worship Caesar. They became marked men and were noted as traitors to the government. To be a Christian during this time was to have your life in jeopardy every.single.day. The tortures that were inflicted on Christians were almost unspeakable.
Let me give you a peek into some of the things these Christians endured. Some in the early church were placed in a rack which had chains. Their hands and their feet were chained and every time the believer refused to deny the Lord, the chains were tightened to such an extent that they would be ripped from limb to limb. Others were thrown to hungry lions. Some were covered with animal skins and tortured to death by wild dogs. Some would be covered with tar and set on fire as torches. Others were literally cooked alive in boiling pots of hot oil. Some would be burned at the stake.
Not only were these Christians facing persecution, but they were also extremely poor. Now, Smyrna was one of the richest cities in Ancient Rome, but these Christ followers had been reduced to being beggars. Remember I said that they were marked people because they refused to worship Caesar, so as a result, they were deprived of the right to work. No trade union would have them. No business would hire them. They were boycotted at every turn… so they lived in destitution.
The pressure that this church was under was unimaginable. However, it seems that they endured all of this without complaining. How amazing is that? It’s one thing to suffer because of our wrongful actions…but to suffer wrongfully and still have a good attitude…is an entirely different situation. It takes it to a whole new level. No wonder Jesus didn’t have condemnation for them in this letter.
This made me ask myself, “How am I at “suffering” for Christ?” Fortunately, any suffering I might go through at this point, doesn’t hold a candle to what these brothers and sisters faced in Smyrna. But regardless, when times arise when I endure pain because of my faith, do I go through it without complaining…or am I constantly whining and acting like a spoiled brat?
Another question that came to my mind was, “If I’m not going through suffering because of my faith in Christ…is that because no one can even tell I’m a follower of His?” Because as long as I’m not looking any different than the unsaved…Satan has no reason to try and derail me.
I realize these are some “heavy” thoughts to start our week…but I believe that time is of the essence, and it is so important that we are giving everything we have to follow Christ. Others are watching and if we aren’t showing them Jesus…who will?
Let’s pay attention this week to see if we are prone to whine and complain on our journey with the Lord. Can others even tell we are Christians…or do our actions and reactions look more like the world? Others are watching and they need to see Jesus in us…or they may never see Him at all.
Until next week…
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