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Revelation Bible Study Series: 6. The Epistle to Smyrna
 –
Revelation 2:8-11 1
6. REVELATION SERIES:The Epistle to Smyrna
–
Revelation 2:8-11
 As we have previously seen, the angel
’
s of the various churches are to be recognized asthe elder or elders of the churches, who are protected by the Lord Jesus Christ (1:16,20).For Smyrna this would have been a most comforting message as we shall see.Please Read Revelation 2:8-11
Verse 8:
Smyrna was founded as a Greek colony in about 1000 BC. It was destroyed inaround 600 BC, remaining in ruins for three centuries, until it was rebuilt by Lysimachusand Antigonus between 301-281 BC.The city of Smyrna was located on an arm of the Aegean Sea, some 50km north of Ephesus at the end of an overland caravan route from Lydia, Phrygia and beyond. With apopulation of some 200 000 it claimed on its coinage to be the
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First city of Asia inbeauty and size.
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It boasted a harbor, a stadium, a library, the largest theatre in Asia, atemple to Zeus, a temple to the local form of the goddess Cybele and a temple to theRoman Emperor Tiberius. The
‘
crown of Smyrna,
’
was the group of public buildingslocated on the Hill Pagus that sloped up from the sea. The city also claimed to be thebirthplace of the poet Homer. Smyrna still thrives today as the modern
‘
Izmir,
’
thesecond largest city in Asian Turkey.The apostle Paul during his third missionary journey around the years 53-56 AD,probably founded the church in Smyrna (Acts 19:1ff). A letter from Ignatius to Polycarpand the church, some 20 years after the Revelation, reveals a church organised withPolycarp as bishop, with elders and deacons.Polycarp, who was a disciple of John, was probably bishop of Smyrna at the time of Revelation. He was one of 12 who were martyred for refusing to compromise theirChristian profession by acknowledging Caesar as Lord.
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Eighty six years I have served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my Kingand Saviour? ... You threaten me with fire that burns for an hour, and after a little while is extinguished,but you are ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and of eternal punishment, reserved for the
 
 
Revelation Bible Study Series: 6. The Epistle to Smyrna
 –
Revelation 2:8-11 2
ungodly. But why do you tarry? Bring on what you will.
’
 Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna
Christ
’
s Self-designation to Smyrna also comes from the initial vision and description of Revelation 1:13-18 and is appropriately relevant to the persecuted church. Christ is Hewho is eternal, being before all and after all.Christ was victorious over death, with the Greek laying the stress upon the historicalevents of His death and resurrection.
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He became dead, and lived again
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(cf Rom 14:9; 1Pet 3:18). This would have provided tremendous encouragement and comfort to thechurch in its time of hardship and persecution.
QUESTION:
 
How would Christ
’
s Self-designation have provided needed encouragementand comfort to the afflicted saints in Smyrna? Is there any relevance in this for today?Explain.
 
NOTE: INDIVIDUAL DISCOVERY QUESTIONS HERE
:
Explain how the believers in Smyrna are rich?What is a
‘
synagogue of Satan (2:9)?
’
 
Verse 9:
As with Ephesus, there is a reference here to the omniscience of Christ, as Hewho knows all that is happening in Smyrna (1:13,20; 2:1). The words He speaks arethose of comfort, for he fully understands the situation in Smyrna.The church was undergoing tribulation, suffering persecution at the hands of the Jewishpopulation and the Roman government. They were facing extreme poverty, probably asa result of their persecution (Heb 10:34), having lost all for their loyalty to Christ. Eventhough the believers were in material poverty, they were spiritually rich, having laid upgreat treasure in spiritual fruit and in heaven (Mt 6:20; 19:21; Lk 12:21; 2 Cor 6:10; Jam2:5).They who said that they were
‘
Jews and are not,
’
are they who were the physicaldescendants of Abraham, but who were not believers in Christ. They believedthemselves to be the true people of God, acting zealously for the God of their Fathers.However, true
‘
Jews
’
are they who are so inwardly, being the spiritual descendants of Abraham (Rom 2:28,29; 4:13-16; Jn 8:31-47).The blasphemy of these Jews was that of various slanders, railings and reproachesagainst the work of God in the gospel and His true servants (Acts 13:45). Such slanderingshowed them to be of their Father the Devil (12:9,10; Acts 13:50; 14:2,5,19; 17:5; 24:1;
 
 
Revelation Bible Study Series: 6. The Epistle to Smyrna
 –
Revelation 2:8-11 3
Gal 6:16). As they probably operated out of a synagogue within Smyrna, theseblasphemers are identified as belonging to
‘
a synagogue of Satan,
’
meaning an assemblythat was under the leadership of Satan, carrying out the will of their leader inpersecuting the true church of Christ.
Verse 10:
The Greek here indicates an exhortation to
‘
stop being afraid,
’
suggesting aprevailing atmosphere of fear in the church (Mt 10:27-31). There seems to have been arealisation in the church that greater tribulation was imminent. Yet John tells them notto fear any of those things with which they were to be afflicted.Attention is drawn to the reality of the imminent persecution that Satan would stir up,by which he would throw a number of the believers in Smyrna into prison in order toawait execution. Yet behind this persecution was the sovereign Lord, who would usethis time of persecution for the purpose of testing the faithfulness of the church
’
sprofession. This period of persecution was clearly going to be under the control of God.The ten days of tribulation is not to be seen as a literal ten days, but more likely inkeeping with the symbolism of the book, a period of definite but limited duration (Is26:20; 54:8; Mt 24:22; 2 Cor 4:17; 1 Pet 1:16). This warning of a definite and controlledperiod of persecution is meant to be an encouragement to the church, especially whenit finds itself in the midst of it.The church is exhorted to be faithful, even at the cost of their lives (12:1; Heb 12:3-8;Rom 8:18), for a greater reward awaits them, even the crown of life. This is a symbol of victory, an analogy taken from the games conducted in Smyrna (1 Cor 9:25; Phil 3:14; 2Tim 4:8; Jam 1:12).
QUESTION:
 
How is it possible for the church then, and indeed the church now, to notfear tribulation?
Verse 11:
There is another reference to the regenerated ear here (2:7) and to therelevance of the message to all the churches. Those with spiritual ears will both hearand heed the Spirit
’
s message, a message that will bring such people comfort andencouragement.They who overcome, or rather persevere to the end, are assured that they will not behurt or harmed by the second death. This refers to the issue of real justice, which in thefirst death believers may have been deprived of. For them the assurance is of a right judgment the second time round (20:14; 21:8; Deut 33:6; Is 52:14; 65:6,15; Jer 51:39,57;Lk 12:4,5).
QUESTION:
Explain what you understand of the second death? See also Revelation20:11-15 and 21:6-8.
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