In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. If they kill you, they just ended your physical life. Finally, one of the soldiers took his sword and he ended the life of this great martyr, Polycarp. My prayer for us is that we would suffer well. In this same verse, Jesus offers great comfort to His church by assuring them that He is the God who sees, knows, and cares about their troubles. Maybe someone you love is hurting. Look at the conversation between Jesus and the Jews in John 8:31-47. So, how is He involved in your church? The Church of Smyrna: A Study of Revelations - A Beautiful Mess I had a conversation Sunday morning before church with a good friend here. Do not be afraid. He looks for people who oh, lets see, boy, shes always critical. She is always a gossip. She is always kind of stirring up the pot about one of the leaders saying I do not like the way he is doing this or I do not think they should. Be careful, because he is looking for someone he can just grab and go, yeah, build on that, talk that up in your church, yeah, talk about that leader. Smyrna covers the second church period from approximately from 100 C. E. to 323 C. E.; the Age of Martyrdom, 200-250 years during the second and third centuries C. E. And finally, Smyrna was the only congregation besides Philadelphia that did not receive admonishment from Jesus. Finally, Jesus warns His people to expect more suffering, persecution, and testing. martyr, one who voluntarily suffers death rather than deny their religion by words or deeds; such action is afforded special, institutionalized recognition in most major religions of the world. Why would there be a need to be tested further? What is in the way of my listening to God? If we are going to suffer well we need to remember these five things: Probably the closest that I have ever come to being persecuted for my faith was as a senior in college at LSU. 3. We can have confidence as believers that we will spend eternity with God and not face the second death. In verse 11 he says, He who overcomes and again last week we talked about who the overcomer is. The second instruction He gives them is to be faithful until death. He has witnessed their continual affliction and the slander theyve suffered from those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. The fact that these hardships have not escaped their Saviors attention surely would have strengthened the Body and served as a loving reminder of Jesuss abiding presence. Faith and fear are opposites. How does knowing that Christ, the Creator and Lord of the universe, approves you help you cope with "feeble mortals" telling you dishonorable things? Even Jesuss greeting to the church reveals His loving, personal care. Smyrna - The Seven Churches of Revelation! - Bible Study It is emphatic in the Greek. If not, talk to your small group leader or myself, and we will be glad to answer any questions. Ask God to strengthen your faith so that you can endure the suffering in your own life more victoriously. He wants to stop us. Well, Smyrna lay 40 miles almost due north of Ephesus. What Does God Say about the Church at Smyrna? It reminds us of five things that we must remember if we are going to suffer well. If this was your church, what could be done to make sure it did not die but be revived to its formerly healthy and vibrant ways? All Christians cannot stand on their own feet and you could not do this if you had to. You know, I was just going to let her know and express that I am glad you are going to hell. Ask what you dare if you will let me. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. It has been described as the most beautiful of the seven cities. Whatever it is, it is a hard season of life. What was Jesus' message to the church in Smyrna in Revelation? Why does God allow Satan to bring tribulation in our lives if God is ultimately in control? Smyrna was a large, important city on the western coast of Asia Minor, famed for its schools of medicine and science. It would protect them. So with that context in mind, let's take a look at Revelation 2: 8-11. It was used to embalm the dead in the first century (Jn. At first, the emperors did not want anything to do with it, but by the time Domitian became the Roman emperor, he made it mandatory that all citizens would worship the emperor or face death. But, the second type they were dealing with was poverty. I shut the door and I stood there. My entire senior year was spent at the hospital as we would rotate through labs. If you have ever gone to a funeral or to a visitation and you have looked in a coffin to view the body, you see that physical body, but you know something is missing. I went home that night and I got angrier the more I thought about it. He does not want you to know that Jesus wins and that he loses. Go ahead and turn with me to Revelation 2. Many believe that this church represents the martyrs of all the ages and the sweet-smelling fragrance of their faithfulness until death. He is like a lion prowling around looking for someone he could use. Ancient Smyrna - Drive Thru History She prayed and asked God to give me strength to go in the next day and to handle this the way that Jesus would. Ephesus & Smyrna & Pergamum - Barabbas Road Church in San Diego, CA That is physical death. What do these verses imply about persecution and the believer? (NASB). Rest in His presence. Kingdom 103: Student or Disciple of the Kingdom? This was true of this church, all the seven churches, the church throughout the ages, and churches today. Perfusionists, for some reason, or at least the ones I know, love to drink and party. What the Bible says about Smyrna, Church of - Bible Tools Called: Jude 1-4. Lets pray. I thought, okay we can pray about this. After introducing the first vision, John is commanded to write a letter to seven churches. The members of the Smyrna church, though, are facing persecution because they are more focused on what God thinks than what man thinks. I know your afflictions and your povertyyet you are rich!Followers of Jesus living in Smyrna were seen as a cult and persecuted by the hostile Roman empire. Its streets were wide and paved. Q. In fact, it has been said that more Christians have lived in this region than any other Turkish city in the world. Ch 1 Pt 2, Kingdom 104: Where Are the Masculine-Thinking Men? I do believe that hell is a literal place. I would leave every night saying, God, why do I have to go to these events? because I did not feel like I was having a witness. The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. She was saying you know Crickett God has lain on my heart that because things are going so well right now that we are going to be right in the middle of some spiritual warfare soon, because Satan is not going to like what God is doing. Satan, meaning the devil, will cause citizens of the Kingdom (believers) to be thrown into prison and even killed. I do not want anyone to go there. There was no rebuke for this church and because they were faithful until death, their candlestick has never been removed. 5 Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, June 25. 7. He mentions four ways that this church is suffering because He knows exactly how they are suffering. Based on His intimate awareness of their spiritual condition, Jesus uses these letters to dig deep into the inner workings of each church and flesh out areas of commendation or correction. What was Jesus message to the church in Laodicea in Revelation. Kingdom 103: Your Goals, His Purposeand Then What? Yet, we tend to fill His call with the void of our stubbornness, recklessness, and selfishness. Smyrna was a church where people's agendas were in opposition to Christ's. I had decided how I was going to handle this. What does He mean when he refers to their being rich in the midst of poverty? Revelation 2:11a - "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.". Most American Christians today will not be called to die a martyrs death. Every day there is just a wonderful surprise and you are just in a great season of life. I lived in mainland China for four years and during those four years I studied the Chinese language of Mandarin. 1. Today, we look at the letter to the church at Smyrna, a church known for suffering. I went in and I just said, God I do not think I can do this. The church in Smyrna faced bitter persecution and death, yet it emitted a fragrant testimony of faithful commitment to . In 1 Peter 4:12-19, what are some lessons for life concerning suffering? She and her husband have five childrenthree who have already flown the coop and two adopted teens still roosting at homeplus two adorable grands who add immeasurable joy and laughter to the whole flock. This is a church under persecution yet denounced every false pretension of Jews who were (Synagogue of Satan) abode of Satan. He assures His people that their continued faithfulness, even to the point of death, will earn them a reward that far outweighs their earthly trialsa victors crown. Most scholars agree that the name Smyrna was a reference to the myrrh, which was the chief export of the area. I never wanted to open my mouth to pray because my words seemed so shallow compared to the prayers of these godly men and women who had suffered greatly. The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia in Their Local Setting by Colin Hemer. In verse nine, Jesus praises and affirms the church by recognizing their material poverty in contrast to their vast spiritual prosperity. The Church in its "Ephesian Period" having lost its "First Love," the Lord is now about to "chastise" it, so as to cause it to return to Him. How can I be changed, so I can learn and grow? You cant associated with us in these festivities to our gods. She also has two B.S. Because they did they were considered to be unpatriotic traitors: you do not love Rome. Thus they were tortured. 3 Stott, What Christ Thinks of the Church, 44. Second, in a lesson especially relevant for todays Western Christians, Jesus praised the church at Smyrna for choosing poverty over compromise. Is it fire, is it brimstone, is it gnashing of teeth? This will give great comfort to this church because this was a church that was going to be persecuted. The question we have to ask ourselves is, are we operating to the opposite tune that Jesus commands as this Synagogue and the church of Smyrna were starting to? While there, the Holy Spirit spoke to John and instructed him to record everything Jesus was about to reveal via a vision. They had no love for God. In the center of the ancient city, Mount Pagos (modern name: Kadifekale) stood 500 ft. high and was encircled by a garland of architecturally impressive buildings and templeswhich was probably why the hill was known as The Crown of Smyrna.. But, if we are really serious about going deeper, suffering is part of that process. The second thing He promises is eternal life. 4. Pt 3. 2:8-11. What three things did Jesus mention that He was aware of concerning the church at Smyrna? Why are they treading on dangerous ground? The 2 nd century Church bishop and . I do not think I can be like You. I went into that lab and got there before she did. 1. Why is Smyrna being praised? You would listen to these believers pray and you would just think they are on a different level than we are. 6. So, I went into her office, which was at the back of the lab. She finally said, do you have anything you want to say? I said nope. I did not know what to say because I thought I knew I was going to cry. in Christian Education with a focus on Women's Ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary. I just thought, you have no idea.. View property report for 975 Church St Se, Smyrna, GA 30080 on ATTOM's Property Navigator. 12. I had no choice. What was Jesus message to the church in Thyatira in Revelation? Which attributes of God most comfort you in the midst of trials and why? They said you make light of that then we will burn you at the stake! The Jews who hated him gathered the wood for the fire. I was not Crickett then. The Church of Smyrna: The Church that Remains Faithful Amidst Persecution (Revelation 2:8-11) Summary and Explanation: Smyrna was home to a large Jewish community hostile to Christians. Kingdom 103: Student or Disciple of the Kingdom? Life was hard for these Christians. She would take the other student aside and sit down and show her how to do the instruments and explain the physiology behind what we were testing. We need to be on guard and we need to commit to pray for the church for the leaders. However, Jesus wanted to remind them that their sufferings would anoint them for a Christlike death and burial that could only result in an eternal resurrected life. The period 1923-1924 was followed by the . Slander damages our reputation. The substance was used to make fragrant perfumes and anointing oils (Exodus 30:23) and was used in ancient burial preparations (John 19:39). 6. They were once a vibrant, healthy church that was now starting to die. Specific Messages to 7 Churches of Revelation Some of these seven churches kept closer to the gospel than others. Jesus is passionately concerned with how and what we do in our churches, and wants to be intimately involved. As I said in your study this week that fear and trust are opposites. God asks us to be conquerors and faithful witnesses to whom and what He is! How does the fact that Jesus knows your pain and feels your pain help you persevere in times of trials and confusion?