The Church of Smyrna: A Study of Revelations

I want to continue our look at the messages to the churches in the Book of Revelation. Just to review: The Book of Revelation was written by the apostle John. In the first chapter, John gives us the setting of his vision of Jesus Christ. Then, in chapter two, he begins to relate Jesus’ messages to each of the seven churches. Now, we know that there are far more than seven churches in the world today, so how should we look at these seven churches?

We’re dealing with a book of prophecy, so my usual caveat bears repeating. Prophecy is a tricky thing. Some things are meant to be taken literally. Some things are meant to be taken figuratively. The difficulty is that there is nothing within the prophecy itself to tell you which is which. You can’t definitively say that Scriptural prophecy means this or that unless Jesus Himself or God Himself has said in later Scripture that this is what prophecy means or that it has been fulfilled. Apart from that, we’re just trying to be wise and use the rest of Scripture as a guideline when it comes to what we glean from books of prophecy.

The number seven represents perfection and completion. Creation occurred in seven days. There are seven days in a week. The Bible was originally divided into seven sections: the law, the prophets, the writings, the gospels, the general epistles, the epistles of Paul, and Revelation. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is often referred to as the seven-fold spirit. So when we see seven in a prophetic writing, we can look at it as either being a literal number or as a representative number. In Revelation, I feel confidently that the number is representative. There are seven churches because their are seven mindsets/issues/backgrounds that we all share as believers that Jesus wants to speak to as we get closer and closer to the last days.

So with that context in mind, let’s take a look at Revelation 2: 8-11. This is the letter to the second church: the church of Smyrna. Most scholars agree that the name Smyrna was a reference to the myrrh, which was the chief export of the area. Myrrh represents mortal death, and the title of the “suffering church” is often ascribed the church of Smyrna. There’s no doubt that the believers in Smyrna suffered under the rule of Rome. Smyrna is located on the Aegean coast of Anatolia, about 35 miles north of Ephesus. It’s foundation as a city was inspired by Alexander the Great. Homer supposedly grew up in Smyrna, and there was a shrine to him during the Roman period. Smyrna was a member of the Ionian League, just like Ephesus. In fact, Smyrna vied with Ephesus and Pergamum for the title of “first city of Asia.”

There were two sections to Smyrna: Old Smyrna and New Smyrna. New Smyrna was built on the slopes of Mount Pagos. There were nearly 100,000 residents of Smyrna. The church of Smyrna was most likely established during Paul’s third missionary journey. John the Apostle was said to have mentored one of Smyrna’s prominent bishops, Polycarp, who was bishop of Smyrna until he was martyred in 153 AD. Both Saint Iraneaus and St. Ignatius were said to have been associated with Polycarp and with Smyrna. Smyrna suffered an earthquake in 178 AD and was rebuilt under the orders of Marcus Aurelius. Under Roman rule, Smyrna was dedicated to the worship of the emperor and the imperial cult. Emperor worship was required by law and violations of the law were punishable by imprisonment and death. Persecution of Christian minorities in Smyrna continued well into modern times as the Muslim majority tried to eliminate Christians through the Great Fire of Smyrna in 1922.

We don’t know much about the church of Smyrna. There are no letters written specifically to the congregation of Smyrna, although letters to surrounding churches were probably circulated around and written to the larger region rather than one specific church. Unlike the pattern of the letter to the church of Ephesus, Jesus doesn’t list the things Smyrna is doing well and the things He has against them. Instead, He simply encourages them in their suffering.

“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!”

Revelation 2:8-9a

Not only do the words “who died and came to life again” refer specifically to Jesus, but they may have also been understood by the readers to reference the rebuilding and resurgence of Smyrna after it’s various conquests and catastrophes. Many times the persecution against those who refused to participate in the imperial cult were economic sanctions. Believers who refused to worship the emperor would have been prohibited from commerce. They would have been impoverished as a result, but Jesus is reminding them that they are spiritually wealthy in spite of their material poverty.

“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.”

Revelation 2:9b-10

It appears that in Smyrna like in other cities, even the Jews participated in emperor worship. These are the Jews Jesus refers to as the “synagogue of Satan.” They were Jews in name only because idol worship would have been abhorrent to a true Jew. The arrest and subsequent death of Polycarp appears to have been instigated by the Jews of the region. Polycarp was burned alive because he would not renounce Jesus Christ.

Here Jesus predicts the suffering of the believers at Smyrna, saying they will be imprisoned to test them and may even be put to death. The number ten can be symbolic in the Bible, and I believe it is used symbolically here. In Biblical symbology the number ten refers to God, His authority, and government. It seems a reference to the fact that these believers will be imprisoned by the government in control of Smyrna, and with everything that we know about the imperial cult and worship of the emperor, this makes the most sense.

CORPORATE APPLICATION

On the surface, this passage is a bit more difficult to apply to our corporate church body in modern times. We no longer have emperor worship. In America, we have separation of church and state, which is supposed to guarantee our right to worship without impediment by the government. However, there are current events and court cases that show that this may not always be the case. There have been city ordinances–thus far overturned in the courts–which have demanded that churches open their doors to homosexual marriages or transgender members. This is in direct conflict with the belief statements of the churches in question. When a government tries to force a church to violate their beliefs under the name of “inclusivity” or “anti-discrimination,” we are just a stone’s throw away from laws that would make it impossible for members of those churches to be allowed to participate in public life without some repercussion.

Laws that demand pastors turn over their sermons to government authorities for review and approval; laws that demand private Christian colleges obey certain guidelines established by the government in order for students to access public funding for their education; and laws that require pastors hand over the names and address of their members under the name of “public safety” are all similar in nature to the demands of emperor worship. There are even calls for these colleges and religious institutions to be placed out of business.

If that were to come to pass, we need to be prepared to ignore the laws of the government because they contradict the laws of God. You can be sure that when that happens, we will suffer as a church. Indeed, many are suffering as a corporate church body right now due to the shut downs from COVID-19. Jesus promises that this suffering is a testing of our faith. If we stay faithful, we will receive a victors crown.

INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION

Of course, as an individual, there are many times I may suffer persecution because of my faith. While it is uncommon for believers in America to undergo widespread persecution, especially by the government, it is not unheard of. Believers in other nations have been arrested. Some have been killed. In Muslim majority nations, believers are routinely beheaded for refusing to renounce Jesus Christ.

Approximately 20 years ago, at the mass shooting at Columbine High school, shooters asked students if they believed in God and promptly shot those who answered, “yes.” Cake shops and photographers and florists have all been put out of business for refusing to participate in same sex weddings. Parents have had children removed by CPS because they homeschool due to religious beliefs. There are louder and louder calls for Christians to be shunned and put out of business. If this comes to pass, we will find ourselves in the same position as the believers in Smyrna.

If it comes down to it, will I have the faith to stand like Polycarp and say:

“Eighty and six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and Savior? You threaten me with a fire that burns for a season, and after a little while is quenched; but you are ignorant of the fire of everlasting punishment that is prepared for the wicked.”

Polycarp at his death

This is the kind of faith that Jesus encourages me to have. He promises that if I am victorious in this life–if I remain faithful, even unto death, and receive a victor’s crown–the second death will not hurt me at all. It’s time for me to evaluate my faith. Am I willing to lose my livelihood? My job? My reputation? My house? My family? My friends? Am I willing to love my life? for my faith in Jesus Christ. If that is the price He asks me to pay, will I pay it gladly as the saints of Smyrna did? I sincerely hope that I would.