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2. The Letter of Jesus Christ to the Pastor in Smyrna (Izmir) (Revelation 2:8-11)
REVELATION 2:8-11
8 “To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these things: 9 I know your works, oppression, and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won’t be harmed by the second death.”’
These Things Says the First and the Last, Who Was Dead, and Came to Life: Smyrna (Izmir) was a rich harbor city that was also home to affluent and influential Jews. A small congregation had developed in connection with their synagogue. This congregation was spiritually grounded in Christ, but was considered modest and insignificant, and it was held in contempt by society.
The living Lord commanded His seer to write to this small, contemptible, and belittled congregation, located in the midst of this prosperous and flourishing harbor city. He especially wanted to comfort, strengthen, and encourage the leader of this congregation, who was also His messenger in this city. To that end, He used a sentence from the vision as an answer to His diagnosis of this church. Just as the Lord Himself was persecuted, suffered, died, and rose again on the third day, so too was this small congregation not to shrink from persecution and suffering; it was to find it’s course of action in the life and example of Jesus. Discipleship does not always lead to success and honor, but rather to occasional suffering and humiliation. Hardship and death, however, are not the goal of the Christian life; rather, victory, resurrection, and eternal life are promised to us.
For the third time we read the godly instruction that stretches like a golden thread through the entire revelation of Jesus Christ: “I am the First and the Last!” With these words God and Christ pronounce their divinity unequivocally. Before them there was nothing, and after them no one else will appear to challenge their justice, power, and kingdom. The Father and Son, as one God in complete unity, created and redeemed the world. They will also judge it one day. From Him, in Him, and through Him are all things. He is the Creator and Judge. He is the Lord. Nothing exists or happens apart from the knowledge and will of our Father and Redeemer. His eternal existence overcomes all powers that seek to oppose Him. He is eternal life.
To His divine self-revelation, Jesus adds a special characteristic: the fact that He was dead but is now alive – pointing to Good Friday and Easter. The holiness of God that condemns us, as well as the self-sacrificial love and eternal life of the Son, accomplished our salvation in 72 hours. Sin, death, Satan, and judgment could no longer have any power over the person who clings to the Lamb of God. Were it not for the sacrificial death of Jesus, we would all be damned. But in His resurrection He revealed not only His, but also our eternal life. He was dead, but see, He is alive! These are the encouraging words of Jesus Christ to the church in Smyrna.
I Know Your Works, Tribulation, and Poverty (But You are Rich): Jesus Himself suffered hunger and thirst while He was in the wilderness, in prison, and during His torture that resulted in death. He had the right to say to the pastor in Smyrna: I know and understand your situation. I empathize with you. But just as I was not forsaken by God, so you too can feel eternally safe in His love.
Being united with Christ through faith does not guarantee us a rich, comfortable, or successful life – much less, recognition from those in esteemed positions of power. But God can be glorified through individuals or entire churches precisely when they are poor, persecuted, or regarded with contempt. The love of the outcasts for their Lord, their finding comfort in times of danger, their needs being met through faith, and their thankfulness towards their caring Father sanctifies them. They amass spiritual riches that those who are satisfied, strong, ruling or renowned can never know.
A poor widow who has Christ is richer in the Holy Spirit than the computer guru Bill Gates, for whom God is irrelevant. An unemployed father who asks for his daily bread in faith from God is richer in the knowledge of the triune God than some esteemed bishops, pastors, or elders with guaranteed incomes. Most Christian works are not financed by millionaires or the well-to-do, but rather by the earnest prayers of those who themselves have experienced hardship and who, through illumination by the Holy Spirit, are able to see the inner and outer workings of the Kingdom of Heaven. The widow’s mite is more powerful than donations from proud hearts. Despite its poverty, the church in Smyrna offered Jesus true service.
Of what do the riches of the church in Smyrna consist? The grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit were experienced during hardship by the members of this church. Their faith was not merely an intellectual assent to certain truths; rather, it was tried and tested reality. They lived in the presence of God as the Body of Christ and as the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Their divine riches in Christ had eternal substance. They did not trust in perishable gold, earthly honor, or worldly goods (Psalm 34:11; Luke 6:20, 12:21; 2 Corinthians 6:10; 1 Timothy 6:18; James 2:5). Poverty with modesty often leads to believers’ sanctification in Christ. However, without Christ hardship and poverty often lead to hate, envy, revolution, and cursing. But a believer in Christ can obtain still greater spiritual riches through poverty.
I Know the Blasphemy of Those Who Say They Are Jews and Are Not, but Are a Synagogue of Satan: In Smyrna there was a relatively strong Jewish congregation with a known synagogue. It is likely that early on the Christians of Jewish and heathen backgrounds in this synagogue believed in the God of Abraham, together with the orthodox Jews. They also read the law of Moses, the Psalms of David, and the promises of the prophets, and understood everything as references to the Messiah.
However, the reality of the crucified Messiah led to division, hate, and disavowal, to the boycotting of business and the restricting of trade. The destruction of trade agreements led to legal charges and proceedings, followed by accusations of unrest. The conflict was based ultimately on the question: Who is a Jew? The members of the synagogue in Smyrna pointed to their ancient tribal history, their being born of a Jewish mother, male circumcision, or their observing the Sabbath. They presented evidence of their Jewish faith.
However, the Christians of Jewish or heathen background pointed to their spiritual life and acknowledged that biological circumcision of the flesh does not automatically result in purity of heart. The keeping of the Sabbath is only one of the remnants of a religion under the law that ultimately results in God’s wrath and judgment. The Christians confessed that spiritual rebirth of the Holy Ghost is the true circumcision of the heart. The congregation of the reborn is the only temple of the Holy Spirit. The gathering together of Christians on Sunday bears witness to the Resurrection of Christ as the starting point of a new creation, one that is built on justification through faith.
More and more the conflict over Jewish identity was based on the person of Jesus, and whether He was the promised Messiah and true servant of God according to Isaiah 53. But the Jews of the synagogue hardened themselves increasingly against the Son of Mary and voiced public blasphemies against Him and His mother (Revelation 12:17).
The person of Jesus Christ was the point of contention for Jewish Christians with regard to who was and who wasn't a true Jew and Israelite. But since the animosity of the members of the synagogue towards the active Christians grew steadily, the risen Lord Himself had to pronounce the shocking judgment that the traditional Jews in Smyrna were not true Jews, despite their biological Jewish ancestry. Their synagogue was in no way the temple of the Holy Spirit, but rather a meeting place that had become the center of the spirit of Satan. While He was still alive, Jesus had already said to individual, fanatical Jewish opponents that Abraham was not their father, but rather Satan himself. The battle plan of the pious, anti-Christian keepers of the Law had not changed after two generations (John 8:37; 16:2).
We would like to maintain that not every Jew hated or cursed Jesus. All apostles, gospel writers, as well as the entire original church in Jerusalem were made up of Messianic Christians. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit made them the synagogue of God, in which the fullness of the Godhead took up residence. Salvation comes from the Jews! (John 4:22). Till today, all Believers have lived by the words of Christ and the witness of His apostles. Their witness is our life.
PRAYER: O Risen Lord, we thank you because You strengthened the minister of the church of Smyrna in his troubles amidst the persecution against him, and You revealed to him the center of Satan in his city. You enriched the despised minister until his kindness, tolerance and patience became evident. Help the believers and church ministers nowadays when lies and persecutions come to them that they may walk faithfully with You even in the valley of the shadow of death.
QUESTION:
- What was the situation of the pastor of the church in Smyrna?