Revelation 2: 8 - 11

 

⁸ ‘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. ⁹ 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. ¹⁰ 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.

¹¹ 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.

Persecution.

Smyrna was a beautiful city, about 35 miles north of Ephesus. The church there was probably founded by members of the Ephesian church, but we do not know for sure. The city is now called Izmir, and the church there is the only one of the seven still in existence.

This is a shorter letter, and it is about persecution. It contains no rebuke, but rather encouraging words to the Christians in Smyrna to help them face the immense persecution. At this time the Romans, under Emperor Domitian, were persecuting Christians throughout the empire. And in some places the church was also facing persecution from the Jews. So the Christians in Smyrna were being persecuted on two fronts. But in verse 9, Jesus says that though they are afflicted and poor, yet they are rich! There are many Christians in the world today who are poor and afflicted. Those who are treated unfairly in countries such as Pakistan, Somalia, Afghanistan and so on. There would not be a materially wealthy Christian in any of those countries – yet they are rich in everything that really matters.

Verse 10 is both scary and encouraging. There is severe trouble coming, but if you remain faithful you will receive life as your victor’s crown. The other encouragement is that it says, ‘you will suffer persecution for ten days.’ Not literally ten days – but definitely a fixed period. It was persecution that would come to an end; it would not last forever.

We are not persecuted at present, but we are suffering and struggling with the covid-19 pandemic. We also can recognise and trust that it will not last forever.

At the time of this letter, there would have been a young man in Smyrna called Polycarp. Later, in 155 AD, Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, was martyred, after following Christ for 86 years. The Roman governor, anxious about Polycarp’s age, tried to get him to take the easy way out, and ‘just’ bow down to Caesar and renounce Christ. It is recorded that Polycarp said, “Eighty-six years I have served him, and he has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and Saviour?”

In the West today, Christians are mainly not persecuted. We need to pray for those around the world who are facing great persecution, praying that they will stand up under the trouble they face. And we also need to pray that if it comes to us, we will have the strength and faithfulness that Polycarp had, and that we will know the power and love of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, being faithful, even to the point of death.

 

Prayer

Today, Lord, we remember our brothers and sisters around the world who are imprisoned because they are Christians. Those who are shunned by the families and communities, treated as second-class citizens, beaten, treated cruelly and even murdered because of their faith. Lord, be with them. Amen.