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Lesson 5  Revelation 2: 8-11

      As we looked at the first church, I prayed that each one of us took the time to evaluate ourselves. As we know, the word Revelation means the uncovering. Therefore, with the seven churches Jesus is uncovering us in our relationship with Him. Please do not rush the doctor as He (Jesus) examines us and makes His diagnoses.

     In Revelation 2: 8 - 11, we have the second church that is Smyrna. The name Smyrna means MYRRH. The word myrrh is used for two different things in the Bible. The one that almost everybody is familiar with is the herb used in preparing dead bodies for burial (Matthew 2:11; Mark 15:23). The other use of myrrh is in making the oil for holy anointing (Exodus 30:23 - 25). Why did Jesus choose to describe this church? Is it about to die or to be anointed? What is being said about us? How do we get the fragrance of myrrh? Most herbs have to be crushed to release their fragrances.

     What do we know about the church of Smyrna? Most of what we know comes from other sources than the Bible. We know that it was located about forty (40) to fifty (50) miles north of Ephesus and it was prosperous. It is believed that Paul was the one that God used to form it. In addition, it is thought that Timothy is the overseer of this area, which included the seven churches. When you read first and second Timothy, you are reading words of encouragement from Paul to Timothy as he presides over this area. It is believed that this is the place where John was arrested, because he became the pastor here after Timothy. The other sources tell us that it is the birthplace of the Greek poet Homer. Smyrna is also believed to have been the center of the fierce persecution of Christians. The people of Smyrna worshipped the Roman Emperor Tiberius as god and had a temple built for him.

     With this background, let us move to Revelation chapter 2: 8-11, and see what Jesus says about the church. In verse 8, Jesus tells John to write, ".These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive".
     Why did Jesus want John to introduce the author of this message this way?
     Is it important to them and the church today? Why?

     One of the things about the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia is that NO condemnation is stated against them. Why is this one of two churches without condemnation? If we examine the things going on around them and read verses 9 and 10, we can see why. The question now is, do we fit this church description?

     The following are definitions that are helpful in understanding these passages.

Verse 9:

Know = fullness of divine knowledge  Works = tasks  Tribulation = sufferings due to the pressure of circumstances, or antagonism of persons  Poverty = destitution  Rich = wealthy in faith and spirit  Blasphemy = railing, evil speaking  Synagogue = a bringing together, a gathering of people  Satan = adversary

Verse 10:

Fear = to put to flight, be afraid  Suffer = of human "suffering" of followers of Christ  Devil = an accuser, a slanderer  Cast = to throw  Tried = prove, examine  Tribulation = sufferings due to the pressure of circumstances, or antagonism of persons  Faithful = actively believing, trusting, relying  Death = the separation of soul from the body  Give = grant  Crown = a token of public honor  Life = life in the absolute sense, life as God has it

     Do you remember the question asking you how you get the fragrance out of myrrh? You get it by crushing the myrrh. Well, in Smyrna they are being crushed by other religions and people who do not like them, because they carry themselves differently. Because they carried themselves as children of God, they stood out, so they were persecuted to the point of poverty. In the middle of your tribulation, what are you reflecting? Do you smell of myrrh or something else? Are you holding on to that which you say you believe in?
In verse 10, they are told to hold on for ten days. Some believe that this stands for the 10 edicts of anti-Christian persecution:

Under Nero 64-68 A.D.  Under Domitian 90-95 A.D.  Under Frajan 104-117 A.D.  Under Aurelius 161-180 A.D.  Under Severrus 200-211 A.D.  Under Maximus 235-237 A.D.  Under Decius 250-253 A.D.  Under Valerian 257-260 A.D.  Under Aurelian 270-275 A.D.  Under Diocletian 303-312 A.D.

     Others think it stands for some period of time that will end. This means that Jesus is saying that the persecution will not last forever. Jesus is telling the church that what you are going through will not last. If you hold on, you will have a crown of life. There will be some tribulation that will cost your life. Yes, you will lose your physical life, but you will have everlasting life.