Going north from city of Ephesus on the province of Asia Minor, you would come to another city...a city named Smyrna in the 1st century...today is named Izmir. Smyrna was about 35 miles north of Ephesus.....
Allow me to write first what I consider a great honor to share. It is true the Early Church in Smyrna faced much suffering yet from this city came one of the great martyrs of Early Church. This was the home town of Polycarp...an Elder of the church in Smyrna who lived in the first half of the 2nd century A.D.
Polycarp lived a full life, approximately 86 years, and though never receiving a higher formal education, was very instrumental in exposing the numerous and many false teachings that continually tried to infiltrate the Early Christian Church...including Gnosticism (based on folklore and tales), the need to conform to the old Jewish Law, and pagan beliefs of the Gentiles (non-Jewish). Polycarp was martyred in Smyrna in 155 A.D. for his belief in Christ Jesus, being burned to the death by the local people of Smyrna including the Roman rulers and Jewish inhabitants.
When Polycarp was near death, he was asked if he would recant of his belief in Christ Jesus, and his answer is a quote that has been passed on through the corridors of Christian history. Polycarp replied to the request to deny Christ Jesus with these words: " 86 years I have served the Lord, and He never wronged me. How then can I now blaspheme my Lord and Savior?"
This in my opinion epitomises the true Spirit...of the Believers who lived in a town named...Smyrna.
Smyrna was another Aegean Sea harbor town...much like Ephesus. In fact, Smyrna was the 2nd largest port of trade (Ephesus was the most prominent) of the entire region. Smyrna at the time of the writing of this letter was well known for its schools of medicine and science.
The Believers of the Early Church faced much adversity in everyday life. They were poor and struggled to make ends meet, yet in this letter from Christ Jesus...He writes they are rich. The Believers suffered much from the local people...because of their intense faith in Him. Some Believers were thrown in prison by Roman authorities, while others lost their lives for their belief in Christ Jesus.
Smyrna was under rule of the Roman Empire...for Asia Minor had become an outer part of the vast Roman Empire. The Roman god Cybele..."the Mother of the gods", was a center of worship there along with Emperor worship which was practiced in honor to the Roman Emperor Tiberius.
One thing to keep in mind regarding the young Christian church of the 1st century. Christians were not persecuted because they believed in Jesus. Allow me to write this again, early Christians were not persecuted because of their personal belief in Christ Jesus. Early Christians suffered persecution because they believed ONLY in Christ Jesus. Early Christians recognized ONLY One God...and their trust in Him could ONLY come through His Only Son...the Lord Jesus Christ...and all guidance could ONLY come through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Many cultures during that time period did not have a problem for a person to embrace and trust in Jesus...as long as you respected their gods as well. An example would be a person could be a part of a local Christian church...as long as they paid homage to the Emperor Tiberius as well. This train of thought was common at that time...and even tried to find it's way into the Early Christian church.
One of the greatest enemies of the Early Church were the people of Israel themselves...the Jewish nation. By the time the writing of this letter to Smyrna had come, many Jewish families had left Jerusalem and Israel itself because of the intense hatred between the Romans and the Jewish people. Around 70 A.D., the Temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Romans, many Jewish people had lost their lives to the Romans, and now they had moved to various areas...like Smyrna. This was known as the Jewish Diaspora in 70 A.D.
In Smyrna, there seemed to be a rather large population of Jewish people. Although Christianity began as a segment of Jewish belief, the recognition of Christ Jesus as the Messiah was rejected by the Jewish community, causing an intense hatred by the Jewish leaders against those who were..."Christian".
And, Smyrna was not exempt from this bitter hatred. The local Jewish congregation in Smyrna caused much trouble for the local Christian community, spreading numerous lies and speaking evil against them. The local Jewish leaders even called upon and "used" the Roman rulers in Smyrna to turn against the Christians as well. One thought given to this was if the Jewish community were able to have Christ Jesus crucified in Jerusalem, perhaps they could find success in killing off all His followers as well.
Yet....they were so wrong......
A Gleaning from Revelation 2: 8-11
" This message is from Him..."the First and the Last"...who died once...yet now is alive!
I know of your deep suffering for Me...all the afflictions, distress, and pressing troubles you currently face. I feel the very pains of your dire poverty, yet I solemnly assure you...you are very rich!
I am also very much aware of all the slander, the abuse, and how you suffer extremely from these ones who call themselves "Jewish". They claim their rights as a Jewish person simply on the basis they have natural Jewish parents...but I don't. From My eyes, a true Jewish person is not measured by their lineage. A true Jewish person is one who puts their complete trust in the true God of Israel...and would not come against Me and my bride...you!...My beloved church!
This Jewish community here in Smyrna are not a part of the true God of Israel....they serve and worship the Evil One...Satan himself. Their synagogue is nothing more than a synagogue of their god...Satan.
Yet, with all this pain, chaos, and persecution coming at you...this is not a time to allow Fear find any place within your hearts...for your suffering is about to increase...even more.
Satan is about to throw some of you in prison...to see if you are "real"...that you really do put all your love and trust...in Me. This persecution will last for a period of "10 days" (Note: many bible historians consider this a symbolic number...not to be taken literally).
So, don't give up on Me now! For some of you, this fierce persecution may cost you...your very lives. Keep your eyes focused...on Me!... a Crown of Life awaits you!
He who has ears...let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
He who overcomes and is victorious shall in no way be hurt by this second death...the devil's death. ( Note: the first death?...when we died to ourselves and gave our hearts and lives to Him.)"
Note: Of all these letters that were written to the 7 churches identified in Revelation 2 & 3, only 2 of the churches received no correction...Smyrna was one of them.
Allow me to write first what I consider a great honor to share. It is true the Early Church in Smyrna faced much suffering yet from this city came one of the great martyrs of Early Church. This was the home town of Polycarp...an Elder of the church in Smyrna who lived in the first half of the 2nd century A.D.
Polycarp lived a full life, approximately 86 years, and though never receiving a higher formal education, was very instrumental in exposing the numerous and many false teachings that continually tried to infiltrate the Early Christian Church...including Gnosticism (based on folklore and tales), the need to conform to the old Jewish Law, and pagan beliefs of the Gentiles (non-Jewish). Polycarp was martyred in Smyrna in 155 A.D. for his belief in Christ Jesus, being burned to the death by the local people of Smyrna including the Roman rulers and Jewish inhabitants.
When Polycarp was near death, he was asked if he would recant of his belief in Christ Jesus, and his answer is a quote that has been passed on through the corridors of Christian history. Polycarp replied to the request to deny Christ Jesus with these words: " 86 years I have served the Lord, and He never wronged me. How then can I now blaspheme my Lord and Savior?"
This in my opinion epitomises the true Spirit...of the Believers who lived in a town named...Smyrna.
Smyrna was another Aegean Sea harbor town...much like Ephesus. In fact, Smyrna was the 2nd largest port of trade (Ephesus was the most prominent) of the entire region. Smyrna at the time of the writing of this letter was well known for its schools of medicine and science.
The Believers of the Early Church faced much adversity in everyday life. They were poor and struggled to make ends meet, yet in this letter from Christ Jesus...He writes they are rich. The Believers suffered much from the local people...because of their intense faith in Him. Some Believers were thrown in prison by Roman authorities, while others lost their lives for their belief in Christ Jesus.
One thing to keep in mind regarding the young Christian church of the 1st century. Christians were not persecuted because they believed in Jesus. Allow me to write this again, early Christians were not persecuted because of their personal belief in Christ Jesus. Early Christians suffered persecution because they believed ONLY in Christ Jesus. Early Christians recognized ONLY One God...and their trust in Him could ONLY come through His Only Son...the Lord Jesus Christ...and all guidance could ONLY come through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Many cultures during that time period did not have a problem for a person to embrace and trust in Jesus...as long as you respected their gods as well. An example would be a person could be a part of a local Christian church...as long as they paid homage to the Emperor Tiberius as well. This train of thought was common at that time...and even tried to find it's way into the Early Christian church.
One of the greatest enemies of the Early Church were the people of Israel themselves...the Jewish nation. By the time the writing of this letter to Smyrna had come, many Jewish families had left Jerusalem and Israel itself because of the intense hatred between the Romans and the Jewish people. Around 70 A.D., the Temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Romans, many Jewish people had lost their lives to the Romans, and now they had moved to various areas...like Smyrna. This was known as the Jewish Diaspora in 70 A.D.
In Smyrna, there seemed to be a rather large population of Jewish people. Although Christianity began as a segment of Jewish belief, the recognition of Christ Jesus as the Messiah was rejected by the Jewish community, causing an intense hatred by the Jewish leaders against those who were..."Christian".
And, Smyrna was not exempt from this bitter hatred. The local Jewish congregation in Smyrna caused much trouble for the local Christian community, spreading numerous lies and speaking evil against them. The local Jewish leaders even called upon and "used" the Roman rulers in Smyrna to turn against the Christians as well. One thought given to this was if the Jewish community were able to have Christ Jesus crucified in Jerusalem, perhaps they could find success in killing off all His followers as well.
Yet....they were so wrong......
A Gleaning from Revelation 2: 8-11
" This message is from Him..."the First and the Last"...who died once...yet now is alive!
I know of your deep suffering for Me...all the afflictions, distress, and pressing troubles you currently face. I feel the very pains of your dire poverty, yet I solemnly assure you...you are very rich!
I am also very much aware of all the slander, the abuse, and how you suffer extremely from these ones who call themselves "Jewish". They claim their rights as a Jewish person simply on the basis they have natural Jewish parents...but I don't. From My eyes, a true Jewish person is not measured by their lineage. A true Jewish person is one who puts their complete trust in the true God of Israel...and would not come against Me and my bride...you!...My beloved church!
This Jewish community here in Smyrna are not a part of the true God of Israel....they serve and worship the Evil One...Satan himself. Their synagogue is nothing more than a synagogue of their god...Satan.
Yet, with all this pain, chaos, and persecution coming at you...this is not a time to allow Fear find any place within your hearts...for your suffering is about to increase...even more.
Satan is about to throw some of you in prison...to see if you are "real"...that you really do put all your love and trust...in Me. This persecution will last for a period of "10 days" (Note: many bible historians consider this a symbolic number...not to be taken literally).
So, don't give up on Me now! For some of you, this fierce persecution may cost you...your very lives. Keep your eyes focused...on Me!... a Crown of Life awaits you!
He who has ears...let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
He who overcomes and is victorious shall in no way be hurt by this second death...the devil's death. ( Note: the first death?...when we died to ourselves and gave our hearts and lives to Him.)"
Note: Of all these letters that were written to the 7 churches identified in Revelation 2 & 3, only 2 of the churches received no correction...Smyrna was one of them.
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