The Sermons to the Seven Churches: The Church of Idolatrous Compromise (2)

Hebrews 10:32-39        Numbers 31:9-16         Zechariah 3:6-10            Revelation 2:12-17

The Sermons to the Seven Churches: The Church of Idolatrous Compromise (2)

Before we look at the last section of this sermon to the church in Pergamum, I’d just like to take a moment to give you a brief introduction to some sound principles of biblical interpretation.

The first principle answers the question, “What was the author’s original intention and meaning and what did his writing mean to the original recipients?” This is called the Literal–Historical–Grammatical principle, in other words, to read the Bible in its plain sense, according to the normal meaning of words and figures of speech and images at that time, to pay attention to the author’s grammar and style – is it poetry, is it narrative, is it prophetic – as well as the historical context. None of the books of the Bible were written in a vacuum…at the time of writing there were well-known idioms, imagery, puns, and symbols that would have been understood by the original author and his audience.

The second principle is the contextual principle that answers the question, “Where does it fit?” Never take a verse or a passage out of context. Every verse fits into a passage, every passage fits into a book, and every book fits into the whole story of Scripture.

Because of the second principle, the third principle is that Scripture must interpret Scripture, or, “the Bible must explain the Bible.” Part of this principle means that we may need to use clear passages to interpret difficult ones, always keeping in mind that God’s Word never contradicts itself…and sometimes we need to admit that the meaning is not clear and therefore we need to be cautious in our interpretation.

The fourth principle is that any interpretation must be Christ-Centred. All Scripture points us to Jesus as he is the heart and the fullness of God’s revelation. As Jesus said to the unbelieving Jews, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

The fifth principle is that God’s revelation of his Person and purpose is progressive…revelation in the Bible is a movement from truth to more truth and so on to full truth. Each revelation builds upon the last, not contradicting it, but moving from a less complete to a more complete truth, with the full revelation culminating in Jesus Christ.

The sixth principle is that of spiritual dependence, or in other words, “pray before you interpret.” The Holy Spirit who inspired the Word must also illuminate our minds to understand it.

The seventh and final principle has to do with personal application, answering the question, “how does this truth change me?” However, it is only once we have attempted to understand, as much as possible, the original context and original meaning of the text, that we can then honestly ask ourselves, “if this is what it meant then, how can I apply that meaning to my context today?” But the bottom line is, interpretation must lead to transformation…we study the Word not just to know it, but to live it. 

A good example of these principles at work would be the interpretation of Deuteronomy 22:8: “When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring the guilt of blood upon your house, if anyone should fall from it.” At the time, people lived in homes that had flat roofs, and they would often entertain their guests on the roof. So, this commandment highlights the relatively simple and practical means by which they could prevent accidents that may result in death through being aware of safety issues to avoid harming people through their own negligence or carelessness. 

Now, in application, we may erect a fence around our pool or property, install and maintain smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, have a fire extinguisher or two in the home, install outdoor lighting on dark paths and so on. Anything to make your home a safe environment for you and your guests.

Now, we should apply these same principles when it comes to interpreting the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. The structure, language, idioms, images, and symbols were clear to the First Century author and his First Century recipients who no doubt understood everything in the light of the rest of Scripture. The book of the Revelation, like every other book in the Bible, was meant to be understood by the original readers and all subsequent readers according to its original meaning…it was meant to be understood by the seven churches to whom it was addressed. There are no drones or hypersonic missiles or cyber weapons or Carona viruses here…only biblical images with biblical meaning and biblical interpretation.

The general and simple rule of biblical interpretation is this: find out as best you can what the original setting, context, and meaning was…and then…only once you have understood as much as possible what the text meant at the time it was written…then take that same meaning and thoughtfully and prayerfully apply it to today. 

Now, last week we saw that the church addressed in this passage was situated in a city that served as the centre of Roman authority in that area, and, as almost all political and judicial decisions for the area were made in the city, one could say that the throne of Rome was in Pergamum. The city was also home to many temples, altars, and healing centres, as well as the ever-present Imperial Cult centres.

Jesus identified himself in this sermon as the one wielding a sharp two-edged sword and we noticed how this sword was not in his hands but in his mouth, indicating that it represented his word…the ultimate authority that holds every human being accountable. All authority in both heaven and earth has been given to Jesus and therefore, even though those in control of the city seemed to be formidable and deadly, Jesus was sovereign over them all and therefore the church was comforted despite the political and religious aggression, oppression, and persecution.

In the commendation section, Jesus once again reminded the church that he knew their works and their circumstances. He praised the believers for holding fast to their faith in him despite persecution in a city where Satan was enthroned, a statement which I believe refers to the seat of the proconsul of Rome. As we saw last week, John appears to present the Roman Empire and its emperors as Satan’s offspring in the images of the dragon and the beast from the sea in Revelation chapters 12 and 13. Satan’s sin is that he constantly seeks to usurp the authority and place of God…and his sin is mirrored in the emperors of the Roman Empire, most of whom claimed to be gods.

Archaeological sites are filled with images of the emperors. Nero, who was the emperor at the time John was writing the book of the Revelation, had his bust placed in nearly every major city throughout the empire. Those who refused to worship the emperor were severely punished and at times even martyred, as was the case with Antipas who was roasted alive inside a huge bronze bull.

But the important thing for the Church in the First Century, and indeed also for the Church throughout the centuries up until today, the important thing for them and for us to remember was and is the fact that all rulers, no matter how powerful they may seem to be, are just human. And, as such, they are all limited and finite created beings under the total and absolute authority and control of the eternal Creator and Sustainer of all that exists. No earthly authority is more powerful than him…while they may exalt themselves 666X they will never be a divine 7.

Now, in many ways, the church in Pergamum was praiseworthy. How many of us would be able to stand firm in the face of such cruelty? 

And yet, in verses 14-15 Jesus said, “But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.”

So what was wrong with the church? Well, it seems that some in the church had buckled under pressure and were trying to encourage other believers to do the same. So what exactly were they guilty of?

Jesus said they were guilty of holding to the teaching of Balaam. Who was Balaam? In Numbers 22–24, we read that after Balaam’s failed attempts to curse Israel, when God compelled him to bless them instead, Balak, king of Moab, still sought a way to weaken Israel. So, though Balaam could not pronounce a curse directly (for God had blessed His people), he later advised Balak on a more subtle and effective strategy.

According to Numbers 31:16, Balaam taught Balak to entice the Israelites into sin through idolatry and sexual immorality. The Moabite and Midianite women invited Israelite men to their pagan feasts, where they bowed to Baal of Peor and defiled themselves through ritual immorality. This provoked the Lord’s wrath, leading to a devastating plague among Israel until Phinehas intervened (Numbers 25).

So, in summary, when Balaam could not curse Israel by word, he ensnared them by counsel, teaching Balak that corruption from within would achieve what cursing from without could not.

Now, food offered to idols and sexual immorality were the results of Balaam’s teaching of subversion and compromise in Numbers, but that does not necessarily mean that the sin of the church in Pergamum was primarily these physical acts themselves…although that interpretation is possible. But from the sentence structure it seems to me that the particular sins mentioned here were the results of Balaam’s teaching at the time of Israel’s wilderness wanderings. 

So, what I think the believers in Pergamum were guilty of was that they were holding to that same teaching that caused the sinful behaviour. The teaching of Balaam and the teaching of some in the church in Pergamum was compromise and, ultimately, any kind of compromise is idolatry.

Why is compromise idolatry? you may ask. Well, because an idol is anything that takes the place of God or diminishes the authority of God. Idolatry always begins with me, myself, and I. I want something or I want to do something, and so I find a way to minimise, dismiss, or disregard the teaching of Scripture. The temptation to ignore or to bend or to change the rules has always plagued the children of God.

So, what would have been the result of this teaching of compromise? Well, it is possible that they reasoned that while they could honour the emperor or the empire externally by offering a sacrifice, burning some incense, and muttering a few words, in their hearts they would remain true to their faith. The temptation to deny Jesus to save your life or the lives of your family or to stop your property from being plundered or confiscated was very real…but as Jesus had warned in Matthew 10:33, “whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

In Hebrews 10:32-39 we read: “But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”

In the early 4th century during the Diocletian persecution (c. 303–305 AD), some Christian clergy and officials handed over the Scriptures, sacred vessels, or the names of fellow believers to Roman authorities to avoid punishment or death. These individuals were branded “traditores” (traitors) by those who stood firm in the faith despite persecution. 

I think that it is plausible that something similar was happening in Pergamum. Some believers in Pergamum had compromised their faith by bowing to the demands of their pagan society and were teaching others in the church to do the same. Like crossing your fingers behind your back while you tell a boldfaced lie. 

Now, are there some things we do today that may fall into a similar category? What kind of idolatrous compromise are we guilty of? Is there any part of God’s Word that we diminish, ignore, dismiss, or disregard? 

I’m sure you can think of several, but I’m going to home in on one because it may possibly be the most controversial issue in so-called biblical churches today. If there’s anything that can tie believers in knots it is the question of giving money to the church, especially when we use that provocative word, tithing. But what does God’s Word say about giving? Actually, there’s quite a lot in the Bible, but I’m going to quote from just one passage.

In Malachi 3 God says: “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions (10% and then some). You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Now, how do some Bible believing folks get around this passage…how do they get around not paying their tithe? Quite easily actually. They simply dismiss God’s command by claiming that this no longer applies to them because it is from the Old Testament. Never mind the fact that God prefaced this indictment by saying that he does not change…and never mind the fact that the command to tithe is never negated in the New Testament. But the sad thing is, they do not just hold to this teaching themselves, but they then teach others to do the same…

God says…but I want to…so I find the loophole…or, at least, I think I do.

Remember, idolatry begins with me, myself, and I…the thing embraced is simple a symptom of a deeper cause.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Moving along. The Lord warned the church in Pergamum that unless they repented of this idolatrous compromise, he would come and war against them with the sword of his mouth…a phrase I think means that he would convict them of their sin by exposing their actions through his Word. 

Now, to those who persevered…to those who were obedient even unto death like Antopas, the faithful witness…to those who refused to compromise whatever the personal cost, Jesus promised to “give some of the hidden manna, and…a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.”

The hidden manna may be referring to the golden jar containing a measure of manna that was placed inside the Ark of the Covenant as a perpetual reminder of God's miraculous provision for the Israelites during their forty years in the wilderness. This “hidden manna” was also to serve as a witness to future generations, demonstrating God's faithfulness and care for His people (Exodus 16:32-34). So, it is possible that this is merely a reminder that God is well able to provide for the needs of his people even when they might be forbidden to purchase food from the marketplace. Or perhaps it is a reference to Jesus who in John 6 compared himself to the manna in the wilderness, saying that he was the true bread of God who had come down from heaven to give life to the world (John 6:33). So, while the manna in the wilderness was a temporary gift to sustain physical life, he was the eternal bread of life who came down from heaven to sustain spiritual life. 

Now, there is no scholarly consensus as to the nature of the white stone engraved with a name known only to the recipient. There are many guesses, but for me the most plausible explanation is the one that links this stone with the stone given to the High Priest Joshua in Zechariah 3. “For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua,” god said, “on a single stone with seven eyes (a symbol of divinity), I will engrave its inscription, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbour to come under his vine and under his fig tree.” This stone with seven eyes, together with its inscription, is somehow connected to what transpired on the cross where our sins were removed once and for all.  

However, on this stone in Revelation is inscribed a new name known only to the one to whom it is given. Now new names are given to many biblical characters to indicate a new relationship with God. Abram became Abraham, Sarai became Sarah, Jacob became Israel, Simon became Peter, Saul became Paul and so on. 

However, in Isaiah 56:5 God promised: “I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.” And in Isaiah 62:2 he said, “The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give.” And finally in Isaiah 65:15 he said that his servants will be called by another name. 

So it is possible that the gift of a personal new name inscribed on a stone that is somehow linked to sins removed presupposes a new identity...a new creation.

But then how incongruous to bear the name of Jesus on compromising shoulders! 

To bear a new name given to us through the finished work of Jesus is surely the greatest privilege of all! How sad then to see any believer dishonour that name through compromise. In John 14:15, Jesus said: “If you love me, obey my commandments.” And in John 15:10, he added, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.”

Compromise can never be good because compromise is idolatry as it places my will above the will of God.

So, the unavoidable question for us is simply this: If Jesus was to come to us today with the sword from his mouth, what would he say?

Shall we pray?

© Johannes W H van der Bijl 2025.

The Sermons to the Seven Churches: The Church of Idolatrous Compromise (1)

Psalm 2                          Romans 13:3-4                       Revelation 2:12-17         (Daniel 7-8)

The Sermons to the Seven Churches: The Church of Idolatrous Compromise (1) 

A few months ago, Brad Smith from Men of Valour gave us a striking illustration of our need for unity as believers. He placed the strongest man in the room at one end of a rope and someone slightly less strong at the other. When they pulled against each other, the outcome was predictable—the stronger man won with ease. But when two more men joined the weaker side, the balance shifted, and the tide was turned.

It’s never easy to hold your ground when someone stronger than you is pulling in the opposite direction, is it? However, when you have a team pulling on your side, the stress factor drops dramatically. But, if one or more of your team members turn and either no longer pull together with you or, worse, if they begin to pull in the opposite direction, against you, then the stress factor increases to beyond what it was before because you now no longer have only one opponent, but several and, as Jesus said, a kingdom divided against itself, cannot stand.

This was the sad reality of the church in Pergamum.

The city was named after Pergamos, a legendary hero from Greek mythology. According to legend, he was the son of Neoptolemos and Andromache, and he captured the city and named it after himself. The name also means "steep rocky castle", "height”, or “elevation," which refers to the city's location on an acropolis, a high and lofty hill. The ancient city was also a major producer of parchment, an alternative to papyrus, allegedly created to deal with an Egyptian export embargo. For this reason, the Latin term for parchment is “pergamena”.

Pergamum was also known for its many spendthrift kings who sought to beautify the city like no other by erecting many monuments and temples. And apparently, in 133 BC the king at the time bequeathed all his riches to Rome, an act that was later supposedly misinterpreted to mean the entire city. So, in time, Pergamum became a Roman city, boasting the second largest library in the world at that time. Ironically, the parchments that were invented because of the Egyptian embargo, were later donated to the library in Alexandria during the reign of Queen Cleopatra.

There were huge temples in honour of Dionysus and Asclepius (the god of healing), and there was a great altar of Zeus that was later restored and reassembled in the Berlin Pergamum museum. More about that great altar soon.

Asclepius, who was later give the title “saviour”, was paradoxically portrayed as holding a staff with a serpent wrapped around it. This snake-entwined staff, known as the Rod of Asclepius, is the modern symbol of medicine and is his most recognizable attribute. Surely this image must have reminded believers of the curse and indeed of Satan himself, as well as the bronze serpent in the wilderness and Jesus’ allusion to that image in reference to his defeat of Satan on the cross. There were also smaller temples to Roma, the goddess of Rome, and Athena, the goddess of Greece. 

But the imperial cult was arguably the most pervasive and significant religion in first-century Pergamum. The city was designated as the first imperial cult centre in the East, making the worship of the Roman emperors a primary and compulsory religious and political activity. So, all in all, Pergamum was a thoroughly pagan city.

The city was also the centre of Roman political activity. The proconsul of Rome was seated there, or, in other words, the very throne of the Roman Empire for the Province of Asia was in Pergamum. The proconsul had the power to dispense Roman justice in the area, making it a centre for Roman authority.

Perhaps this is the reason why Jesus identified himself in the Christ Title as the one who wields the sharp two-edged sword, an image echoing John’s description of Jesus in chapter 1:16. “In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.” 

Interestingly, there are two Greek words translated as “sword” in the book of the Revelation. The first is “machaira” which was a short sword or dagger of about 46 centimetres (see Revelation 6:4; 13:10, 14). The second, which is the word used here, is “romphaia” which was a long, slightly curved sword of about 1 and ½ metres used by the Thracians that could slice through an opponent’s shield with one single blow (see Revelation 1:16; 2:12, 16; 19:15, 21). The image of Jesus with a deadly “romphaia” issuing from his mouth stresses the power of his role as supreme judge, even over the proconsul, who often carried a sword or dagger as a symbol of his power to judge.

Now, the first thing we need to notice is that this massive two-edged sword was not in the Lord’s hand but proceeded from his mouth. Why is this significant?

Well because the sword represented two things. Firstly, it represented the truth. In Hebrews 4:12-13 we read, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword (in this case the word used is “machaira”), piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” It is the very Word of God that ultimately governs all things, and all are held accountable to him, even the proconsul of Rome.

In Ephesians 6:17, the sword (machaira) of the Spirit, is identified as the word of God…a word that John linked to Jesus in his Gospel. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Therefore an encounter with the Word is an encounter with God….his Word reveals both his Person and his purpose and therefore all are held accountable to what it teaches.

But the sword is also an image of authority. In Romans 13:3-4, Paul said: “For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword (machaira) in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.” The one wielding the sword is the one wielding authority to preserve peace.

But who gives these earthly rulers the authority to execute justice? During his so-called trial, Jesus said to Pontius Pilate: “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.” It is God who gives authority to earthly rulers and therefore they are subject to him, whether they admit that or not. In Revelation 1:5, Jesus is described as “the ruler of kings on earth”. All power outside of the divine Trinity is derivative. All authority in both heaven and earth has been given to Jesus and he is presently reigning at the right hand of God the Father as King of kings and Lord of lords. 

The proconsul of Rome may have wielded the supreme authority of the earthly Roman Empire in Pergamum, but Jesus was the one who wielded the greater sword…the greater authority…as the universal sovereign.

Now, in the commendation section, Jesus said, “I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.” Once more we have the comforting reminder that our Lord knows everything about us. Jesus knew their circumstances, and he knew their courage. God knows all things because he made all things and sustains all things. Our knowledge is limited because we are limited…we are finite. But God is infinite and certainly not limited. According to Psalm 139, he knows our thoughts before we express them in words. He knew our names before we were conceived. He knew us before the universe was created and he chose us in Jesus before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).

God is not ignorant of the future, and he certainly is not ignorant of you. He knows all about you and cares for you more than you could ever imagine.

Now, Jesus said he knew that they lived where the “throne of Satan” was. There have been several suggestions made by various scholars over the years as to the identity of this “throne”. The first suggestion has to do with the shape of the acropolis itself, as some think the hill upon which the city was build resembles a throne. The second suggestion is that the throne of Satan was the healing centre of Asclepius, the god of healing. The third suggestion is the great altar of Zeus which currently resides in Berlin and, indeed, does look like a gigantic throne. And finally, the fourth suggestion is the seat of the proconsul of Rome.

But as this throne seems to be connected to the martyrdom of a man named Antipas, possibly the Bishop of Pergamum appointed by John, it is more likely to be referring to the seat of the proconsul. 

Now, as Jeff Weima says, precise identification of the throne of Satan must remain tentative, but it may be that John himself gave us a few clues. In Revelation 12:3 we read, “And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.” Who is this great red dragon? John tells us in verse 9 of the same chapter. “And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world…” 

Now, I want you to remember John’s description of Satan because in Revelation 13 he described a beast that had authority over every tribe, tongue, and nation. He wrote: “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea (now, you need to know that in the Old Testament the sea was often a metaphor for the chaotic and turbulent world of Gentile nations, for instance, the four beasts rising from the sea in Daniel 7-8 are interpreted as the Gentile empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome), but what is interesting for us to note is that this beast rising out of the sea in Revelation 13 had “ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.” 

So, Satan was described as having “seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems”, and here a Gentile empire is described as having “ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns”. Very similar imagery used here, don’t you think? But the question we need to ask is, at the time John was writing, which empire covered nearly the whole known world and also persecuted the Church? Yes, only one empire fits that description: Rome

But is it possible that John’s nearly identical descriptions of Satan and Rome is meant to alert his readers to the diabolical nature of the persecution they were about to suffer? Indeed, in verse 2 John tells us that the dragon (in other words, Satan) gave his power and his throne and great authority to this beast that rose from the sea (in other words, the Empire of Rome). 

But then there is yet another beast, one that rises from the earth and this beast made people worship the beast from the sea. Those who did not worship the image of the beast were executed. 

Does this all sound familiar to you? The imperial cult in which the Roman emperors were worship as gods was compulsory. You could worship any god you liked, as long as you paid homage to Rome and, by extension, worshipped the Emperor as god. 

So, if we compare these descriptions of the beasts in Revelation with those beasts in Daniel, I think we can safely say that these beasts are not individual people, but rather the first beast from the sea is the Empire of Rome ruled by various individual Caesars and the second beast from the earth is the Emperor cult. 

To me this makes more sense when dealing with the number of the beast from the sea (The Empire) that the beast from the land (the Emperor cult) made everyone worship…the number 666. John tells us that “this calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of (a) man, and his number is 666.” The word translated “man” here does not have the definite article, so one could just as well translate this as “man” in general or as “humanity”. So, my translation would be, “for it is the number of humanity, and that number is 666”. 

What is my reasoning for this translation? you may ask. Well because in the Old Testament, the number for humanity was six because humanity was created on the sixth day, as were the beasts. This number six was often contrasted with the number seven, which, as we have seen before, symbolized divine perfection and completion. 

Since six is one less than seven, it is often interpreted as a symbol of something that falls short of perfection.  If we understand the number 666 in Revelation through this lens, where John tells us that it can be calculated  and understood by his readers (all that was needed was a bit of biblical wisdom) and where he explicitly called it the number of man or humanity, then I think we can safely apply it to Rome or, more precisely, to the Emperor of Rome at that time, in other words, Nero Caesar. 

The number 666 then simply represents a counterfeit, satanic, earthly, limited yet powerful Empire that craved and demanded worship by force from all its subjects. But I do think that this principle remains true for all time. All rulers are just humans under the authority and control of God…all sixes…even those that multiply themselves six hundred and sixty-six times…all sixes are subject to the Divine Seven. 

How comforting this must have been to the seven churches in Asia and how comforting this is to us today. The powerful people in the world and the empires they represent are just human…they are fallible…and, what’s more, they are empowered and driven by a defeated enemy. They are all subject to the one who wields the sharp two-edged sword. 

Now, we don’t have to live in an ideal eutopia in order to be followers of Jesus. Often the strongest Christians are those living in the very midst of evil. Jesus did not pray that we should be taken out of the world, but that we should be kept from the evil one. He said that in the world we would have tribulation, but that we should be of good cheer as he has overcome the world. The wheat and the weeds grow side by side until the end of the age. We are meant to disciple the nations of the world, not escape from them. As Jesus was sent into the world, so he has sent us into the world.

The believers in Pergamum were very much in the world, but, like Jesus, they were faithful even to the point of death. “You hold fast my name,” Jesus said to them, “and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.”

Tradition tells us that this Antipas was commanded to recant his Christian faith under threat of death. He refused and was martyred by being roasted to death inside a large, hollow bronze bull. The screams of Antipas were amplified by musical instruments built into the bull making it seem as if the bull itself was making sounds.

It is interesting that Jesus, who was called the faithful witness in Revelation 1:5, applied the same title to Antipas here. Both were faithful even to death.

It has been said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. It is true that many came to believe in Jesus through the witness of the dying martyrs. Martyrdom is an exceptionally powerful witness. It is often when the Church seems to be weak that God does something wonderful. When we are weak, then he is strong. The apparent defeat on the cross led to the disarming of principalities and powers and the removal of the penalty against us…the cross led to the defeat of Satan, sin, and death. 

Is it possible that the struggles of the global Church…a struggle that is often interpreted as the so-called “signs of the times” (a concept, by the way, that ignores the context of the biblical text itself)…is it possible that this struggle is simply the ongoing tribulation Christians have faced since the First Century? 

In the world, Jesus said, you will have tribulation. All who seek to live godly lives, Paul said, will suffer persecution. If the blood of martyrs are indeed seed, is it possible that the suffering of the Church throughout the ages is part of our call to make disciples of all nations? Every war has its casualties. 

The church in Pergamum was commended for standing fast despite severe persecution. They were faithful. They did not seek an escape route, but stood their ground, even if that action resulted in torture and death.

Now, one would have thought that a group of believers who were in the decided minority and who lived in a hostile and deadly societal environment…one would have thoughts that they would stand together as one united group. And yet, as we shall see next week, their battles were not only against the devil and his followers…there were people within their community that were not pulling in the same direction. Some held to heretical teachings, and they were undermining the witness of the church.  

As I said at the beginning of this talk, it’s never easy to hold your ground when someone stronger than you is pulling in the opposite direction, but when you have a team pulling on your side, the stress factor drops dramatically. However, if one or more of your team members turn and either no longer pull together with you or, worse, if they begin to pull in the opposite direction, then the stress factor increases to beyond what it was before because you now no longer have only one opponent, but several and, as Jesus said, a kingdom divided against itself, cannot stand.

Whatever the false teachings embraced by modern church goers may be…whatever their choice of compromise…they weaken the witness of the church…even the church filled with faithful witnesses.

So, let us turn to the one who knows us better than we know ourselves, and ask him to search and examine our own hearts…and then let us ask him to come with his sharp two-edged sword and remove whatever is not of him.

Shall we pray?

© Johannes W H van der Bijl 2025.

Sermons to the Seven Churches: The Church of the Persevering Persecuted (2)

Hebrews 12:1-2                                 Revelation 2:8-11                 Matthew 10:26-33

Sermons to the Seven Churches: The Church of the Persevering Persecuted (2)

The First Century believers in Smyrna were a despised group of poverty-stricken individuals and, though many of them died in obscurity, the memory of their bold stand for the Gospel has served to strengthen beleaguered believers up to the present day. But perhaps, more importantly, these rejected and oppressed and afflicted members of the affluent city of Smyrna were intimately known by the one who is infinitely greater than the greatest power on earth. 

But what’s more, this great and infinite Creator God also knew that, although his servants bravely proclaimed his divine sovereignty despite the severe persecution they endured from both unbelieving Jews and Gentiles, they were in need of strength and encouragement…and so he addressed them as the First and the Last, the one who is in absolute control of all things from eternity to eternity. 

He is the one who began all things, and he is the one who will bring all things to an end. The God of the universe is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and in him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). He alone gives meaning to that which exists, “for by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16-17) But not only did he create all things, he also upholds all things by the word his power (Hebrews 1:3) and he is the one who will bring all things to an end (1 Corinthians 15:24-25).

But perhaps for those in Smyrna who were dealing with extreme poverty and who were facing imprisonment and possibly execution for their faith in Jesus, it was description of the Lord as the conqueror of death that would prove to be most comforting. He was the one who died and came to life…Satan, sin, and death was defeated.

As with the other churches in Asia, Jesus said that he knew everything about them. However, this knowledge of their predicament did not mean that he would take them out of that situation, but rather that he encouraged them to endure through it to the end. He is well aware of how much we can handle…he will not let us be tried beyond our ability (1Corinthians 10:13) …but as he is in control of all things from the first to the last, he also knows when our trials begin and when they will end. 

Jesus is no stranger to suffering nor is he indifferent to our suffering, but as the Scriptures repeatedly point out, suffering is often the sharpest and most effective tool in the hands of our loving heavenly Father who knows that it is not good for us to follow our own ways. It is also his desire that we should bear much fruit to his glory…as Jesus said in John 15:2, “…every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” That pruning process is often painful, but the result is always well worth it. Suffering, in the life of a believer, always has a purpose.

The church in Smyrna seems to have been the poorest of the seven churches in Asia and yet Jesus declared them rich. This statement is not mere wordplay, but rather a revelation of what counts as true wealth in God’s economy. Jesus tells us to lay-up treasures in heaven and not on earth…true wealth does not consist of the number of things we possess…true wealth is measured in terms of eternal value. Think of what you can take with you when you leave this life and then invest your time and effort into accumulating that…or should I say, them.

As we saw last week, Smyrna was home to a large Jewish community that was actively aggressive against the followers of Jesus. In this sermon to the church in Smyrna, Jesus said that while they claimed to be Jews, they were not but were rather a synagogue of Satan. In one sense, this should not come as a surprise as there is not an Old Testament God and a New Testament God…he is one and the same. Indeed, as Jesus said in John 5:46, if the Jews truly believed Moses, they would believe him because Moses wrote about him!

But then, in John 8:44 he said to the unbelieving Jews, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires.” And he continued to say in verse 47, “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” Now remember, he was saying this to people who believed themselves to be the people of God. In fact, he could just as well have said to them, you say you are Jews but are not…

What then of the Jews, you might ask. Are the Jews no longer the people of God? 

Now, I realise that this is a very emotional issue, especially at this time, but what I am about to say all comes from Scripture…in other words, this is not my opinion, but the teaching of those who were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

According to Scripture, those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ do not believe in the one true God and therefore cannot be his people. 

In Acts 4, when Peter and John stood before the Sanhedrin, they made this point crystal clear: “…there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 

And in 1 John 2:23 we are told that “no one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.”

Paul wrote in Romans 2:28-29: “For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly (in other words by birth or lineage), nor is circumcision outward and physical (in other words by conversion or affiliation). But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.”

In Philippians 3:3 he said to the ethnically mixed church in Philippi, “…we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh…” 

Who then is a true Jew according to the Scriptures? Well, anyone, Jew or Gentile,  who believes in Jesus as the Messiah. 

As Paul said in Romans 9:8, “It is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.”

The reality of this sad fact is underscored by the statement in verse 10…

“Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation.” It was the unbelieving Jews who delivered Jesus to Pontius Pilate to be crucified…and I stress unbelieving Jews because Jesus himself was a Jew and all his followers at that point were Jews. Throughout the book of Acts, it is the unbelieving Jews who incited violence against both Jewish and Gentile believers.

The irony of it all is that the peculiar blasphemy of the unbelieving Jews was that they spoke out against their God in the name of God. 

But perhaps, we are dealing with something even more sinister when it comes to the unbelieving Jews in Smyrna. As we saw last week, the Jews in Smyrna sided with the Gentiles against Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna, saying that he was the teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians, the destroyer of our gods, who teaches many not to sacrifice nor to worship…and then they proceeded to collect firewood to burn him to death on their own Sabbath Day! 

This might indicate that many of the Jews in this particular city had so embraced the surrounding Gentile society that they had denied their faith, had sought to remove the distinct outward marks of that faith (which apparently was an all-too-common practice in the First Century world), and had engaged in Emperor worship and the worship of idols. 

Either way, the Jews who said they were Jews were not Jews, but rather a synagogue of Satan…and, as such, they did the devil’s bidding.

But the most amazing thing about this sermon to the church in Smyrna is that there was no complaint! Jesus did not have single word of criticism for this church! Surely this is something we all should strive for! 

If there is any hint of a correction it would be the command not to fear what they were about to suffer. Now they had every reason to be afraid. Roman prisons were not places of lengthy incarceration with a view to rehabilitation like modern western prisons…no, Roman prisons were the first step to execution…hence the command to be faithful unto death.

But as Jesus is the first and the last…as he is the one who is in control even when every circumstance seems to indicate the exact opposite…as he is the one who has conquered Satan, sin, and death…they need not fear those who were limited in power. 

 The second reason they ought not to fear, was because their tribulation had a definite limit. For ten days, Jesus said, you will have tribulation. Now, although this may be a specific period of time, the number ten and its multiples are used throughout Scripture to denote totality…something with a definite beginning and a definite end. For instances, we have the ten plagues, the ten commandments, the ten curtains and ten pillars in the tabernacle, David’s ten thousands, the ten days of testing for Daniel and his friends, ten virgins in the parable and so on. So, in other words, their suffering would be definite, controlled, and limited and therefore they were not to fear.

But the encouragement was not based on false hope of physical rescue (or rapture). Many believers would meet their death in this ongoing local persecution…but death holds no power over a believer…death is simply a door to glory. This is why Jesus addressed them as the one who was dead and is alive again. Their Lord, and our Lord, is the conqueror of death. 

And so Jesus promised that he would give the wreath (or crown) of life to those who were faithful unto death. As we saw last week, the wreath (or the crown) was an image taken from the athletic games. Paul used the same terminology in 1 Corinthians 9:25.  “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath (or crown), but we an imperishable.” 

We are strange creatures, you know? We will go to great lengths to obtain something we really want. It’s just such a pity that all too often these things we want are temporary. The wreaths of this world are perishable and subject to decay. We will suffer all manner of discomfort to lose weight, to win a race, to get an A+ in an exam, or to get a prized promotion at work…but do we apply the same diligence when it comes to things eternal?

“Be faithful unto death…” This call to faithfulness is often a test of Christian commitment. Christianity has never claimed to be the sort of fairy tale so many want it to be. God is not a divine Santa Claus. Heaven is not a celestial dispensary of candy-coated niceties. 

The day when you committed your life to Jesus, you declared war on Satan, the world, and its ways. It is not for nothing that Jesus warned that in the world we would have tribulation. Paul said that all who seek to live godly lives will suffer persecution. Which only makes one wonder why we do not suffer more…

 In Hebrews 12:1-2 we are encouraged to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and (to) run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

The cross, which was the ultimate suffering of Jesus, was the way to victory. It was there that Satan was defeated. It was there that death was stripped of it sting. It was there that the penalty for all the sins of all his people were paid for once and for all. It was there that a permanent way was opened up for us to enter into Paradise once more…and an open door into the very throne room of Almighty God. All this was made possible through suffering.

Now, obviously, as there is no complaint section there is also no negative consequence for their failure to correct a problem…instead there is a doubly positive consequence: “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the wreath (or crown) of life. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” 

This wreath of life was a reward given to those who were faithful to death…a blessed paradox, if you will. Throughout Scripture the emphasis is not on starting but on persevering to the end…it is always about enduring and about overcoming, because the consequence of winning this race…of enduring to the end…of overcoming even to the point of death would be that they would “not be hurt by the second death.”

Now, what exactly is this “second death”? Jesus referred to two types of death in Matthew 10:28: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” 

Interestingly in Ephesians 2:4-6, Paul likened the salvation of a believer to a resurrection. “But God,” he wrote, “being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved – and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” 

John linked those who partake in this first resurrection with those whom the second death would have no power in Revelation 20:6. “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power…”

In Revelation 20:14, John tells us what the second death is. “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Again in Revelation 21:18 he wrote: “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.”

Thus the second death is an eternal separation from the very source of life himself.

When Polycarp was burned to death by the instigation of both Jews and Gentiles on the Sabbath Day, he referred to this second death, the lake of eternal fire. He had been brought before the proconsul and was commanded to reproach Jesus and swear on the fortunes of the Emperor. To this Polycarp replied, “I have served Jesus for eighty-six years and he has never wronged me once. How then shall I now blaspheme my King who has saved me?”

After more threats, the exasperated proconsul threatened to burn him. To this Polycarp countered, “You threaten me with a fire that will only burn for an hour and will then be extinguished. But you are ignorant of the fire of the future judgment and of eternal punishment reserved for the ungodly. But why do you delay? Do whatever you please.”

It is probable that the bishop was referring to what John had written to the church in Smyrna a few years earlier…Polycarp was faithful even unto death and, in overcoming, he not only received the wreath (or crown) of life, but he would “not be hurt by the second death.”

The tribulations we face from day to day are far more subtle than being burned at the stake, but each one is equally poisonous. Whatever we have to face, whether it be relentless peer pressure or social dislocation or workplace discrimination, we have to constantly be on our guard to make sure that we are still a reflection of Jesus and that our words, deeds, and attitudes are not mirroring the world.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 

Shall we pray?

© Johannes W H van der Bijl 2025

The Sermons to the Seven Churches: The Church of the Persevering Persecuted (1)

Psalm 24                    Isaiah 41:2-4; 44:6-8; 48:12-13                         Revelation 2:8-11

The Sermons to the Seven Churches: The Church of the Persevering Persecuted (1)

In Revelation 2:1-7 we heard Jesus address a church that had forgotten that it was love not law that defined them as followers of the one who is love…the one who loved because he loves….the one who loved us while we yet sinners…and who commanded us to love like he loves…to love our neighbours as we love ourselves…to love, not just those who love us in return…not just those we consider our friends or those who are members of our social circles, clicks, and clubs…but also those neighbours who, as Jesus pointed out in the parable of the Good Samaritan, would otherwise be considered outsiders, non-members, or even enemies. 

And we saw that the failure to love as Jesus loves would result in the withdrawal of the Holy Spirit because a loveless church, however orthodox it might seem to be, is not obediently following the one who is the supreme expression and demonstration of what love is and is therefore not a church after all. Unfortunately, it is often the orthodox who specialise in finding splinters in the eyes of others while absolving themselves of the logs that blind them.

Now, the church we are to examine today, however, was very different. 

The city of Smyrna (modern day Izmir) was known in the ancient world as the ornament of Asia. It was situated approximately 56 kilometres north of Ephesus and was that city’s main competitor. Because of its excellent harbour, Smyrna became extremely prosperous, a fact that is alluded to in the sermon to the church in Smyrna. 

Now, Smyrna had a long history stretching back as early as 3000 BC with communities at Bayraklı just north of the modern city. By the 11th century BC, Aeolian Greeks established a settlement there, later overtaken by the Ionians, who made Smyrna part of the Ionian League. Around 600 BC, however, the Lydian king Alyattes destroyed the city, leaving it little more than a village for centuries.

In the 4th century BC, Smyrna was re-founded by Alexander the Great. According to legend, while hunting on Mount Pagos, Alexander fell asleep beneath a plane tree and dreamed that the goddess Nemesis commanded him to build the city there. From that point on, Smyrna was rebuilt as a model Hellenistic city with wide streets (allegedly golden streets), an agora, and strong fortifications. 

Later, under Rome, it prospered as a wealthy and loyal ally to the Empire, renowned for both its beauty and its devotion to the imperial cult. It was one of the first cities to erect a temple in 195 BC to the goddess “Roma” (or the spirit of Rome) having strong ties with Rome long before the days of the Empire. And then later, out of six other Asian cities, Smyrna alone was awarded the “honour” of erecting a temple to Tiberius Caesar after his death. In this way, emperor worship became a defining mark of Smyrna’s civic pride and a source of fierce opposition to Christians who refused to confess Caesar as Lord.

But, as we shall see, it may be that the followers of this imperial cult were not limited to the Gentiles. The city was also home to a large population of Jews, many of whom apparently sought to fit in with Gentile society even if that meant denying their faith or, at least, removing the distinct outward marks of their faith. Paul alluded to this practice in 1 Corinthians 7:18 where he wrote: “Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised (In other words, a Jew)? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision…” 

Smyrna was also famous for its athletic games and thus the image of the “wreath” or “crown” awarded to the champions of the games was used in this sermon to describe the reward for the faithful endurance of the Christians in verse 10. The language used in this sermon repeatedly reveals that Jesus had an intimate knowledge of what was going on in the city as he used words and images that would be very relevant and familiar to the first century readers. 

The first very relevant statement is found in the Christ Title. In verse 8, Jesus described himself as the First and the Last, a title taken from Isaiah 41:2-4; 44:6-8; and 48:12-13. All these passages speak of God’s sovereignty over the nations and his promised deliverance of his people. 

In Isaiah 41 God said: “Who stirred up one from the east whom victory meets at every step? He gives up nations before him, so that he tramples kings underfoot; he makes them like dust with his sword, like driven stubble with his bow. He pursues them and passes on safely, by paths his feet have not trod. Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, the first, and the last; I am he.”

Then in Isaiah 44: “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.’” (Isaiah 44:6-8)

And finally in Isaiah 48: “Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last. My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together.” (Isaiah 48:12-13)

The message, I think, is clear. “I am the First and Last; besides me there is no god.” As such, this title addresses the absolute sovereignty and rule of the one addressing the church. Jesus is the supreme Lord and determiner of all things, the beginning and end of all reality. As Scripture repeatedly states without excuse, God has ordained all things for his glory and for the ultimate good of his people.

He is the First…the one who alone began everything that exists and, as such, everything that exists belongs to him and is controlled by him. As the Psalmist tells us, “The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it…” (Psalm 24:1) He owns all by virtue of the fact that he made it all. 

But not only does everything owe its beginning and its existence to the Creator God…everything also owes its continuing existence to him. He created all things, but he also upholds all things by the word of his power. He is not only the First, but he is also the Last. He alone began all things, and he alone will end all things. The Scriptures tell us that he establishes kingdoms and casts them down (Daniel 2:21). It is God who sits enthroned above the earth…to him its inhabitants are like grasshoppers…and it is God who brings princes to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.” (Isaiah 40:22-23) 

But what’s more, “The Lord brings death and gives life…” (1 Samuel 2:6) He alone is God. (Deuteronomy 10:21; Psalm 18:31; Isaiah 46:9)

So, here, Jesus reminded the church in Smyrna, not only is he the beginning and end of everything, but he is also the one who was dead and came to life. Through his death and resurrection the Lord Jesus has complete victory over Satan, sin, death, and the grave and therefore the resurrection for those who are in him is guaranteed. 

As Paul said to the Corinthians, “…in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, (so) by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also all in Christ shall be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-22) Death has been swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54) and therefore no follower of Jesus need ever fear death. 

What an encouragement to a church that was about to be plunged into a time of severe persecution in which many of the faithful would be martyred because of their witness for Jesus. However, their enemies would never be able to prevail over them in this life or the next because the life given by God is impossible to lose.

But this Christ Title tells us that the authorities in Smyrna were also subject the sovereignty of God and the same is true today. Even though many authorities believes themselves to be in control in advancing their own agendas, they are misguided because they are unable to see the hand of God directing the affairs of all humankind, even the evil deeds of the wicked. As Proverbs 19:21 says: “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” All those in authority can only do as much as God allows them to do as far as their actions establish his purposes.

Ultimately, God has a goal for all things, and this goal is for the good of all his people. Paul says in Romans 8:28, “…we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” And, I believe, the suffering of believers needs to be seen in this light as well. Suffering, for the believer, is never purposeless…it is part of a consistent divine strategy.  God’s great overriding purpose for every one of his children is to conform them to the image of Jesus…and this may very well include suffering.

The concept of suffering is woven into the very fabric of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. For example, our Lord Jesus was known for his suffering. Isaiah predicted that he would be a man of sorrows and one who would be well acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). Paul said in Philippians 3:10-11 that he wanted to know Jesus and the power of his resurrection, and that he might share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible he might attain the resurrection from the dead. He was willing to suffer so that he might be like Jesus…that he might be conformed to his image…that he might press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

In the Scriptures, suffering in the life of a believer is presented as something positive because it is through suffering that we are made like Jesus…as with Jesus, suffering is often the path to victory. Isn’t it amazing then, that many people believe that adversity is a sign of God’s displeasure…that somehow those who suffer are not living according to the will of God. If this is true, well then the persecuted church was and is in grave error and many martyrs died and still die because they were and are disobedient. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

Now, in the Commendation section of the sermon, Jesus once again began with the word, “I know…” He is the one who knows all things and sees all things…in theological terms we call this omniscience. And this is at once encouraging and frightening. To the church Jesus said, “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)…” but then he added that he also knew “the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan.” To the one this knowing was light while to the other it was darkness. And once again, Jesus used the Greek word “thlipsis” which the ESV correctly translates as “tribulation”…and again, I believe that this does not refer to one single cataclysmic event, but rather to the day to day struggle we face as those who in the world but not of the world. 

But note that our Lord was not indifferent to their tribulation. Speaking about his crucifixion, Jesus said in John 16:21, “When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.” Remember, it was for the joy that was before him that Jesus endured the cross.

In Romans 8:18 Paul said, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”  And again in 1 Corinthians 4:17 he said that “…this light momentary affliction (and bear in mind that Paul had been arrested, falsely accused, beaten, and imprisoned among other things by this time) is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…” The suffering of any believer always leads to glory. 

Now, Jesus was well aware of their tribulation, and he was also well aware of their poverty. Now, the Greek word used here is “ptochēian” which describes a state of absolute poverty or complete destitution. According to Hebrews 10:34, the Early Christians often had their property confiscated and were often openly vandalized.  

It is possible that the believers in Smyrna were rendered destitute because of their refusal to join trade guilds that either honoured the emperor as a god or who offered prayers and sacrifices to idols. This meant that their businesses might have been boycotted, their property stolen, and their right to buy goods and even food would have been denied. In other words, they were compelled to either deny Jesus by offering worship to the emperor or idols or go without. Obviously, the Smyrnaeans chose to go without…and therefore they were poverty stricken…and yet Jesus said that they were rich.

Now, this may seem to be a cruel play on words when addressing people who might well have been starving, but one must remember what these poverty-stricken people would have considered riches. Perhaps a quick contrast with Laodicea would be helpful. Jesus said to that church: “For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.” (Revelation 3:17-18) 

Can you see the contrast? The church in Laodicea thought they were rich because of their material wealth…but Jesus said that an abundance of wealth is not true riches. The church in Smyrna, on the other hand, had very little, perhaps nothing, and yet they possessed what no amount of money could ever buy. Of course, one doesn’t have to be wealthy to be a materialist. Even those who have very little can be controlled by their possessions.

But Jesus not only knew about the poverty of his people…he also knew about the slander levelled against his people. Now verbal slander can be simple gossip or the spreading of rumours…whether false or true both are destructive. That’s why Jesus taught us to deal with differences on a personal level first…one on one…and not to involve other people. 

But who were these people who said they were Jews and were not but were a synagogue of Satan? As I said before, it may be that many of the Jews in the city apparently sought to fit in with Gentile society even if that meant denying their faith or, at least, removing the distinct outward marks of their faith. 

So, is there any evidence that this was the case in Smyrna? Well, possibly. Eusebius, in his Ecclesiastical History said that the Jews in Smyrna sided with the Gentiles in the martyrdom of Polycarp, a man consecrated by the Apostle John to be Smyrna’s third or fourth Bishop, depending on whose list you use. 

Now, about the martyrdom, Eusebius wrote: “The whole multitude, both of Gentiles and of Jews dwelling in Smyrna, cried out with uncontrollable fury and with loud shouts, ‘This is the teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians, (now here’s the important bit) the destroyer of our gods, who teaches many not to sacrifice nor to worship.’ … And so they cried out that he should be burned alive…in the Martyrdom of Polycarp, the Jews of Smyrna are specifically described as urging on his execution and gathering materials for the fire. 

Now, this may indicate that the Jews who said they were Jews but were not, were those Jews who had fully embraced pagan culture to such an extent that they not only sought to remove the distinctive marks of circumcision but had also accepted emperor worship and the polytheistic religion of their Gentile neighbours. 

Then again, it is equally possible that what Jesus meant by this statement to the Smyrnaeans was similar to what Paul said in Romans 2:28-29. “For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.” But we will explore this a little more in next week’s sermon…

So, for the present, let us think about the faithfulness of these early believers. Their refusal to compromise was costly. They were rendered destitute because of their faith in Jesus. Now, in the Netherlands, we may be mocked for our doctrinal beliefs or ridiculed for our ethical practices, but we are not persecuted to the point of being executed. 

Does this perhaps make us a little more complacent when it comes to living out our faith? Is it perhaps a little easier for us to compromise and to justify our compromise?

We are followers of a God who values humble obedience…a God who demonstrated such obedience in the life and death of his incarnated son. So, as you come to participate in the symbols of that costly obedience, ask the Holy Spirit…ask the one to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden…ask him to search your heart to see if there is anything that is preventing you from being conformed to the image of the one you say you follow. 

Shall we pray?

© Johannes W H van der Bijl 2025.