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.