Full-Proof Ministries

The city of Smyrna (its Church is addressed in Revelation 2:8-11) was, in many ways, like Ephesus.  They were wealthy and influential enough to compete with Ephesus and Pergamum for the title “First in Asia,” and, as William Barclay notes, if it were “inevitable that Ephesus should come first in the list of the seven churches, it was but natural that Smyrna its great rival should second.”  In addition to its wealth and influence, Smyrna was Asia’s most beautiful city, so much so that men would one day call her the Ornament of Asia.  But outward appearance and earthly influence is about where the similarities end.  Before discussing the letter to the church at Smyrna in the above referenced passage, some background information on the city itself is in order.

The city of Smyrna was founded around the 11th century BC by one of the four ancient Greek tribes known as the Aeolians. The city was not long under the control of the Aeolians when another Greek tribe, the Ionians, took her over. As an Ionian city, Smyrna thrived, particularly from its prominent location along major trade routes. But eventually, Ionian Smyrna met opposition from Lydia. Though they were able to withstand the attacks of Gyges , they did not fare as well against Alyattes II , who was later able to conquer and sack the city. Consequently, Smyrna lost its political identity, but did not completely cease to exist.  As evidenced by both an inscription and a fragment of the 4^th century, but their greatness was now a thing of the past. Smyrna would enter into a period of mere existence (a sort of life-through-death experience) until Alexander the Great (356–323 BC) purposed to rebuild the city. Ultimately it would not be Alexander, but his successors who would actually carry out this task. Antigonus (316—301 BC) and Lysimachus (301 BC—281 BC) bore this responsibility and receive credit not only for Smyrna’s rebuilding, but also her expansion and fortification. Hellenistic (Greek) control of Smyrna lasted until about 197 BC when ties were cut with Pergamum in favor of seeking alliance with Rome. To accomplish this alliance, Smyrna created the cult of Rome, which was affective enough that by 195 BC, deification of Rome had begun, starting with the goddess Roma . Sixty years later, Smyrna would come under complete control of Rome as the greater region became the Roman Province of Asia, with Pergamum as its capital.

The structure of the letter again follows that typical structure we have outlined in the two previous posts, with only slight deviation:

1. A Title for the Risen Christ

2. Praise of the Church

3. Rebuke / Criticism of the Church

4. Solution to the Problem Faced by the Church

5. Penalty for Disobedience

6. A Promise for those who overcome

7. A General Admonition

In this letter, we find one important distinction – numbers three and five are strangely absent.  The Risen Christ offered the church at Smyrna no rebuke and made no threats against them should they disregard His admonition!  What an incredible thing to be true of a church!

As the letter opens, Christ refers to Himself as the First and the Last, Who died and came to life. The first portion of this title – The First and the Last – is important for a couple of reasons, both of which pertain not only to the particular church being addressed, but to the entire body of Christ.  The reason is this:  it speaks to the very first doctrine that is attacked by cults and false teachers – the deity of Christ.  Allow me to explain the doctrine’s relevance here.  This “First and Last” title has been used once already in the Apocalypse.  Flip back in your Bible, or simply mouse over this reference to Revelation 1:17-18.  We find the exact same title being used here in chapter two.  The problem this creates for those who would deny the deity of Christ is that the first reference is to God the Father, while the title here is used to describe the Son.  Be sure to grasp the full weight of that connection – Jesus Christ is using the very same language to describe His eternality that is used of the Father.  If in fact Christ was only a creation of the Father, then He would certainly not be co-eternal with the Father.  The pronouncement here, however, claims just that for the Son, dealing a fatal blow to the false notion that Christ was anything less than divine.

The second application of this title is that it speaks to the supremacy of the Risen Christ over earthly circumstances – even the most severe of earthly circumstances.  This is a principal that can be seen in the other letters as well.  Persecuted and struggling churches are exhorted to look beyond their circumstances to the greater spiritual truth that God has been and still is sovereign even in those troubling times.  In Smyrna’s case, it had to do with a specific, short-term, but severe persecution.  Even the Smyrnian church was to look beyond their circumstances and recognize Jesus as the First and Last.

The second title used to describe the Risen Christ is the One who died and came to life.  The meaning of this phrase might be more literally expressed as the One who “lived through death.”  Christ was the sacrifice, depicted in Hebrews, to end all sacrifices.  He was to die and be buried, but not without the expectation of a subsequent resurrection - predicted before his crucifixion and accomplished just three days later.  Though the body Jesus inhabited truly died, the Son of God remained, through that physical death.  He literally lived through death.

We now transition to the praise portion of the letter to Smyrna and one thing we are immediately struck with is how few words are actually spent to do so. This is certainly not to indicate that there is little good to be said.  Rather, it is the complete absence of any criticism of the church which speaks her loudest and clearest praise.  Christ contrasts (vv. 9) their earthly poverty and tribulation with their spiritual wealth.  Though they had little of this world’s goods, they were rich in the things that mattered.  All too often the opposite state of affairs exists in churches today.

The Smyrnian church was encouraged not to fear what they were about to suffer at the hands of the “Synagogue of Satan” – those who called themselves Jews, but were only so outwardly.  Being exhorted not to fear, however, was a clear implication that what was about to happen was a very fearful thing.  Indeed, they were about to be “thrown into prison,” which was almost certainly just a precursor to their impending execution.  Verse ten makes this very clear as Christ exhorts them to be faithful unto death, the highest earthly price one could be asked to pay.

This earthly suffering was not without its heavenly reward, however.  The Risen Christ offers to those faithful ones a crown of life.  As is often the case with the seven letters, we see again the physical contrasted with and superseded by the spiritual.  An earthly life stands to be lost while a heavenly (and far superior) life stands to be gained.  The only way for the Smyrnian church to overcome in their time of testing was to shift their focus from the temporary here and now to the eternal prize to be won – the crown of life promised in verse ten.

Our struggles in the modern, western church pale in comparison to those of the Smyrnians.  They had their lives threatened; we at most have our popularity threatened.  They persevered through slander and ridicule; we often compromise when our image is at stake.  They were physically poor, but spiritually rich; we have much of the world’s wealth, but have failed to store up treasures in heaven.  It’s hard to truly grasp the gravity of the Smyrnian call to stand strong when we can only imagine what it would be like to face the difficulties they faced.  But the call is the same nonetheless both for individual Christians today and the congregations we belong to.

So what will it be?  Will you run when the going gets tough?  Will you cave when the pressure is on?  Will you placate and politic when it’s unpopular or even dangerous to persevere? When you’re called to put everything on the line for Christ….will you be Standing with Smyrna?

Feel Free to use the Resources below for personal study or teaching on the Book of Revelation:
Blank Chart for filling out the attributes of the 7 churches
Same Chart with Answers
Map of the seven churches of Asia
Dr. Thomas Constable’s Commentary on Revelation
Dr. Bob Utley’s Commentary on Revelation

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Jeff Whittum is the Founder and Director of Full-Proof Ministries. Challenged by a close friend, Jeff set out to discover the intellectual basis for his faith. This led him to a deeper and more substantiated faith in Christ, ultimately founding Full-Proof to reach others who are searching.