characteristics of the church of smyrna

He died for one reason: his unyielding faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He knows us more intimately that we can imagine and desires that we be in Him and glorify Him fully. The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia in Their Local Setting by Colin Hemer. They will only last for a moment in life of the blessings that you will have for eternity. Because they did they were considered to be unpatriotic traitors: you do not love Rome. Thus they were tortured. John is grabbing their attention by reminding them (and us) who Christ is and what He has done. (NASB). It was one of the chief cities of Roman-dominated Asia and competed with places such as Pergamos and Ephesus for the title "First City of Asia." Many were placed on the rack where they were stretched so far that their legs and their arms were pulled out of their sockets. Q. Located just 35 miles north of Ephesus, at the head of the Aegean Sea, the thriving city of Smyrna was known for its beauty, wealth, and achievement. All rights reserved. What similarities to Revelation 2:8-11 do you see in this passage? In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. Much of Smyrnas social life revolved around pagan worship. 2. What are some reasons God allows suffering in our lives? Editor's Note: a lightly edited transcription of the attached audio file will be found at the end of this originally written daily study guide. Even after I left to go on staff of Campus Crusade, she wrote me while I was in ministry. Perhaps there are people in the church who are just trying to make life hard for you, but they are not really your enemy. Maybe someone in your family is causing you some grief. How is it possible to not fear impending tribulation and suffering? I understand. He can walk right through it with them. The Church of Smyrna Even though He died, He conquered death and He rose again. THE CHURCH OF SYMRNA(THE PERSECUTED CHURCH) - Pastor J.T Awe Its streets were wide and paved. What would Jesus say to such a church? My time came to rotate through that lab. 3:17); it is impossible for a person to be in Smyrna, before the Lord, yet at the same time be in Laodicea, before the world. Jesus is upfront about the fact that we will experience trouble in this world, but He has also promised that His peace, grace, and abiding presence are our refuge during our trials (Matthew 28:20). If someone slanders you, what do you do? He is talking about that kind of pressure that comes from when you take a heavy rock and you put it on someones chest and you press down on their chest with all your force so that it suffocates the person. This was a message meant to encourage them in light of what they were facing presently and were about to face in the future. In verse 11 he says, He who overcomes and again last week we talked about who the overcomer is. Others were taken to the Coliseum and fed to angry, hungry lions. 6 Stott, What Christ Thinks of the Church, 43. Jude identifies characteristics of the advisory. Smyrna, an ancient city now surrounded by the modern city of Izmir, was originally established around 1000 BC by Aeolian Greek settlers in "Old Smyrna" (Bayrakl Hy) on a small peninsula jutting out from Asia Minor into the Aegean Sea, similar to Old Tyre. These Jews were being used by him to carry out the works of Satan. What was Jesus message to the church in Philadelphia in Revelation? The church at Smyrna was to undergo some intense persecution and tribulation. Home values, sales prices, taxes, school data, and more. Life is not going so great. Their enemies can only take their lives once. Undoubtedly, the church of Smyrna could have justified any syncretistic actions to preserve their livelihood and lives by proof texted scripture or by claiming that their compromise was for the greater good of tolerance, love, and grace. How have you seen God use trials and suffering in your life? 2007 - 2023 ChurchLeadership.Org - All Rights Reserved. from A.D. c. 100-316; Pergamos (Revelation 2:12-17), 'where Satan dwells' is suggestive of the church mixing with the world . We need to look beyond the pain and look for that purpose that He wants to accomplish in our life. I do not agree with that. For the first He says in Revelation 2:10, Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Then, I got my purse and I drove home. What three things did Jesus mention that He was aware of concerning the church at Smyrna? The Church in its "Ephesian Period" having lost its "First Love," the Lord is now about to "chastise" it, so as to cause it to return to Him. What Scriptures come to your mind concerning this? How is Satan described in this passage and how does he work against believers? He has witnessed their continual affliction and the slander theyve suffered from those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. The fact that these hardships have not escaped their Saviors attention surely would have strengthened the Body and served as a loving reminder of Jesuss abiding presence. If they kill you, they just ended your physical life. She began to just blast me for my faith. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. You know, I was just going to let her know and express that I am glad you are going to hell. Ask what you dare if you will let me. List reasons why those Jews were not considered real Jews in Jesus eyes. My exhortation to you on this one is to be ready, to be ready for the suffering that will come into your life. The troubles we face can cause us to fear so we seek to cover them up with our pride and/or bitterness. Anytime there is a sense of spiritual awakening or spiritual revival or the sense of the spirit of God moving in lives I will tell you, it makes Satan scream. I would leave every night saying, God, why do I have to go to these events? because I did not feel like I was having a witness. The first way they are suffering is through pressure. c. Slanderings. The church in Smyrna and the church in Laodicea stand in stark contrast to each other (Rev. We became great friends. I was so bitter. So, they were infatuated with the Roman government and they worshipped the emperors. They could not advance in jobs. When we refuse to heed His call, it will just be a short time until we are thrown away, given to the devil, since we are working for him anyway. When we suffer, we may think that Christ is absent, but He is not. He just came in. Kingdom 102: Surrendering Our Heavenly Passport, Kingdom 102: A Break in Diplomatic Relations, Kingdom 102: We Are Prisoners In a Foreign Land, Kingdom 102: Understanding His Mission, Purpose and Who He Is, Kingdom 102: His Original Mission and Purpose, Kingdom 102: Developing a Kingdom Concept, Kingdom 102: Meditate on These Kingdom Principles, Kingdom 102: His Assignment, Preach the Kingdom, Kingdom 102: Preach and Teach the Gospel of the Kingdom, Kingdom 102: Representing the King: The Power of Our Position, Kingdom 102: Restoring the Kingdom and Its Mission Statement, Kingdom 102: The Kingdom Reintroduced Pt 1, Kingdom 102: The Kingdom Reintroduced Pt 2, Kingdom 102: God's Plan to Restore Our Place, Kingdom 102: Preparation for the Counselor (Holy Spirit), Kingdom 102: Preparing for the Indwelling, Kingdom 102: A New Order is Here, in the Last Stage, Kingdom 102: The New Order and Its Citizens, Kingdom 102: The Final Process: Becoming One With the Holy Spirit, Kingdom 102: The Kingdom is the Good News Pt 1, Kingdom 102: The Kingdom is the Good News Pt 2, Kingdom 103: The King's Viewpoint of Giving. But believers need not to fear death, because it will only result in their receiving a crown of life. 1.2 Name. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. Father, I pray that we would be people who suffer well, who would please you in a way that we handle anything that comes up. He is aware of the enemys plans and the afflictions we face (Hebrews 2:17-18). 2. They were poor. Nor will we suffer hardships like imprisonment for our faith, and very few of us will face the choice between our livelihood or a life with Christ. Christianity has never completely left this city. Anyone who has said I cannot earn salvation on my own so I put my faith in the blood of Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for my sins. She used the Word of God to just muzzle me. There was no rebuke for this church and because they were faithful until death, their candlestick has never been removed. The words of Jesus to the church in Smyrna in Revelation 2:8-11 offer insight into the life of a first-century congregation, and there are many applications for today's believers. For example, the letter to Ephesus . Rest in His presence. 6. Smyrna: The Suffering Church Revelation 2:8-11. But, you know, they heard every word. What two instructions did Jesus give them concerning the upcoming tribulation? Sermon on Revelation 2:8-11 - The Church Of Smyrna - Study and Obey He is not referring to eternal life here because you do not work for eternal life. He who overcomes is any believer, anyone who has placed his trust in Jesus Christ as his savior. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! The substance was used to make fragrant perfumes and anointing oils (Exodus 30:23) and was used in ancient burial preparations (John 19:39). A person spends 35 pence from a small stall. Jesus wanted to encourage them to stand strong, even if it meant physical death. In between were the temples of Apollo, Asklepios, and Aphrodite. He knows the tough times. So, I went into her office, which was at the back of the lab. In Revelation 2:9 He says, , I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. What the Bible says about Smyrna, Church of - Bible Tools Kingdom 103: Your Faith is Essential in the Kingdom, Kingdom 103: They Praise Him, But Fail to Obey Him, Kingdom 103: The King's Will and the King's Word, Kingdom 103: Know Your Purpose While on This Earth. 5. I was not Crickett then. They were a synagogue of Satan because they were attacking the church. Kingdom 103: The Governor is Meant For All, Kingdom 103: The Holy Spirit is Your Guide and Teacher, Kingdom 103: Your Legacy and the Kingdom, Kingdom 104: The Misrepresentation of the Kingdom, Kingdom 104: Earthly Holidays Misrepresent the Kingdom, Kingdom 104: His Name is All Authority and Power, Kingdom 104: His Law, the Source of All His Principles and Truth, Kingdom 104: Failing to Know Your Kingdom Assignment Brings Boredom, Kingdom 104: The Purpose of the Sabbath--Rest and Teach, Kingdom 104: The Sabbath or Seventh Day God's Way, Kingdom 104: The Sabbath or Seventh Day God's Way Pt 2, Kingdom 104: Living in the Kingdom Culture, Kingdom 104: Your Eternal Foundation Will Sustain You, Kingdom 104: The Diluting of the Kingdom Message, Kingdom 104: Being Deceived From Your True Identity Pt 1, Kingdom 104: Being Deceived From Your True Identity Pt 2, Kingdom 104: Being Deceived Without a Solid Foundation, Kingdom 104: What Profit Has Righteousness in the Kingdom? Thank you for the strength that You give us when our flesh just does not have it. It is not for you to carry around and have them saying, wow, look at my crown! Your crown is a little small there. Look how many I have. These crowns are not for the purpose of making you feel good about your life on this earth because we are told in Revelation 4:10 that we will go before the throne of God and we will go on our knees and our faces before Him and we will cast our crowns at his feet. Go ahead and turn with me to Revelation 2. (PDF) SO 2022, nr 3 (23) DRUK - Academia.edu Ch 1 pt 3, Kingdom 104: Masculine-Minded Men of the Kingdom Government Pt 1, Kingdom 104: Masculine-Minded Men of the Kingdom Government Pt 2, Kingdom 104: The Benefits of Understanding the Simplicity of the Kingdom, Kingdom 104: The Benefits of Discernment, The Kingdom Is the Crux of the Problem Pt 1, The Kingdom Is the Crux of the Problem Pt 2. Do not be afraid. All rights reserved. Are you secure concerning your eternal destiny? Jesus wanted to encourage them to stand strong, even if it meant physical death. All Christians cannot stand on their own feet and you could not do this if you had to. They already were in the midst of tribulation (v. 9) and Jesus had no rebuke or condemnation for them. released through Familius Publishing in 2020. Satan is the ultimate enemy. ATTOM AVM; Home Equity Data . It is the only one of the seven cities still in flourishing condition. She prayed and asked God to give me strength to go in the next day and to handle this the way that Jesus would. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. Throughout history, Smyrna has suffered its fair share of hardship. I was ready to share Christ with anybody and, you know, I could handle this lady. How wonderful it would be if our church received an encouraging letter from Jesus, especially if it contained no criticism. I do not want to simply stand there. Maybe someone you love is hurting. We need to look beyond the trial. I was going in the next morning and I was going to tell this lady that she was going to hell and I was going to celebrate that she was going. The Message to the Church at Smyrna. At first, the emperors did not want anything to do with it, but by the time Domitian became the Roman emperor, he made it mandatory that all citizens would worship the emperor or face death. He is the overcomer and it says here in Revelation 2:11. The Seven Churches of Revelation: Why They | Zondervan Academic Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Why Did Jesus Give Believers the Beatitudes? These actions would have given the believers could a measure of favor with the government and secured a much easier life. Because I was on staff here and was one of the instructors, I had to go to all the parties, all the festivities, and all the graduation dinners. How does this compare with the strong terminology Jesus uses in Rev 2:9? How do these verses help us understand the meaning of Christ as He who was dead, and has come to life? The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25). The name of Smyrna was equated with myrrh. They will suffer and be tormented for a period of time, but it will not be for eternity because it says the second death. Why are these blaspheming Jews referred to as a synagogue of Satan? I will tell you that I do not want to stand there before the throne of God empty-handed. What do I do about calling a priest father at my Catholic University? I do believe that hell is a literal place. What does it mean to be faithful until death? 3. I. Jesus' Resurrection Gives Us Hope. 6. Do not be afraid. He knows the suffering that you are going through. So, how is He involved in your church? Smyrna - Life, Hope & Truth Jesus has no censure for the church 1. It is just the beginning because He is the victor and He conquered death. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. How does this apply to me? Until recently, we who live in the United States and Canada have had many personal liberties, particularly the freedom to worship God.In the post-World War II era, most other modern Israelitish nations have also enjoyed such freedoms, and thus most in the church of God are not accustomed to widespread or severe persecution. It was used to embalm the dead in the first century (Jn. What caused them to turn out to be a church of bitterness and strife? Welcome to the home of Intentional Worship! - Facebook Laodicea lay in Phrygia's Lycus Valley, ten miles west of Colosse and six miles south of Hierapolis. You see, Smyrna had a lot of religions. Be thankful that He did this that He died for us. Just say Caesar is lord to save your life. And he would not do it. He has always existed. I just thought, you have no idea.. Revelation 20:14 and Revelation 21:8 tells us that the second death is the lake of fire and brimstone. What does God want me to share with someone? What was Jesus' message to the church in Smyrna in Revelation? I cannot remember all the things said, but I do remember pieces of it that I was a weak little wimp who cannot stand on your own two feet. He was faithful until death and he lost his physical life, but he gained so much more which brings us to the fifth reminder to help us suffer well. Smyrna: Faithful Until Death - Church of the Great God Why is it that when we seek to run "His" church "our" way, we embarrass and dishonor Him and His Way? Christians are not exempt from suffering. Lets pray. I thought, okay we can pray about this. This was true of this church, all the seven churches, the church throughout the ages, and churches today. Into Thy Word Ministries. What Is the Abomination of Desolation in the End Times? They were doing Satans will and not Gods.

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