Letter to the Church
of Smyrna
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Let's pray before beginning this lesson:
Lord God,
We wish to continue studying the letters to the seven churches, not simply to satisfy our
curiosity, but rather to learn to better love and serve You.
Today, we will focus our attention on the second letter, addressed to the church of
Smyrna.
We humbly ask You to guide us, so that our understanding may be in harmony with the
message You want to give us. In Jesus Christ our Savior we pray.
Amen.
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Revelation 1:9-11
I, John, both your brother and companion in tribulation,
and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos
for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a
trumpet, saying, (...)
«What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to
Ephesus, to Smyrna (...).»
Now, let's study the second letter, addressed to the church of Smyrna.
The name «Smyrna» comes from the Greek word «myrrha», meaning: «which gives off a
good smell when crushed».
Besides, this same Greek word also designates myrrh, an aromatic gum coming from the
balsam tree, used as incense and for embalming human remains.
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Revelation 2:8
To the angel of the church in Smyrna write, «These
things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life.»
Revelation 1:17,18
I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was
dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.
And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
Once again, the letter begins with a portrait of Jesus, taken from the initial
vision of John.
Let's carefully look at this portrait.
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Revelation 1:17,18
I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was
dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.
Revelation 1:8
«I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the
End,» says the Lord, «who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.»
Jesus' title, «the First and the Last»,
corresponds with «the Alpha and the Omega» of God, which
are the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet.
So Jesus reaffirms here that He is God, just as the Father is.
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Revelation 1:17,18
I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was
dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.
Isaiah 44:6
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.»
Furthermore, the Bible confirms that the expression «the
First and the Last» applies to God and to God only.
Yes, indeed, Jesus is God.
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Revelation 2:8
To the angel of the church in Smyrna write,
«These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life.»
The portrait of Jesus also carries a message of hope, especially well adapted
to the local church of Smyrna.
Indeed, during the years following the writing of the letter, that is, during the second
century, Smyrna was the scene of violent persecutions against the Christians.
One of its most famous martyrs was Polycarp, the head minister of the church of Smyrna for
more than 40 years, who was condemned to the stake in A.D. 155.
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Revelation 2:9
I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are
rich).
Besides, the continuation of the letter brings out the hard times of this
persecuted church.
Here is an interesting point: history tells us that after the Apostolic Church (from A.D.
31 to 100), symbolized by the church of Ephesus, the Christian Church actually went
through intense persecution for about 200 years, more precisely from 100 to 313.
With the Edict of Milan, in 313, Roman emperor Constantine made Christianity the official
religion of the Empire.
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Revelation 2:9
I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are
rich).
James 2:5
Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor
of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who
love Him?
Between 100 and 313, the persecuted Church indeed seemed very poor.
But Jesus sees beyond appearances: though poor in worldly goods, the Church is
nevertheless rich in faith, the fruit of its many trials.
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Revelation 2:9
I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are
rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a
synagogue of Satan.
While being persecuted by the Roman Empire, the Church also had to suffer the
attacks of the Jews.
Historians of this time report that at the martyrdom of Polycarp, minister of the local
church of Smyrna, the Jews of this city personally, and with great eagerness, gathered
firewood to supply the stake, even though it was the Sabbath day.
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The Bible reports some of the attacks of the Jews against the Church:
«And the next Sabbath almost the whole city came
together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled
with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.»
(ACTS 13:44,45)
«But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the
brethren.» (ACTS 14:2)
«But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at
Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds.» (ACTS 17:13)
«[Paul] testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. But when they opposed him and
blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, "Your blood be upon your own
heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."» (ACTS 18:5,6)
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Revelation 2:9
I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and
are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Romans 2:28,29
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is that
circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and
circumcision is that of the heart.
Jesus calls people from all nations to become Jews inwardly, not in the flesh,
thus making up «the Israel of God» (Galatians 6:16), His
Church.
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Revelation 2:9
I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and
are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
1 Corinthians 6:19,20
Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit,
which are God's.
Jesus also brings up the danger, for the false Jew, of becoming «a synagogue of Satan» rather than «the
temple of the Holy Spirit».
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Revelation 2:10
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to
suffer.
Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested.
The letter to Smyrna goes on, still on the theme of the persecution of the
Church.
From 100 to 313, the persecution of Christians, whose religion was then illegal, was
encouraged by many Roman emperors, among which were:
- Trajan (98-117);
- Hadrian (117-138);
- Antonine (138-161);
- Marcus Aurelius (161-180);
- Septime Severius (193-211);
- Decius (249-251);
- Valerian (253-260);
- Diocletian (284-305);
- and Galerius (305-311).
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Revelation 2:10
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to
suffer.
Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and
you will have tribulation ten days.
The letter to the church of Smyrna completes the dark picture by announcing
that it «will have tribulation ten days».
What is that tribulation?
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Numbers 14:34
According to the number of the days in which you spied
out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty
years.
Ezekiel 4:6
You shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty
days.
I have laid on you a day for each year.
In Bible prophecy, a day represents a year, as we have seen in the lesson «The Four Mythical Beasts».
This principle is acknowledged and used by many Bible commentators.
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Revelation 2:10
Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into
prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days.
So the letter to the church of Smyrna ends its prophecy by announcing a
persecution of ten years (one year for each day).
Indeed, history reports that the most severe persecution during this period was the one
launched by the emperor Diocletian.
This persecution began in 303, and ended exactly ten years later, in 313, with the
promulgation of the Edict of Milan by the emperor Constantine, which made Christianity the
official religion of the Empire.
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Revelation 2:10
Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of
life.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he
has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those
who love Him.
Just as myrrh spreads its fragance when crushed, the martyrs' blood, once
spilled, becomes a seed of life for all those who witness their faithfulness.
To all those martyrs, Jesus promises the crown of life.
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Our perseverance will be rewarded with the imperishable crown:
«And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive
the crown of glory that does not fade away.» (1 PETER 5:4)
«And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to
obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.» (1 CORINTHIANS 9:25)
«I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally,
there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His
appearing.» (2 TIMOTHY 4:7,8)
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Revelation 2:11
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches.
«He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.»
Revelation 20:14
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.
This is the second death.
The letter to Smyrna ends with a very appropriate promise from Jesus: the
believer who goes through the first death on this earth won't have to suffer the second
death in the lake of fire, at the Day of the Judgment.
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Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first
resurrection.
Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ,
and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Later in the book of Revelation John saw, in vision, the fulfillment of the
promise made to the church of Smyrna.
Indeed, «the second death has no power» over God's risen
people. Rather, they inherit eternal life and reign with Him.
We will come back to this subject in a future lesson about the Millennium.
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Revelation 13:15-17
[He causes] as many as would not worship the image of the
beast to be killed.
And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark
on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who
has the mark.
Now, what is the personal application of the letter to Smyrna?
Prophecy announces that faithful believers will go through very difficult times just
before Jesus' return.
The advice, encouragements and promises to Smyrna, the Persecuted Church, will surely be
of great help to us.
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John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may
have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
May we all remember, at the right time, these precious words from Jesus, so
that, with the peace of our Lord and Savior in our hearts, we may have the courage and
strength we need to go through the future tribulation.
Let's end this lesson with a summary of the letter to Smyrna.
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Dear friends, let's pray together:
O Lord,
Your Son said: «He who finds his life will lose it, and he who
loses his life for My sake will find it.» (Matthew 10:39) This message summarizes
very well the letter to the church of Smyrna.
We sincerely ask You to give us this courage You gave to Your martyrs, so that we too may
remain faithful until the end.
Please help us to remember these precious words from Jesus: «I am
the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.»
(John 11:25)
In His name we pray.
Amen.
Source of the Pictures of this Lesson
Screen 1: Picture collection «ClickArt 65,000» by Broderbund,
CD #4, NATTR088.JPG. Screen 2: Photo in: «Master Clips 500,000» by
IMSI, CD #24, 710101.JPG. Picture edited by Cyberspace Ministry. Screen 3: HARLAN,
Russell. In: «Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories, volume 5» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), Review and
Herald Publishing Association and Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1976, p.92,93.
Screen 4: FRA BARTOLOMEO. «God the Father» (1509), Museo e Pinacoteca Nazionale
di Palazzo Mansi, Lucques. In: «La Peinture de la Renaissance Italienne» (BECK, James
H.), Editions Könemann, 1999, p.348. Screen 5: GRÜNEWALD, Matthias.
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Art» (WRIGHT, Susan), Todtri Productions Limited, New York, 1996, p.107. Screen
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p.10. Screen 8: GEROME. «Last Prayers». Golvin and Landes (1990).
Picture from the Web site: http://www.ancientsites.com/er/martyrdom.html Screen 9:
In: «The Watchtower» magazine (December 1, 1998), New York, Watch Tower Bible
and Tract Society, p.3. Screen 10: In: «The Watchtower» magazine
(November 15, 1988), New York, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, p.8. Screen
11: JUSTINEN, Lars. In: «Questionnaire Adulte de l'Ecole du Sabbat», Pacific
Press Publishing Association, Fourth Quarter, 1996, front cover. Screen 12: In:
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p.16. Screen 13: Photos by DUIGAN, Michael. Roman Emperors «Trajan»,
«Hadrian», «Antonine», «Marcus Aurelius», «Septime Severius», «Valerian». In:
«Chronique des Empereurs Romains» (SCARRE, Chris), Casterman, 1995, pp.84,85,159.
Composite picture by Cyberspace Ministry. Screen 14: In: «The
Watchtower» magazine (November 1, 1991), New York, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society,
p.8. Screen 15: Photo by BAKER, John. In: «Signs of the Times» magazine
(July 1990), Pacific Press Publishing Association, p.23. Screen 16: «Diocletian
- Coin, Roman bronze». In: «Collier's Encyclopedia Deluxe 1998», Sierra Home. Picture
edited by Cyberspace Ministry. Screen 17: In: «The Watchtower» magazine
(December 1, 1988), New York, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, p.15. Screen
18: BAZZI, Giovanni Antonio (1477-1549). «St. Sebastian», Palazzo Pitti,
Florence. In: «The Art of Angels» (LOXTON, Howard), Regency House Publishing Limited,
1995, p.70. Screen 19: Picture from the Web site:
http://home.hiwaay.net/~scaudle/Animation/AnimationShots.htm Screen 20: ZINGARO,
Charles. In: «The Bible Story, volume 5» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), Pacific Press Publishing
Association, 1957, p.152. Screen 21: In: «La Révélation - le grand
dénouement est proche», New York, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 1988, p.195.
Screen 22: GREENE, Nathan. «The Invitation». In: «Inspirational Fine Art»,
Hart Classic Editions (www.hartclassics.com), p.2. Screen 23: REMMEY,
Paul. In: «The Bible Story, volume 9» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), Pacific Press Publishing
Association, 1957, p.181. Picture edited by Cyberspace Ministry. Table of Screen
23: CONVERSE, James. In: «God Cares, volume 1» (MAXWELL, C.Mervyn), Pacific
Press Publishing Association, 1981, p.124. Screen 24: Picture collection
«ClickArt 65,000» by Broderbund, CD #4, NATOT003.JPG.
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The test of Lesson 23 is waiting for you!