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Episode 43 The Revelation 2`8-11
“The Letter to the Church at Smyrna: No Fear!” Revelation 2:8-11
Greg Wendschlag
Background
Still exists today as Ismir. Third largest city in Turkey. 300,000 pop.
Known as “Beauty of Asia” “The City of Life and Strength”
A seaport city 35 miles North of Ephesus.
Loyal to Rome, erected the temple to the Goddess of Rome.
Polycarp was the young (20-30 yrs.) Bishop of Smyrna.
Polycarp was martyred during the Christian persecution.
The Church suffered intense persecution from the first century – 313 A.D.
Major theme of death in the Letter to Smyrna.
Smyrna – Hebrew root: myrrh.
Primary purpose – embalming.
Gives off its fragrance from being crushed.
Gift of the Magi to Jesus – Mt. 2:11
Gold – royalty
Frankincense – deity, priesthood
Myrrh – suffering, death.
In the millennium gold and frankincense given but no myrrh will be offered to Jesus. Is. 60:6
Who Jesus is – Verse 8
Angel - messenger. Literal angel of the church.
I am the first and the last who died and came to life again. Rev. 1:17-18
What Jesus Knows - Verse 9
1. He knows about your afflictions: pressure from outside the church. Satanic affliction.
2. He knows about your poverty: one who has lost property and possessions because they were a believer. ”Yet you are rich!” 2 Cor. 6:10, Matt. 6:20, Luke 16:11
3. He knows the slanderous talk spoken about you: the Judaisers 1 Pet 2:19-23, Rom. 2:28-29
What Jesus Commands - Verse 10
1. Do not fear: 2 Tim. 3:12
The Devil is behind this testing: Rev. 12:12 - he knows his time is short.
2. Be faithful unto death: Rev. 12 - The overcomers will be faithful even unto death.
What is the meaning of “ten days”?
Ten years?
Ten waves of Roman persecution?
Nero - 54-68
Domitian - 95-96
Trajan - 104-117
Marcus Aurelius - 161-180
Septimus Severus - 100-211
Maziminus - 235-237
Decius - 249-251
Valerian - 257-260
Aurelian - 270-275
Diocletion - 303-313 the worst of all.
According to Fox’s Book of Martyrs 5,000,000 people died over 250 years.
Tied to Daniel 1:12-20 - Hebrew captives tested in Babylon for ten days with special food not from the King’s table etc.
What Jesus Promises - Verse 10-11
1. A crown of life: the victors crown. The crown is the symbol. Life is the promise.
2. Second Death will not touch you: Rev. 20:14-15 - Eternal death. The lake of fire.
How does this letter, with a theme of persecution apply to us today?
Rev. 12 - we will overcome by the blood of the lamb, by the word of our testimony, that we did not fear death as to shrink back from it. Do we fear death?
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By Greg Wendschlag
4.7
1515 ratings
“The Letter to the Church at Smyrna: No Fear!” Revelation 2:8-11
Greg Wendschlag
Background
Still exists today as Ismir. Third largest city in Turkey. 300,000 pop.
Known as “Beauty of Asia” “The City of Life and Strength”
A seaport city 35 miles North of Ephesus.
Loyal to Rome, erected the temple to the Goddess of Rome.
Polycarp was the young (20-30 yrs.) Bishop of Smyrna.
Polycarp was martyred during the Christian persecution.
The Church suffered intense persecution from the first century – 313 A.D.
Major theme of death in the Letter to Smyrna.
Smyrna – Hebrew root: myrrh.
Primary purpose – embalming.
Gives off its fragrance from being crushed.
Gift of the Magi to Jesus – Mt. 2:11
Gold – royalty
Frankincense – deity, priesthood
Myrrh – suffering, death.
In the millennium gold and frankincense given but no myrrh will be offered to Jesus. Is. 60:6
Who Jesus is – Verse 8
Angel - messenger. Literal angel of the church.
I am the first and the last who died and came to life again. Rev. 1:17-18
What Jesus Knows - Verse 9
1. He knows about your afflictions: pressure from outside the church. Satanic affliction.
2. He knows about your poverty: one who has lost property and possessions because they were a believer. ”Yet you are rich!” 2 Cor. 6:10, Matt. 6:20, Luke 16:11
3. He knows the slanderous talk spoken about you: the Judaisers 1 Pet 2:19-23, Rom. 2:28-29
What Jesus Commands - Verse 10
1. Do not fear: 2 Tim. 3:12
The Devil is behind this testing: Rev. 12:12 - he knows his time is short.
2. Be faithful unto death: Rev. 12 - The overcomers will be faithful even unto death.
What is the meaning of “ten days”?
Ten years?
Ten waves of Roman persecution?
Nero - 54-68
Domitian - 95-96
Trajan - 104-117
Marcus Aurelius - 161-180
Septimus Severus - 100-211
Maziminus - 235-237
Decius - 249-251
Valerian - 257-260
Aurelian - 270-275
Diocletion - 303-313 the worst of all.
According to Fox’s Book of Martyrs 5,000,000 people died over 250 years.
Tied to Daniel 1:12-20 - Hebrew captives tested in Babylon for ten days with special food not from the King’s table etc.
What Jesus Promises - Verse 10-11
1. A crown of life: the victors crown. The crown is the symbol. Life is the promise.
2. Second Death will not touch you: Rev. 20:14-15 - Eternal death. The lake of fire.
How does this letter, with a theme of persecution apply to us today?
Rev. 12 - we will overcome by the blood of the lamb, by the word of our testimony, that we did not fear death as to shrink back from it. Do we fear death?