Cecil A. Fayard
Elliott Baptist Church
February 22, 2004
Smyrna, The Persecuted Church
Revelation 2:8-11
INTRODUCTION: The city of Smyrna was founded around 1450 B.C. by Tantalus, King of Manisa (spilos). In the eighth and seventh centuries B.C., the region was ruled by the Phrygians and Lydians. The Persians destroyed the city in the sixth century. In 333 B.C., Smyrna fell into the hands of Alexander the Great. For hundreds of years the city was virtually dead.
Today the City of Smyrna is called Izmir, a Turkish name for Smyrna. At the turn of the twentieth century the population was 200,000. At the turn of the twenty-first century the population is three million. Here we have a city that was dead and is now alive.
Today the city has the largest export harbor in Turkey.
At the time of John's vision, this was the most beautiful of cities; and it was the first word and last word in many matters.
John reminds the church at Smyrna that Christ is the first word and the last word, and He is risen from the dead.
I. VS. 8a THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA
A. In the wealthy, thriving city of Smyrna was a Gospel preaching, persecuted and faithful church.
1. Smyrna was well known in John's day for its wickedness and its opposition to the Gospel message.
2. As we carefully consider this local body of believers, we find that Christ gives no condemnation only commendation. This honor goes to this church and no other.
B. This church is the persecuted church.
1. "Smyrna" comes from the Greek "myrrh" which has to do with embalming, death and suffering.
2. The Smyrna church is the church of myrrh, the church of suffering, pain, tribulation and death by martyrdom.
II. 8b CHRIST'S MESSAGE FOR THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA
A. He is the eternal one.
1. "The first and the last." He always existed in the past and will always exist in the future.
2. He is the "Alpha and Omega, the first and the last..." (1:11a).
B. "Which was dead and is alive." These are encouraging words for the church at Smyrna.
1. "Which was dead." The Bible says, "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that he was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (I Cor. 15:3-4).
2. Note these two things:
a. First- He experienced the worst that life can bring - death.
b. Second - He conquered the worst life can bring - death.
3. Smyrna exemplified Christianity (Romans 14:7-9).
4. We do not worship a dead man as many others do. Christ is alive.
III. VS. 9, THE COMMENDATION GIVEN
A. "I know thy works."
1. The Greek word is ergon from which we get our word ergonomics.
a. It is what we are occupied by, our occupation.
b. This church was working for the kingdom of Christ, getting the Gospel out.
2. No matter what happened this church kept working for the Lord Jesus Christ.
B. "I know ... they tribulations."
1. The Greek word for "Tribulation" is a strong one; it is thlipsis meaning "pressure." It pictures wheat being ground into flour. It also pictures the pressure that forces the blood out of grapes.
2. The word for "know" is the Greek word "Oida" meaning "to know by experience." Christ was saying, "I know by experience what you've gone through. I've been there."
3. Hebrews 2:18
C. "I know... poverty."
1. Christians in the first century were almost always poor.
a. The ones who turned the world upside down were almost always poor folk (Acts 17:6). God uses everyday folks to get His work done (I Cor. 1:26).
b. They were poor because they were deprived of the right to work and often had their possessions confiscated. They lived in want and destitution.
c. Friends, we need to lift our voices in thanks for food, shelter, a car to drive and a job to go to. Whatever you have is more than they had.
D. "But thou art rich."
1. James speaks of the poor of this world being rich in faith (James 2:5).
2. II Cor. 8:9 tells us that believers have been made rich through the poverty of Christ.
3. "I'd rather have Jesus that silver or gold.
I'd rather be His than have riches untold.
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands.
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hands..."
E. "I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not..."
1. The Jews at Smyrna persecuted the true church.
2. The synagogue at Smyrna was filled with those who hated the Christians, those who did not believe that Christ is the Messiah. Satan was using these folks for his purposes.
3. We are to realize that our struggle today is not with flesh and blood, but with the devil himself (Eph. 6:12).
4. Anyone who does not believe on Christ and Him alone for salvation is in error.
F. Christ said, "I know."
1. Friends, He knows what pressures you are under.
2. He knows about those who mock you faith.
3. He knows your needs.
4. He knows and He cares (Heb. 4:15).
IV. VS. 10, CHRIST'S COUNSEL TO THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA
A. "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer..."
1. They had suffered and more suffering was on the way.
2. "Count up Christ's 'fear not's: they include everything. The world is always in fear - of disease, of disaster, of death. God's saints should not be so." (Newell, 45).
3. Heb. 2:14-15
B. "Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tried..." This was a reality to many of the members of the church of Smyrna. They were imprisoned or traitors to Rome because they would not bow to Caesar.
C. "Tribulation ten days..."
1. The early church suffered ten great persecutions under ten Roman emperors.
2. Ten days tribulation also indicates fierce and intense persecution.
D. "Be thou faithful unto death..."
1. There is not promise of escape, no health and wealth doctrine here.
2. Faithful even unto death - faithful always.
a. In the midst of a sin cursed world - Be faithful.
b. In a world of compromise - Be faithful.
c. In the midst of trouble and set backs - Be faithful.
3. Polycarp, an early pastor at Smyrna was faithful unto death.
E. Crown of Life - James 1:12
V. VS. 11, THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF CHRIST TO THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA
A. "He that overcometh..."
1. Overcomers are those who are born again (Rev. 7:14).
2. We are overcomers even now - I Cor. 15:57; Rom. 8:37.
B. "Shall not be hurt of the second death..."
1. The second death, spiritual death, could not touch them (Rev. 20:6).
2. Unbelievers will suffer the second death (Rev. 20:14-15).
CONCLUSION: Be faithful always.
For additional copies of the sermon CD's, please contact the church office:
Elliott Baptist Church
566 Nat G. Troutt Road
Elliott, Mississippi 38901
Phone: 662-226-4425
Pastors Email: cecilafayard@msn.com