(Reflections and notes on Jesus’ words to the church in Smyrna in Revelation 2:8-11. Explore the previous parts of this series.)
Jesus’ words for Smyrna are not many, but is said is packed with a lot. Considering this letter we get how Jesus relates to the church; what Jesus recognises about the state and plight of the church; what Jesus recommends for upcoming issues to the church; and what Jesus reassures for the church as well what Jesus offers as a reward for the overcomers.
Let’s get a picture of Smyrna at the time. North-west of Ephesus, Smyrna is another port city. As such, like Ephesus, Smyrna is a prosperous place. A strategic trading centre because of the port and routes to the rest of the region, it attracted people of different cultures. This explains why there was a distinct Jewish community in the area. Smyrna is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible so all that is known about the church is what Jesus says to them here.
The Relationship (vs. 8) – The church in Smyrna have the privilege of being addressed by the one who is the ‘first and the last, who died and came to life’. What a way of relating. Jesus expresses His divine nature (first and the last) as well as His human nature (died and came to life). He expresses His hold over all time as well as His active participation in time. Also pertinently for the people He’s addressing, He refers to what it was to suffer and meet a seemingly fatal end, only to overcome that to live forever. This is amazing. Consider having a word from that kind of source. Awesome and yet relateable. High over all creation, yet able to relate to your issues even to the point of death. And He has a word for you. You in the condition you see yourself in, this King has a word for you, encourages you to be in His presence to hear from Him about your condition. This is a lot more epic than a beggar being invited to hear from royalty – far more epic than that in scale. Especially because, as we will see, Jesus is not talking to beggars.
The Recognition (vs. 9) – You think you’ve got problems, check out the church in Smyrna. Poor and persecuted. In startling contrast to the prosperous city in which they live, the church are materially impoverished. When some people hear that today, they might think about not being able to pay for the building or keep up with utilities for the place. This is not what Jesus was referring to. Church is the people. Jesus is referring to the economic state of the brethren. They might live in a rich place, but they are not experiencing any of that wealth. On the contrary, they are struggling.
While they are struggling they’re also getting labelled with all manner of slanderous tags by the city synagogue. Those Jews in the city who uphold the law of Moses – or their perspective on it – are following the trend that had been established for centuries. That trend namely being whenever God’s people are present, those who claim to be God’s people put them under pressure, persecute them, even go in for the kill. You think about Stephen’s address to the Sanhedrin in Acts 7 and his outline of the precedent of the supposed gatekeepers of God’s law, actively opposing God’s chosen people from Moses to Jesus. Of course Jesus had enough examples of that pressure Himself as we recall His interaction with those who claimed never to have been slaves, only for Jesus to expose them as being slaves to sin and worse than that being children of the devil.
Which brings us neatly to how Jesus refers to the synagogue that the church in Smyrna face. They are making false accusations against the ones called out by Christ. False accusations with the effort to defame the character and also render them useless to the city of Smyrna. The tactics of this synagogue leads Jesus to dismiss them as real Jews or real descendants of Abraham or subscribers to Moses. Just as He dismissed His accusers in His day, so He dismisses the accusers in the scenario the church in Smyrna face. Jesus does that because He pays attention to what’s going on in His church. He takes it seriously when those who are essentially working for Satan, look to sully the good name of those who represent Him, impoverishing them in the process.
There is also something Jesus adds whilst acknowleding their impoverished state. That was that although the church in Smyrna was definitely poor, as far as He could see, it was rich. That sounds odd. They’re poor and yet Jesus says they’re rich? What is Jesus talking about? What Jesus is talking about is how He’s always counted riches. The Apostle Paul in his encouragement to the church in Colossians urged them to seek heavenly treasures. He could urge that because Jesus Himself was clear to tell people to invest treasures in heaven. What that means in practical terms is about valuing the things that God values and pursuing the things that God treasures. He treasures His kingdom, He treasures His righteousness, He treasures those who put their faith in Him. He treasures those who go about in purity, mercy and humility making peace in the light of the Prince of Peace. A stance for Christ that marks you out that way distinguishes you even from those who make a claim to uphold Jewish standards. As far as Jesus is concerned why this church in Smyrna is rich is because they have clearly valued the things that matter to Him. They have done that despite their financial circumstances. The fact that they do that in those situations is remarkable – which is why Jesus remarks on it. It also leaves a bit of disturbing question for us to consider: would Jesus observe us to be rich in Him?
The Recommendation (vs 10) – When you’re going through the tough time that the church in Smyrna are going through, it would be good to get a prophetic word that says they’ll be delivered. It would be great to hear a word that says you’re over the worst and it should get easier from here. Jesus is not in for that kind of word to His bride. Indeed He clearly warns the church in Smyrna to get ready for the heat to turn up and lead to improsonment. Slander and impoverishment is one thing, but now they’ll weigh in with the force of the law to put them in chains and utter destitution for their stance for Jesus. That does not sound like the good news. That sounds like a good reason to look for a means of escape from that. Yet notice Jesus’ first words before He gives that referral – do not be afraid. Fear not.
The good thing about following Jesus is that He warns you from the beginning that following Him includes persecution for His sake. Anyone who chooses to follow Him must expect troubles of some sort. That’s what He went through, that what His followers immediately after Him experienced and in this situation, the church in Smyrna are suffering. Yet in it all, Jesus is clear – do not be afraid. Through it all, the church are told they will be tested and in it all they are told to not be afraid. That word to the church can only make sense if the focus is on the one who is talking. If they focus on the one who tells them not to be afraid, they can trust Him. When He talks about enduring to the point of death, He should know about that. So when He talks about that, they can trust Him who was dead and is now alive to likewise be the necessary support for them. Following Jesus is not the guarantee of being trouble-free. It is not the promise of safety and security from the plots and schemes of the wicked one. Jesus does not end with the information about what tough times lie ahead.
The Reassurance (vs 10) – Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. What a reassuring word from the One who conquered death. Imagine being given such a crown from this King. In the same way that Jesus can see riches from a heavenly perspective as opposed to the temporal earthly view, so He can guarantee that if we can trust Him to the end of our time on this earth, so we can look forward to receiving something even greater than what the earth in this form can offer. We can look forward to the rule of eternal life with Him in the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells and there is no Satan inspiring folks to throw slander. Like the words from the hymn suggests it’s worth clinging to the old rugged cross knowing that you’ll exchange it some day for a crown.
That hope should inform how we live and endure. That hope should influence the endurance seeing how it will lead to a crown. Just as James would write about counting it all joy when people go through various trials and later on assuring those that did so that there was a crown of life prepared for them (see James 1), so Jesus Himself affirms this word. This is His word – this is His promise – this is His reassurance. Is that enough to help when the persecution increases? Is that enough when it’s not just reputation and employment at stake, but when life is on the line and any freedoms considered are taken? Can that vision of the glorious Christ who overcame all be enough?
The degree of persecution being described by Jesus might be foreign to those who live in societies that at least give the appearance of being tolerant of Christians or even claiming to uphold Judaeo-Christian values. Yet there are plenty of places around the world at this moment where such threats to life and the opportunity to make a living are very real. Persecution for the sake of Christ is a reality for brothers and sisters in a variety of locations. Their opponents won’t necessarily be slanderous synagogues but more sinister and overt forces that want to root out all Christian presence in villages, towns and cities. The word to endure with that reassurance is applicable now as it was to the church suffering in Smyrna. It’s cause for those of us in less harsh environments to bear them in mind in prayer. Sure, pray that they will be delivered, but more importantly pray that they will be faithful unto death. While we pray for them, we pray that we likewise will cultivate the character to endure.
The Reward (vs 11) – Jesus is talking to a hurting church. Jesus is talking to a suffering church. Jesus is talking to those who will go through great pain and tribulation. Notice His word to the overcomers – they won’t be hurt. But what a thing not to be hurt by. The second death referred to indicates something of the bigger plan that God has for this world. Those who have faith in Jesus are said to have been born again into a new and living hope. It is a new life we live having said goodbye to the old one. Those who continue in that life get to experience the life everlasting. They have two birth experiences which has a requirement of a death experience in there. Yet the plan of God is for His day of judgement where even the dead will be brought to life again, only to experience a second death. That death is worse than the first death – it is the ultimate end. An end reserved for those who have rejected the invitation by God to know Him through Jesus. Escaping that fate is an invitation to something so enriching, so ecstatic so energising that eternity is spent enjoying that as it is the presence of God Himself.
If we suffer with Him, we shall reign with Him, but are we prepared to suffer?
Questions based on the letter to the church in Smyrna
- What does this letter tell you about the nature of Jesus?
- What does this letter tell you about the nature of the church that follows Jesus?
- What are the marks of a rich church as far as Jesus sees it?
- What would be the equivalent of a synagogue of Satan today?
- How does this letter help you to pray for the suffering church worldwide?
- How can the suffering church endure the challenges of perseuction today?
- What does it really cost to be a Christian today and how can the cost be met?
Recommended Sources
David Treybig on Smyrna in the Seven Churches series
David Thompson Study #08 Revelation 2:8-11 in the Lectures on Revelation series
David Pawson teaching Smyrna in his series on the Letters of Jesus
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 
This is such a helpful perspective, Chris. Thanks for writing it. Smyrna today is on the Turkish Coast, still a prosperous port city. But I wonder what remains of active church life and community in the modern city? Nearly 2000 years on from Revelation and perhaps things remain much as they were! There are at least a few Catholic, Baptist and Anglican congregations remaining.
If there’s a community of faith and deep spiritual life there, Jesus’ message to Smyrna might still speak to them in the same way. Don’t be afraid, press on, there is a reward of greater life than the world can snuff out. What a thought!