Smyrna: Realities of Suffering

• Smyrna was the rival sister city 40 miles north of Ephesus
  • Like Ephesus, Smyrna had a port but it was bigger and did not have the sult problem like Ephesus
  • Smyrna was the real glory of Asia Minor, but Ephesus bent the knee to Rome first and was rewarded as the Roman capital of the region
• Smyrna means “sweet smelling” and derives its name from the myrrh trees that lined the city that it was known for
• Cybele, Alekepios, Zeus, and emperor worship were the primary gods worshiped in Smyrna
  • In Aristides (contemporary of Polycarp), “Defense of the Four” (mentioned above), he lambasts a group of people, “the impious men of Palestine” and complained “they do not hold to the higher powers” and simply as “atheists” for refusal to worship their gods
• Smyrna’s roads were paved with marble, except the main road that left the temple of Zeus on top of the mountain (center of the city) down to the temple of Cybrele, which was made of gold.
  • See Revelation 21:21 of the New Jerusalem
  • The Myrh pines rising along the Marble roads winding up the hill of the city looked like a glowing crown from sea
  • Smyrna was called the “Crown of Ionia,” “Crown of Smyrna,” and the “Ornament of Asia,”
  • Smyrna was also the host of the Olympic games in Asia, to which a victors crown was given to the winners
• Smyrna was by far the most wealthy church in Asia minor
• It was home to Homer, and where he wrote the Iliad

*And yet, in the most wealthy city of all the churches is the city where the church was about to suffer the most

*Jesus does not rescue them from the trial, but He:

• 1. Prepares them for it
  2. Encourages them through
  3. Walks through it with them

Reality Reminder 1: God is Eternal

⁸ “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last,

• Jesus reminds them He is eternal, the Roman power/emperor is temporal…and so is their suffering. (Temporary suffering is worth eternal glory)
• Jesus reminds them of the full reality. Our situation is real, and He does not deny it, but our situation is not the culminating reality…He is!

Reality Reminder 2: The Power of God (Over Death)

 who died and came to life again. 

• Jesus identifies Himself to the hardship they are about to go through
• He also reminds them of His power

Reality Reminder 3: God Sees You and Knows Your situation

⁹ I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 

• Jesus says “I Know” twice in this verse. He knows your struggle and identifies with it in His struggle in His life, ministry, and death
• Jesus reminds that He sees the injustice of the “synagogue of Satan.” That while they suffer, there is ultimate justice and they will not escape it

Reality Reminder 4: Life is Hard

¹⁰ Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

• Escalation of Force
  • They are currently suffering economic persecution
  • They will be sent to prison
  • They will be executed
• The 3 “wills”
  • Satan will test you
  • You will suffer
  • Jesus will give you eternal life
• “Ten Days”
  • There were ten documented waves of Christina persecution in Smyrna over the next 200 years
  • One of the most famous “wave” was the execution of Polycarp when they went after the church leaders
    • Polycarp was a young man when this church received this letter
    • Polycarp would become the next Bishop of Smyrna and was “faithful, even to the point of death”

Irenaeus, in “Against Heresies” which some consider a response to Aristedes “Defense of the four” states:

“Polycarp was also not just instructed by the apostles, and conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also, by apostles in Asia (John), appointed bishop of the church in Smyrna, whom always taught the things which he had learned from the apostles, and which the church has handed down, and which alone are true”

Eusebius in “Church History” writes:

“The Roman governor pressed, ‘Sear, and I shall release you, just revile Christ.’ Polycarp said, ‘For 86 years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong, and how can I blaspheme my king anyways, who saved me?”

¹¹ Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

Eusebius in “Church History” continues:

“Threatened again with death should he not recant Christ and worship emperor as god, Polycarp calmy replied, ‘You threaten a fire that burns for a time and after a little is extinguished (first death, temporal), for you do not know the fire of the judgment to come (second death, eternal) and of eternal punishment that is reserved for the wicked. So why do you delay? Carry out what you wish”

As the wood was arraigned to burn him at the stake, he prayed a final prayer, to which concluded:

“May I be received in your presence today in a RICH and acceptable sacrifice.”

Irenaeus, who witnessed his death and the 11 others from the church in Philadelphia documented how Polycarp’s death encouraged more to be “faithful, even unto death.”