The Book of Revelation, Chpater 2:8-11
The church of Smyrna represents the
Smyrna is the Greek word for myrrh. Myrrh came to symbolize
Jesus is referred to as “the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive.” This is an encouragement; a reminder that the Lord Himself faced persecution.
Vs. 9 The reason the Christians in Smyrna were poor is because they were being persecuted to the point that many were being imprisoned, which meant that their possessions were being confiscated.
• The persecution they were facing forced them to depend upon God and seek His face.
• As a result, they developed a strong relationship with God, and they became rich, spiritually.
Emperor worship in Asia began in Smyrna.
• Once a year, everyone in the Empire had to appear before the magistrates to burn a pinch of
incense to the godhead of Caesar and confess that “Caesar is Lord.”
• One group was given a special exemption by Rome: The Jews.
• The Christians were not exempt from the command to worship the Emperor, and they
couldn’t do it because Caesar is not Lord, Jesus is Lord.
• That’s why they were being persecuted.
• Eventually, Emperor worship was enforced throughout the Roman Empire and Christians
were persecuted everywhere, but at that time, Smyrna was the only city of the seven where persecution was taking place.
A synagogue was a place where Jews would assemble.
• The Jews were assembling in order to concoct their blasphemies and to plan their assaults on
the Christians.
• They were literally “a synagogue of Satan.”
• The word Jew means “to be
• To be Jewish in Paul’s day, one must obey God, be circumcised and obey the law. That man
is to be praised. He’s a true Jew.
• By their actions, they proved they weren’t Jews.
Vs. 10 Jesus told them “don’t be afraid.” This was not because He was going to get them out of it, but because the worse that could happen was that they could lose their life.
Jesus warns them that they will have tribulation for 10 days. This is prophetical.
• What He meant was that there would be 10 emperors that would persecute them.
• The persecution of the church lasted throughout the “days of 10 emperors.”
Vs. 11 The Promise: Those who overcome will never have to worry about being separated from God.
• The 2nd Death is the lake of fire; the final eternal death. (Rev. 20:14-15)
Matt. 2:10-11 Matt. 2:1 John 19:38-40
Matt. 10:28
Gen. 5:8,11