The Message to the Church at Smyrna.

Revelation 2:8-11

“And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” (Revelation 2:8-9)

General Ulysses S. Grant was repeatedly passed over as top General for the Union army. Lincoln appointed various generals to the post on the recommendation of the War College, the secretary of war, and even the recommendation of the army itself. None of the popular, exciting, well known generals had significant success. Lincoln finally picked Grant against the advice of everyone, because “he wins battles.” That was the reason for having a General. Grant did not use spectacular tactics, or seek much attention, he just went out and persistently applied what he knew. It is believed that the Civil war would have ended at least two and possibly three years sooner, had Grant been in charge at the beginning.

The other Generals repeatedly failed to follow up on victories, allowing the South to re group. They attempted spectacular tactics that failed. They constantly demanded more soldiers and equipment, blaming failures on the lack of both. . Several times The confederate army was totally at the mercy of the Union army, but because the generals refused to move, was able to escape. The excuse was that a certain contingent was not yet in place. Despite superior manpower, weapons, and supplies, the Confederacy was winning until Grant was placed in charge.

The Church at Smyrna is not particularly exciting. Like General Grant, they were just doing all the basic things they should. They were going through tribulation, but it was not an issue, nor something to brag about. They are not complaining about what they didn’t have, simply trusting God, and seeing him supply their needs day by day. They were doing these things despite false accusations of others who proclaimed themselves to be God’s people but were not. To the outsider, the church seems far less exciting than the other churches, and yet it is one of only two that God never rebukes for anything wrong. The world tends to look for the flamboyant and exciting, rather than the best, and Smyrna was one of the best.

The only thing God offers this church is encouragement and re-assurance. No rebukes or corrections are needed. There is nothing that needs change because there is nothing wrong. Notice the Lord’s statement.

“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)

Christ warned them that they were going to have trouble. and suffer, but that the suffering would be comparatively short lived. The rewards would far out weigh the costs. Romans 8:16-18 describes our state. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Peter gives similar assurance in I Peter 1:3-7. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

Serving the lord fully will probably not garner very much money, or much recognition, even by other Christians, in this life. Three times we are warned about seeking earthly praise in Matthew 6. There will be no future rewards. As Paul says in Galatians 1:10, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Getting men’s approval will probably cost God’s approval.

Christ then re-emphasizes the importance of heeding these messages to the churches. Obedience reveals a living faith capable of producing eternal salvation.

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” (Revelation 2:11”