Revelation’s Commentary – The Seven churches – Part I

Verses 1:20 through 2:24

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The Church at Smyrna:

 

Revelation 2:8   “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last(the Alpha & Omega), who died and came to life again. (See Revelation 1:8)

 

Revelation 2:9   I know your afflictions and your poverty – yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

 

Revelation 2:10   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 the crown of life.

 

Revelation 2:11   He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.”

 

Commentary:

 

Many first century Christians were converts from Judaism. Remember, this message was given to the church in Smyrna in A.D. 95. As such, Judeo-Christians saw themselves as the new Israel of God – the 12 tribes – that had been called out of apostate Israel.

 

James 1:1   James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.

 

James 1:2   Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

 

James 1:3   because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

 

James 2:1   My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.

 

However, in Smyrna, a contest arose between converts. Some Jewish converts insisted on maintaining certain Jewish customs. Gentile converts refused. Jesus recognized the contest between the two Israel’s by calling one group, “the synagogue of Satan.” “…I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but a synagogue of Satan.”

 

In terms of theology, there is a world of difference between a synagogue and a church. A church consists of believers in Christ whereas a synagogue consists of believers in Jehovah. (Isn’t this an amazing paradox since Jesus is Jehovah? But, that’s another topic.)

 

Jesus well understood the conflict between Christianity and Judaism for He had been condemned to death by Jewish authorities. The conflict in Smyrna was intense because Christianity declares Judaism obsolete. The obsolescence of Judaism was a very hard thing for Jewish converts to accept. To think suddenly their entire religious system and culture had been terminated by Jesus.

 

The differences are significant and painful. Christians did not have a high priest on Earth, they did not need animal sacrifices, they did not need to attend feasts or participate in temple services, they did not need circumcision, and they did not need anything that Judaism offered. This freedom from Judaism was an endless source of conflict in Smyrna because some of the Jewish converts wanted to “be Christian” and yet observe their Jewish traditions. (This conflict was so great during the first century A.D. that God raise up a brilliant Jew (the apostle Paul) to address the controversy that came with converting from one religion to another.) 

 

Next, Jesus identified Himself to the church at Smyrna as “the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.” Jesus described Himself as “the First and the Last, the One who died and came to life again” because this means there is nothing that He has not first experienced. In A.D. 95, Christianity was an illegal religion in some parts of the Roman Empire. The evil emperor Domitian (A.D. 81-96) put many Christians to death before he was murdered.

 

Then, Nerva (A.D. 96-98) ascended to Domitian’s throne but he soon died within two years of illness. Then, Trajan (A.D. 98-117) came to power and even though he did not actively seek out Christians to kill them, he mandated that if a Christian was to be found, he must be arrested and executed unless he immediately renounced his faith.

 

The ten days of persecution mentioned by Jesus evidently refers to an upcoming purge of Christians in Smyrna. Loyalty tests and purges were frequently used by Roman governors to maintain control over their subjects, for no governor wanted to be charged with treason against Caesar and lose his own head.

 

 Jesus warned the Christians in Smyrna of an upcoming purge and He encouraged them to remain faithful “even to the point of death” because those put to death for His sake would, like Him, come to life again. Last Jesus added, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death (the death that ultimately matters).”         

 

There is a hidden message of strength and this phrase. Overcoming the fear of torture and death in not a normal human instinct. We instinctively do everything possible to protect ourselves from harm (that is, after adolescence). The hidden message that comes through the Spirit is this: God will give a martyr’s courage when a martyr’s courage is required. In other words, overcoming the fear of death is possible through God’s grace because God’s grace is more powerful than any fear!

 

So, Jesus said, “be firm in your stand for truth and remain loyal to me even to the point of death and you will not be hurtat all by the second death.”

 

This is good news because the second death is a death for which no “martyr’s grace” will be given nor will there be any recovery or resurrection!

 

Revelation 20 tells us that at the end of the 1,000 years, all the wicked will be resurrected to receive God’s judgment and then will be burned to death. This coming event is the second death. (Revelation 20:15)

 

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