characteristics of the church of smyrnacharacteristics of the church of smyrna

So, I would go to these dinners hating it because all they would do was just drink and drink. Rev. 7 Richards, L., The Teacher's Commentary (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1987), 1075. 5. I had the opportunity while I lived there to visit in the homes of some Chinese believers who had undergone some serious persecution for their faith during the years of the Cultural Revolution. Finally, Jesus warns His people to expect more suffering, persecution, and testing. Smyrna was a hotbed for pagan worship. He always will exist. Oh, I do not think she should be doing that or I do not think he should be. Be careful. Do not be afraid. The use of the strong term, blasphemy, here indicates how evil, how wicked, how intense this slander was. Not only was this bustling seaport considered a center of prosperity, but the city prided itself as a hub of intellect, art, religion, and athletic prowess. This was a message meant to encourage them in light of what they were facing presently and were about to face in the future. A third form of suffering for them was persecution in verse 9. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! Today, we look at the letter to the church at Smyrna, a church known for suffering. Kingdom 103: Honoring the Father Through the Son, Kingdom 103: Living in the Kingdom Culture, Kingdom 103: Power and Authority in His Name, Kingdom 103: Many Little Kingdoms, But Only One is True, Kingdom 103: Kingdom Citizens Are Examples. The church at Smyrna was to undergo some intense persecution and tribulation. But, you know, they heard every word. They, and the zealot Jewish leaders, hated Christians and prohibited them from working, buying, or selling, any time they got a chance. Their businesses were shut down. The Church at Smyrna would have been familiar with the extreme honor associated with a victors crown. The city was well known for its Olympic-style athletic contests. They had laid up for themselves treasures in Heaven,where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:20) No doubt, Jesuss commendation would have been a timely affirmation that their sacrifices had not been made in vainand that they should continue basking in the abundant life Jesus had purchased for them. The 2 nd century Church bishop and . He fled briefly and then they caught him and he did not run that time. Life was hard for these Christians. 4. Laodicea lay in Phrygia's Lycus Valley, ten miles west of Colosse and six miles south of Hierapolis. What similarities to Revelation 2:8-11 do you see in this passage? What helps you endure? Where Does the Bible Mention These Seven Churches? He is not referring to eternal life here because you do not work for eternal life. That should leave us to want to bring everyone we know to be with us in Heaven. (PDF) SO 2022, nr 3 (23) DRUK - Academia.edu My exhortation for us with this is that we should be thankful. List reasons why those Jews were not considered real Jews in Jesus eyes. 4 MacArthur, New Testament Commentary, 71. And He genuinely cares about what happens to His children. I was so bitter. You know, none of us will probably be persecuted for our faith any worse than that. 3:12). Rest in His presence. 6 Stott, What Christ Thinks of the Church, 43. Is the Apocalypse Mentioned in the Bible? released through Familius Publishing in 2020. It may seem like they are the enemy. 6. If someone slanders you, what do you do? Third, at the end of Smyrnas letter, Jesus makes this promise to whoever has ears to hear: He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death (Revelation 2:11, KJV). Life is not going so great. They were reporting false allegations to the government about these believers, saying things which were not true about them. The promise Christ gives to overcomers in verse 11 is that they "shall not be hurt by the second death." The First and the Last Satan does not want believers to study the book of Revelation because he does not want you to know your eternal hope. If they kill you, they just ended your physical life. So, I went into her office, which was at the back of the lab. The Bible tells us that. Death is that separation of the soul and the physical body. Annette has also written curriculum for character growth and development of elementary-age children and has developed parent training seminars to benefit the community. My prayer for us is that we would suffer well. How do you respond to suffering and tribulation? Be encouraged as you study the message sent to this church. We need to look beyond the pain and look for that purpose that He wants to accomplish in our life. I wish I had more time to go into detail of his story. They were hated. Hope-Full: Revelation 4 by Calvary Bible Church- Flagstaff Others were taken to the Coliseum and fed to angry, hungry lions. THE CHURCH OF SYMRNA(THE PERSECUTED CHURCH) - Pastor J.T Awe Most scholars agree that the name Smyrna was a reference to the myrrh, which was the chief export of the area. I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 19:20; 20:10-15). Do you want a cup of coffee? I am thinking, I do not know where that came from! I will tell you it was turning point because she did not say one more word to me negatively. What additional insight do these verses give concerning the crown of life? WEALTHY WITHOUT WEALTH In the church Ephesus, the Lords finds a decay of first love, in Smyrna, we see Him voiding Satan's malice to restore the former freshness. He wants to discourage us. (NASB). He was faithful until death and he lost his physical life, but he gained so much more which brings us to the fifth reminder to help us suffer well. This was true of this church, all the seven churches, the church throughout the ages, and churches today. For instance, telling them that they were practicing cannibalism because they were partaking of the Lords Supper, eating of the body of Christ, drinking His blood. 1. Explain your answer. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The Church in its "Ephesian Period" having lost its "First Love," the Lord is now about to "chastise" it, so as to cause it to return to Him. This is true of the Evangelistic and . However, the church was wealthy, not in the temporal things that had brought their city fame. How do our stubbornness, recklessness, and selfishness contribute to a church's dysfunction? They just put a rope around his hands. You see, Smyrna had a lot of religions. Every day there is just a wonderful surprise and you are just in a great season of life. Kingdom 102: Kingdom of Light or Darkness? 5. When we are faithful, we become beacons of hope and encouragement to others, too. 1.3 Orthodoxy. Specific Messages to 7 Churches of Revelation Some of these seven churches kept closer to the gospel than others. I shut the door and I stood there. They were once a vibrant, healthy church that was now starting to die. View property report for 975 Church St Se, Smyrna, GA 30080 on ATTOM's Property Navigator. Its streets were wide and paved. Anyone who has said I cannot earn salvation on my own so I put my faith in the blood of Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for my sins. It is emphatic in the Greek. Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 1-5). Some can endure physical sufferings under tribulation and poverty, yet few can . It is a gift. We need to be on guard and we need to commit to pray for the church for the leaders. Before they lit the fire, he prayed, Oh Lord, almighty God, I thank you for counting me worthy of sharing the cup of Christ among the number of your martyrs. Second death. Kingdom 103: Where Does the Governor Reside? Because they did they were considered to be unpatriotic traitors: you do not love Rome. Thus they were tortured. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. This second death means that those who fail to accept Christ will also be resurrected, only to die again in the "lake of fire." The third thing we need to remember is that the ultimate enemy is Satan. She said, Janene, lets just get down on our knees. You are so in love with the Lord. Lets pray. I thought, okay we can pray about this. Let me tell you one other thing. What three things did Jesus mention that He was aware of concerning the church at Smyrna? Why does God allow Satan to bring tribulation in our lives if God is ultimately in control? He is with us fully. Ask God to strengthen your faith so that you can endure the suffering in your own life more victoriously. Ch 1 Pt 1, Kingdom 104: Where Are the Masculine-Thinking Men? Smyrna covers the second church period from approximately from 100 C. E. to 323 C. E.; the Age of Martyrdom, 200-250 years during the second and third centuries C. E. What can you do to grow in this area and to glorify Him more fully? All rights reserved. Revelation 2:11a - "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.". In what ways are you rich in Christ? (Notice the similarities to the description of Christ in 1:17-18). Kingdom 103: Your Faith is Essential in the Kingdom, Kingdom 103: They Praise Him, But Fail to Obey Him, Kingdom 103: The King's Will and the King's Word, Kingdom 103: Know Your Purpose While on This Earth. (Ephesians 1 is a good reminder of our riches in Christ.). Pt 1, Kingdom 104: What Profit Has Righteousness in the Kingdom? When Jesus introduces Himself as theFirst and the Last, who died and came to life again,He is drawing their attention to the power of His resurrection. The challenge for us is to suffer well. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. Ironically, our sufferings are far less of a venture and sentence than our poor choices. Kingdom 102: Surrendering Our Heavenly Passport, Kingdom 102: A Break in Diplomatic Relations, Kingdom 102: We Are Prisoners In a Foreign Land, Kingdom 102: Understanding His Mission, Purpose and Who He Is, Kingdom 102: His Original Mission and Purpose, Kingdom 102: Developing a Kingdom Concept, Kingdom 102: Meditate on These Kingdom Principles, Kingdom 102: His Assignment, Preach the Kingdom, Kingdom 102: Preach and Teach the Gospel of the Kingdom, Kingdom 102: Representing the King: The Power of Our Position, Kingdom 102: Restoring the Kingdom and Its Mission Statement, Kingdom 102: The Kingdom Reintroduced Pt 1, Kingdom 102: The Kingdom Reintroduced Pt 2, Kingdom 102: God's Plan to Restore Our Place, Kingdom 102: Preparation for the Counselor (Holy Spirit), Kingdom 102: Preparing for the Indwelling, Kingdom 102: A New Order is Here, in the Last Stage, Kingdom 102: The New Order and Its Citizens, Kingdom 102: The Final Process: Becoming One With the Holy Spirit, Kingdom 102: The Kingdom is the Good News Pt 1, Kingdom 102: The Kingdom is the Good News Pt 2, Kingdom 103: The King's Viewpoint of Giving. After repeatedly just not doing it, he said for 86 years I have served Him and He has done me no wrong. If this was your church, what could be done to make sure it did not die but be revived to its formerly healthy and vibrant ways? So, how is He involved in your church? 4. That is how bad I felt. Janene Keeth (nicknamed "Crickett") holds a M.A. The Church of Smyrna - Church Leadership So, I caught all kinds of grief, you know, comments made like: oh, you would fit well into grandmothers generation. You are really out of touch with reality today. Just cruel comments. Garlands of victory were bestowed only to the highest achieving athletes. What was Jesus message to the church in Pergamum in Revelation? Smyrna was a church where people's agendas were in opposition to Christ's. They had sufferings to overcome and learn from, but most chose to run the course their way and tarnish His Way. Of course, all the other med techs are sitting there pretending like they were not listening. He does not want you to know that Jesus wins and that he loses. If we are going to suffer well we need to remember these five things: Probably the closest that I have ever come to being persecuted for my faith was as a senior in college at LSU. 9. The crown of life is one of several crowns mentioned in Scripture. You and I and our congregation may not be a Smyrna church just now. You would listen to these believers pray and you would just think they are on a different level than we are. Pt 2, Kingdom 103: Student or Disciple of the Kingdom? What Is the Abomination of Desolation in the End Times? 1. What should you do? People did not want to buy from them because they were Christians. She would not spend one minute helping me, somebody who had thrown their life away believing in this fantasy of Jesus Christ. But, the second type they were dealing with was poverty. Why do we do it? As we look at this letter to Smyrna, this letter gives us insight into suffering. Today it is called Izmir, Turkey. The second thing He promises is eternal life. I know your afflictions and your povertyyet you are rich! Smyrna - Life, Hope & Truth He assures His people that their continued faithfulness, even to the point of death, will earn them a reward that far outweighs their earthly trialsa victors crown. Death means separation. I was with another student, another medical technology student, and I noticed that this lady had very little to do with me. Kingdom 103: What Gospel Are You Preaching? She also has two B.S. There are two words used in the New Testament for poverty and one just kind of means poor. Jude identifies characteristics of the advisory. We try to go it alone when Christ is beckoning us to trust in Him, go His Way, and give our fears to Him. Oct 04, 2021 41:20. Jesuss short correspondence with His people in Smyrna gives us incredible insight into this group of believers way of life and faith. Father, I just thank you for the privilege of knowing you personally. 8. He begins this like He did the last letter and every letter afterward with the words, I know. He knows everything. What are the other crowns and to what are they referring? Smyrna - The Seven Churches of Revelation! - Bible Study Is there anything in your life that is causing you to be fearful? Olympian games were held in Smyrna. While there, the Holy Spirit spoke to John and instructed him to record everything Jesus was about to reveal via a vision. They made up whatever they could and went to the government and they were persecuted. The Apostle John was arrested for preaching the Gospel and exiled to Romes penal colony on the island of Patmos, near Asia Minor. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. My exhortation to you on this one is to be ready, to be ready for the suffering that will come into your life. 2 Corinthians 4:4, http://www.churchleadership.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&view=post&articleid=43133&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0, http://www.churchleadership.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=43139&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0, http://www.churchleadership.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=43138&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0, http://www.churchleadership.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=43137&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0. The Message to the Church at Smyrna. The Church in Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) 1. Father, I pray that we would be people who suffer well, who would please you in a way that we handle anything that comes up. The Church of Smyrna: A Study of Revelations - A Beautiful Mess But, when we trust in Him, He will give us the strength to endure. Perhaps there are people in the church who are just trying to make life hard for you, but they are not really your enemy. That is according to I Corinthians 3:13-14 which talks about that approval, that standing before him, to be evaluated for our works. Why are these blaspheming Jews referred to as a synagogue of Satan? One of the instructors of one particular lab was a well-known atheist there at the hospital. What was Jesus message to the church in Sardis in Revelation? This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. Based on His intimate awareness of their spiritual condition, Jesus uses these letters to dig deep into the inner workings of each church and flesh out areas of commendation or correction. (1 Corinthians 15:50-57). We will be rewarded for staying strong until death. Do not fear. 2. Well, they were under pressure from several forces. Presumably, this church was founded during Pauls ministry in Ephesus (Acts 19:10).1, The Greek word translated Smyrna was used in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) to translate the Hebrew word for myrrh, a resinous substance used as a perfume for the living (Matthew 2:11) and the dead (John 19:39). But, if we are really serious about going deeper, suffering is part of that process. He died for one reason: his unyielding faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Hand over those difficult and overwhelming situations to the One who knows and cares. Welcome to the home of Intentional Worship! - Facebook The first death means when we physically die and then go into eternity for rewards and to wait for the resurrection and the everlasting life. She hated Christians. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death. (Revelation 2:11). They had no means whatsoever. It is not for you to carry around and have them saying, wow, look at my crown! Your crown is a little small there. Look how many I have. These crowns are not for the purpose of making you feel good about your life on this earth because we are told in Revelation 4:10 that we will go before the throne of God and we will go on our knees and our faces before Him and we will cast our crowns at his feet. It reminds us of five things that we must remember if we are going to suffer well. But every born-again Christian is called to die to the things of this world (Galatians 2:20, Luke 9:23), become a bondservant of Christ (1 Corinthians 7:22; Ephesians 6:6; 2 Timothy 2:24), and to consider all earthly things loss compared to the worth of knowing Jesus as Lord (Philippians 3:8). Maybe you have a financial issue. Even though the people would throw them into prison, it says the devil is about to cast some of you into prison. He is the ultimate enemy and we need to be on guard.