The church that needed to repent of sin revelation 2. Located opposite the island of samos, it is the closest of revelation s seven churches to the island of patmos where the apostle john wrote the book of revelation. Why did the church in smyrna receive a direct message from the lord. Well, smyrna lay 40 miles almost due north of ephesus. Saint ignatius of antioch visited smyrna and later wrote letters to its bishop, polycarp. As jesus says, this church does good works out of love for him, but they also receive tribulation. For a short timethree dayschrist was dead, but now he lives. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. Now, no one knows for sure how the church in smyrna got started. The site of smyrna is the present day turkish city of izmir. So what he is saying here is that there will be an appearing of himself for his own before he comes in power and glory, visible to the world. Why is smyrna one of the seven churches of revelation. Some of you will be tested by time in prison or trials to the point of death.
Jesus gently told them they would face more persecution. What would you think of christians who lived in poverty and were hated by their neighbors. These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. Its interesting that only in the book of revelation is smyrna and its church mentioned rev 1. In the opening letter to the church at ephesus, christ is pictured as walking among the seven lampstands, which represent the seven churches 1. Nothing to fear really smyrna sounds like a scary place to be a christian. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. These are the words of the first and the last, who died and returned to life. Voice bible studies, the book of revelation, lesson 3. As we begin looking at the church at smyrna, look at revelation 2. These people were used by satan to preach a seemingly true, but actually false, gospel. What timeless lessons can we learn from jesus christs message to smyrna recorded in revelation 2. The church at smyrna sermon by david taylor, revelation 2. When john received the vision with messages to seven congregations of the church of god in asia minor, he recorded jesus saying, i am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, and what you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in asia.
Christs revelation to smyrna commends the community for its material poverty but spiritual wealth and acknowledges its wrongful persecution revelation 2. These things says the first and the last, who was dead but is alive. Jul 01, 2015 this is the third part in the bible study series. The second of johns messages to the seven churches of asia minor went to the church in smyrna. This second study about the seven churches of revelation is all about the letter to the church in smyrna. These things says the first and the last, who was dead, and came to life. We can see that this is a good church because they only receive commendations from jesus and no rebuke. The church was going through some major times of severe persecution during this day, and the holy spirit led john to write the book of revelation. The words of jesus to the church in smyrna in revelation 2. Jesuss words to the believers in smyrna encouraged them in the. Smyrna is the second of the seven churches listed in the book of revelation. It was one of the seven churches addressed in the book of revelation.
Satan does not want believers to study the book of revelation because. Were going to be looking at verses 12 through 17, the letter to the church at pergamos. It was one of only two churches the philadelphia church era being the other that received only praise and no correction from jesus. I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, but thou art rich and i know the blasphemy of them which say they.
Today we will look at the 2nd church of revelation, the church in smyrna. I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich. And to the angel of the church of the smyrneans write. The book of revelation is addressed to believers, his servants, of the churches in seven cities of the roman province of asia. The name smyrna means myrrh, which is a resin obtained from the commiphora myrrha tree. Each letter to all 7 churches is addressed to the angel of that church. God counsels the laodiceans to buy gold that had been tried in fire, meaning to seek the true riches that come by accepting gods tempering and by rejecting. The persecuted church john macarthur the book of revelation series duration. Polycarp and the date of revelation a man named john. The book of revelation is a book of prophecy about what is to come. They were actual historical churches, churches that really did exist.
Nov 09, 2012 and in this community a group of jesus followers came together as a church one of seven churches addressed in the beginning of the book of revelation, written by the apostle john, once the young. Paul had directed a 3year campaign, the bible says, when he was in ephesus, and he caused all of asia to hear the word of god. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. So all that we know about this church from the biblical record is right here in this passage rev 2. Jan 02, 2020 the words of jesus to the church in smyrna in revelation 2. Join gary petty as we explore the church in smyrna and how to deal with. The smyrna period of the church is thought to be from around 100 a. That surely would have included the little island of smyrna. Scripture does not record the founding of the church of smyrna. And the word smyrna perfectly describes the church. Christ does not reprimand this church but warns of impending imprisonment for some of its members, urging them to remain faithful even to the point of death and remember the promise of their victors crown revelation 2. Revelation smyrna, the persecuted church truth composer. The setting of the book of revelation is the endtime day of the lord revelation 1. The 7 churches of revelation their struggles and strengths.
Smyrna is still a large seaport with the present population of about 275,000 people. To the church in smyrna the church in smyrna was likely founded during pauls third missionary journey. The message to smyrna assumes that the congregation will soon face an outbreak of persecution. It was transcribed from the fifth recording in his the book of the revelation series, entitled smyrna, the persecuted church transcribed by preach the word.
To the church in smyrna 7 he who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. Smyrna was the second city to receive a letter from the apostle john in the book of revelation. In the book of revelation, smyrna was one of the seven cities to which the prophet john rev 1. So the first messenger probably stayed with his church in ephesus after the letter was delivered to them. Ellicott provides some great information about smyrna.
So, forgive me as we move quickly through two letters. This contrasts directly with the church at laodicea, which has worldly riches yet is spiritually poor revelation 3. The church at smyrna was to undergo some intense persecution and. The church in smyrna had experienced persecution and poverty rev. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, but thou art rich and i know the blasphemy of them which say they are. Of the seven cities that originally received revelation, smyrna is that only one that still exists. Myrrh was a critical ingredient used to embalm bodies because. Those churches were in ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadephia, and laodicea.
It was one of the seven postal districtssituated on a circular routethat made up the most crucial part of the roman province of asia minor ford, revelation. Venture church is so excited to be participating in lent this year. Smyrna was a beautiful city located on the coast about 40 miles north of ephesus. To the church in ephesus to the angel of the church in ephesus write. The history of its planting is unknown, but it was probably founded by some of the evangelists under pauls supervision. The short letters in revelation chapters two and three are addressed to these specific seven churches. Some would even be put in prison or killed for their faith rev. These are the words of him who is the first and the last, who died and came to life again revelation 2. It could be from pauls threeyear stay in ephesus, which was nearby walvoord, revelation, 60. Due to the fact that the port city of izmir houses the second largest population in turkey today, the site of ancient smyrna has been little excavated. Revelation 1 introduction to revelation sunday, february 17, 20. Smyrna was a rich poor church and laodicea, a poor rich church. Since smyrna was about 35 miles north of ephesus, it may have been established while paul was in ephesus see acts 19.
One classic illustration of this is in the true story of one of the great church fathers named, polycarp. A christian church and a bishopric existed here from a very early time, probably originating in the considerable jewish colony. The church that had abandoned its first love for christ revelation 2. Oct 10, 2016 who and how the church started in smyrna is a mystery. Join gary petty as we explore the church in smyrna and how to. The churches at ephesus, smyrna, pergamum and thyatira revelation 2 ephesus.
Therefore, no matter the historical application, all seven messages are pertinent to the endtime church. Smyrna was one of the most beautiful cities in asia. Revelation chapter 2, and we are, as you know, in our study of the book of revelation, finding ourselves in the second and third chapter, which include the seven letters to the seven churches of asia minor. These are the words of the first and the last, who was dead and came to life. The following is from the martyrdom of polycarp, translated by j.
The first three chapters of revelation deal with seven firstcentury historical churches, assemblies of believers in asia minor. It was one of the seven postal districtssituated on a circular routethat made up the most crucial part of the roman province of asia minor ford,revelation. It is sometimes said that polycarp must have held to the late domitianic dating of revelation, as he claimed that the church of smryna, one of the seven churches of asia addressed in revelation, had not known the lord during pauls ministry. For now, lets open our bibles to revelation chapter 2. John is responsible for writing the gospel of john, the 3 epistles, and the book of revelation.
What was jesus message to the church in smyrna in revelation. Sep 10, 2015 bible prophecy happening now with don stewart april 2020 duration. Content index books of the bible revelation church in smyrna. The church that would face severe persecution revelation 2. According to ignatius, not long after the book of revelation was written, he became the pastor of smyrna and died a martyrs death for his faith. Intermittent persecution at the hands of various roman.
This has a great significance because many times the lord causes a cold and loose believer to. Here is a short explanation of what lent is by pastor di. Revelation 2 commentary the message to smyrna biblegateway. I want to draw your attention in a message to the 2nd chapter of revelation revelation, chapter 2 and i told you a couple of weeks ago when we began this little series that i wanted to give you a. If you remember our time looking at the church of ephesus, then you would realize that the angel is not the pastor of the church, nor is it the guardian angel. These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive. To the church in smyrna sermon by johnny small, revelation 2. It is far better to be poor in the estimation of the world and rich in spiritual things than to be rich in ones own esteem and the worlds, but poverty stricken in the sight of christ.
Does the book of revelation teach that the church will be. During the second century the church was prominent, and it has never ceased to exist. Such was the case for the ancient church at smyrna. And in this community a group of jesus followers came together as a church one of seven churches addressed in the beginning of the book of revelation, written by the apostle john, once the young. There in that little church there is a wonderful working of god, produced through great difficulty. I know your works, tribulation, and poverty, but you are rich and i know the blasphemy of those who say they are jews, and are not, but are a synagogue of satan. To the one who overcomes, i will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of god. The book is also written to all believers everywhere. October 2007 this sermon was delivered at the iron hall evangelical church in belfast, northern ireland, by pastor david legge. In chapters 2 and 3 of the book of revelation there are letters by the lord jesus written to seven churches. In other words it is a promise of the rapture of the church, the first such promise in the book of revelation. Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog. Ephesus, in the roman province of asia, is 56 kilometers 35 miles from smyrna.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the book of revelation. We are told nothing about the beginning of the church in smyrna. This is one of just two of the seven where there is no condemnation. Lent starts wednesday, february 26th, ash wednesday. The book of revelation provides descriptions of each church. A number of expositors down through history have held that the seven churches represent seven sequential stages of church history. A study on the 7 churches in revelation churchleaders. The letter to the church at smyrna and the letter to the church at pergamum. Christ does not reprimand this church but warns of impending imprisonment for some of its members, urging them to remain faithful even to the point of death and remember the promise of their victors crown revelation. In the book of revelation, the church at smyrna is famous for their poverty and persecution, yet jesus christ calls them rich. A rival to ephesus, they considered themselves the first city of asia and were happily situated on the aegean sea.