Letter to Smyrna Smyrna was similar to Ephesus in being an important and large port city with...

Letter to SmyrnaLetter to Smyrna

Smyrna was similar to Ephesus in Smyrna was similar to Ephesus in being an important and large port being an important and large port city with thriving trade and city with thriving trade and commerce.commerce.

Smyrna was renown for its Smyrna was renown for its famous perfumes.famous perfumes.

The paganism of The paganism of SmyrnaSmyrna Smyrna celebrated Dionysus. The Smyrna celebrated Dionysus. The

god of indulgence – god of indulgence – hubrishubris. Let us . Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die. eat and drink for tomorrow we die. Smyrna took the Dionysus legend Smyrna took the Dionysus legend one step further. They taught that one step further. They taught that one day Dionysus was killed but his one day Dionysus was killed but his party lust brought him back to life party lust brought him back to life to party another day.to party another day.

The paganism of The paganism of SmyrnaSmyrna Cybele was also celebrated and Cybele was also celebrated and

worshipped. She was Mother worshipped. She was Mother Earth. The most ecstatic Earth. The most ecstatic followers who were males followers who were males attempted to become more attempted to become more effeminent with castration, effeminent with castration, mutilation, and dress (sex mutilation, and dress (sex changes of their day).changes of their day).

The paganism of The paganism of SmyrnaSmyrna Zeus had a temple in Smyrna. Zeus had a temple in Smyrna.

Zeus was seen as powerful but Zeus was seen as powerful but limited in might.limited in might.


Church history tells us that the Church history tells us that the Jewish synagogue went to the Jewish synagogue went to the Roman authorities in Smyrna and Roman authorities in Smyrna and told them how the growing church told them how the growing church denied temple pagan worship and denied temple pagan worship and the Olympic games (which involved the Olympic games (which involved brutal violence). The Jewish brutal violence). The Jewish synagogue left out the fact that they synagogue left out the fact that they themselves did not support these themselves did not support these Roman vices also. Roman vices also.


The synagogue pointed out that The synagogue pointed out that Smyrna’s official religion was Smyrna’s official religion was being mocked because the being mocked because the Christians said their Lord died and Christians said their Lord died and came to life, not Dionysus.came to life, not Dionysus.


This is a prime example of the This is a prime example of the secular and religious powers secular and religious powers rising up together against the rising up together against the church.church.


The city of Smyrna was outraged. The city of Smyrna was outraged. How would they ever be taken How would they ever be taken seriously, as a leading city in the seriously, as a leading city in the Roman world, if they lost their Roman world, if they lost their city trademarks?city trademarks?


There is no accident with God’s Spirit. There is no accident with God’s Spirit. John lived a long life so he could instruct John lived a long life so he could instruct a new generation of pastors, not a new generation of pastors, not apostles, who would faithfully teach. apostles, who would faithfully teach.

Polycarp (ca. 69 – ca. 155) was one of Polycarp (ca. 69 – ca. 155) was one of the star pupils of John, the Apostle. the star pupils of John, the Apostle. Polycarp went on to become an Polycarp went on to become an excellent pastor and teacher at Smyrna. excellent pastor and teacher at Smyrna.


When Smyrna executed Polycarp, the When Smyrna executed Polycarp, the synagogue asked for the privilege to synagogue asked for the privilege to carry the wood. As the wood was set carry the wood. As the wood was set at his feet, Polycarp was asked to at his feet, Polycarp was asked to denounce his faith. He replied:denounce his faith. He replied:

““For eight-six years, I have been For eight-six years, I have been a Christian. I will not blaspheme a Christian. I will not blaspheme my King and my Savior now!”my King and my Savior now!”


Romans did not use ropes Romans did not use ropes because they sometimes burned because they sometimes burned and frayed allowing the and frayed allowing the condemned to jump out to escape condemned to jump out to escape the agony of the flames. The the agony of the flames. The Romans nailed victims to a stake Romans nailed victims to a stake to keep them in the fire.to keep them in the fire.


When they went to nail him to the When they went to nail him to the stake, Polycarp said, stake, Polycarp said, “Let me be. I “Let me be. I shall endure. He empowers me to shall endure. He empowers me to endure the flames. Nails need not endure the flames. Nails need not hold me back in the flame.”hold me back in the flame.”

The authorities were curious to see if The authorities were curious to see if Polycarp would denounce his faith. Polycarp would denounce his faith. They ordered that his request be They ordered that his request be honored and that he would not be honored and that he would not be nailed. Would Polycarp leap from the nailed. Would Polycarp leap from the flames or suffer to the end for Christ?flames or suffer to the end for Christ?


As the wood was lit, Polycarp prayed As the wood was lit, Polycarp prayed aloud for all to hear.aloud for all to hear.

““O Father, of your beloved Son, O Father, of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, through whom we Jesus Christ, through whom we know You, I bless You for this day know You, I bless You for this day and hour, that I may with the and hour, that I may with the martyrs share in the cup of Christ martyrs share in the cup of Christ for the resurrection to eternal life for the resurrection to eternal life for both the soul and immortal body for both the soul and immortal body from the Holy Spirit. from the Holy Spirit.


I pray to be received among I pray to be received among them today as a rich and them today as a rich and acceptable sacrifice according acceptable sacrifice according to Your divine providence. to Your divine providence.


For this reason, I praise You for For this reason, I praise You for everything. I bless and glorify everything. I bless and glorify You through the everlasting You through the everlasting high priest, Jesus Christ, Your high priest, Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, through whom all beloved Son, through whom all glory comes to You and the glory comes to You and the Holy Spirit, both now and in the Holy Spirit, both now and in the countless ages to come. countless ages to come. Amen.”Amen.”


Some in the crowd were moved by Some in the crowd were moved by this speech. The Romans admired this speech. The Romans admired those who died without fear. No those who died without fear. No fear was found in Polycarp.fear was found in Polycarp.

Christians evangelized with his Christians evangelized with his death, “For all the perfume that death, “For all the perfume that Smyrna produce, none smelled Smyrna produce, none smelled better than this offering to God.”better than this offering to God.”


When the fire cooled, the city When the fire cooled, the city witnessed Christians solemnly witnessed Christians solemnly and reverently picking up every and reverently picking up every bone they could find of their bone they could find of their beloved pastor. Still stunned and beloved pastor. Still stunned and in admiration for Polycarp’s in admiration for Polycarp’s courage in the face of a horrific courage in the face of a horrific death, none tried to stop them. death, none tried to stop them.


Early church records state that Early church records state that the Smyrnan Christians the Smyrnan Christians considered the remains more considered the remains more precious than gold or treasure as precious than gold or treasure as the resurrection would raise them the resurrection would raise them into a glorious splendor.into a glorious splendor.


As you read what John wrote to As you read what John wrote to the congregation at Smyrna, think the congregation at Smyrna, think about the zeal his student (Pastor about the zeal his student (Pastor Polycarp of Smyrna) and of this Polycarp of Smyrna) and of this faithful assembly of believers.faithful assembly of believers.


NIV 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, who died and came to life again.


Who is Christ asserting as the Who is Christ asserting as the true God, not Dionysus. true God, not Dionysus.


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.

Carpe DeumCarpe Deum

Dionysus was the celebration to Dionysus was the celebration to live “for the moment”.live “for the moment”.

Christians are “celebrating the Christians are “celebrating the moment” to suffer for Christ and moment” to suffer for Christ and “for the moment” to live forever “for the moment” to live forever in delight.in delight.


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.


Ten days of suffering? Ten days of suffering? A short and appointed time of A short and appointed time of

suffering in God’s providential care.suffering in God’s providential care. Ten is number of completion.Ten is number of completion. Crowns are visible. The eternal life Crowns are visible. The eternal life

that is theirs will be evident to all that is theirs will be evident to all very soon.very soon.

Crowns are a sign of authority.Crowns are a sign of authority.


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.

The Second Death? The Second Death? Hades.Hades. Eternal damnation.Eternal damnation. NIV Revelation 21:8 But the

cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

ApplicationApplication

How can this letter apply to the How can this letter apply to the Christian living in America?Christian living in America?

How are we empowered to love How are we empowered to love God more than His blessings?God more than His blessings?

ApplicationApplication

Who are the eternally powerful Who are the eternally powerful and celebrated?and celebrated?

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