The church of smyrna in the book of revelation

Intermittent persecution at the hands of various roman. The churches at ephesus, smyrna, pergamum and thyatira revelation 2 ephesus. Of the seven cities that originally received revelation, smyrna is that only one that still exists. The name smyrna means myrrh, which is a resin obtained from the commiphora myrrha tree. The following is from the martyrdom of polycarp, translated by j. I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, but thou art rich and i know the blasphemy of them which say they. 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. These are the words of the first and the last, who was dead and came to life.

The short letters in revelation chapters two and three are addressed to these specific seven churches. 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. 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. Scripture does not record the founding of the church of smyrna. The church in smyrna had experienced persecution and poverty rev. Today we will look at the 2nd church of revelation, the church in smyrna. 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. The first three chapters of revelation deal with seven firstcentury historical churches, assemblies of believers in asia minor. They were actual historical churches, churches that really did exist. Nothing to fear really smyrna sounds like a scary place to be a christian. Sep 10, 2015 bible prophecy happening now with don stewart april 2020 duration. Venture church is so excited to be participating in lent this year. Jul 01, 2015 this is the third part in the bible study series. Smyrna is the second of seven churches in asia minor who receive a spiritual evaluation directly from god through jesus christ.

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. What would you think of christians who lived in poverty and were hated by their neighbors. Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog. A christian church and a bishopric existed here from a very early time, probably originating in the considerable jewish colony. John is responsible for writing the gospel of john, the 3 epistles, and the book of revelation. The book of revelation is addressed to believers, his servants, of the churches in seven cities of the roman province of asia. These are the words of him who is the first and the last, who died and came to life again revelation 2. For now, lets open our bibles to revelation chapter 2. I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, but thou art rich and i know the blasphemy of them which say they are. These things says the first and the last, who was dead, and came to life. I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich. Jan 02, 2020 the words of jesus to the church in smyrna in revelation 2. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance.

Smyrna is the second of the seven churches listed in the book of revelation. Now, no one knows for sure how the church in smyrna got started. Some would even be put in prison or killed for their faith rev. Those churches were in ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadephia, and laodicea. The church that had abandoned its first love for christ revelation 2. 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. Smyrna was a rich poor church and laodicea, a poor rich church. There in that little church there is a wonderful working of god, produced through great difficulty. 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. Join gary petty as we explore the church in smyrna and how to deal with.

These people were used by satan to preach a seemingly true, but actually false, gospel. Saint ignatius of antioch visited smyrna and later wrote letters to its bishop, polycarp. This is one of just two of the seven where there is no condemnation. Jesus gently told them they would face more persecution. One classic illustration of this is in the true story of one of the great church fathers named, polycarp. So all that we know about this church from the biblical record is right here in this passage rev 2. Therefore, no matter the historical application, all seven messages are pertinent to the endtime church. Revelation 2 commentary the message to smyrna biblegateway. Were going to be looking at verses 12 through 17, the letter to the church at pergamos. Revelation 1 introduction to revelation sunday, february 17, 20. The words of jesus to the church in smyrna in revelation 2. Ellicott provides some great information about smyrna.

As jesus says, this church does good works out of love for him, but they also receive tribulation. In the opening letter to the church at ephesus, christ is pictured as walking among the seven lampstands, which represent the seven churches 1. 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. Christs revelation to smyrna commends the community for its material poverty but spiritual wealth and acknowledges its wrongful persecution revelation 2. Oct 10, 2016 who and how the church started in smyrna is a mystery. In the book of revelation, smyrna was one of the seven cities to which the prophet john rev 1. The 7 churches of revelation their struggles and strengths. The site of smyrna is the present day turkish city of izmir. 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. These things says the first and the last, who was dead but is alive. Polycarp and the date of revelation a man named john. It was one of only two churches the philadelphia church era being the other that received only praise and no correction from jesus.

In other words it is a promise of the rapture of the church, the first such promise in the book of revelation. This second study about the seven churches of revelation is all about the letter to the church in smyrna. The letter to the church at smyrna and the letter to the church at pergamum. It could be from pauls threeyear stay in ephesus, which was nearby walvoord, revelation, 60. 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.

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. This contrasts directly with the church at laodicea, which has worldly riches yet is spiritually poor revelation 3. In this series on the seven churches of revelation, we will be examining the commendation and condemnation of each of the seven churches and learning the lessons that is meant for our church. These are the words of the first and the last, who died and returned to life. 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. 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. The church that would face severe persecution revelation 2. Does the book of revelation teach that the church will be. Smyrna was the second city to receive a letter from the apostle john in the book of revelation. Voice bible studies, the book of revelation, lesson 3.

Each letter to all 7 churches is addressed to the angel of that church. The church that needed to repent of sin revelation 2. Join gary petty as we explore the church in smyrna and how to deal with persecution. What timeless lessons can we learn from jesus christs message to smyrna recorded in revelation 2. Content index books of the bible revelation church in smyrna. The church at smyrna was to undergo some intense persecution and. October 2007 this sermon was delivered at the iron hall evangelical church in belfast, northern ireland, by pastor david legge. Jesuss words to the believers in smyrna encouraged them in the.

These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive. Well, smyrna lay 40 miles almost due north of ephesus. Ephesus, founded primarily by those from the city of athens, was the capital of both ionia and. 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. We are told nothing about the beginning of the church in smyrna. Revelation smyrna, the persecuted church truth composer. 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. 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.

Some of you will be tested by time in prison or trials to the point of death. 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. Lent starts wednesday, february 26th, ash wednesday. Since smyrna was about 35 miles north of ephesus, it may have been established while paul was in ephesus see acts 19. What was jesus message to the church in smyrna in revelation. To the church in smyrna 7 he who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. Such was the case for the ancient church at smyrna. Ephesus, in the roman province of asia, is 56 kilometers 35 miles from smyrna. The setting of the book of revelation is the endtime day of the lord revelation 1. Why did the church in smyrna receive a direct message from the lord. And to the angel of the church of the smyrneans write.

The church at smyrna sermon by david taylor, revelation 2. Why is smyrna one of the seven churches of revelation. In chapters 2 and 3 of the book of revelation there are letters by the lord jesus written to seven churches. A number of expositors down through history have held that the seven churches represent seven sequential stages of church history. 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. For a short timethree dayschrist was dead, but now he lives. And the word smyrna perfectly describes the church. Its interesting that only in the book of revelation is smyrna and its church mentioned rev 1. These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. Satan does not want believers to study the book of revelation because. The persecuted church john macarthur the book of revelation series duration. That surely would have included the little island of smyrna.

To the church in smyrna the church in smyrna was likely founded during pauls third missionary journey. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. To the one who overcomes, i will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of god. Join gary petty as we explore the church in smyrna and how to. The book of revelation is a book of prophecy about what is to come. Myrrh was a critical ingredient used to embalm bodies because. We can see that this is a good church because they only receive commendations from jesus and no rebuke. A rival to ephesus, they considered themselves the first city of asia and were happily situated on the aegean sea. The second of johns messages to the seven churches of asia minor went to the church in smyrna. The history of its planting is unknown, but it was probably founded by some of the evangelists under pauls supervision. Smyrna was one of the most beautiful cities in asia.

The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. Smyrna is still a large seaport with the present population of about 275,000 people. Within the book of revelation jesus is described several times as the first and the last rev 1. Smyrna was a beautiful city located on the coast about 40 miles north of ephesus. 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. 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. The book of revelation provides descriptions of each church. The smyrna period of the church is thought to be from around 100 a. The message to smyrna assumes that the congregation will soon face an outbreak of persecution. It was one of the seven churches addressed in the book of revelation. So, forgive me as we move quickly through two letters.

So the first messenger probably stayed with his church in ephesus after the letter was delivered to them. To the church in ephesus to the angel of the church in ephesus write. A study on the 7 churches in revelation churchleaders. As we begin looking at the church at smyrna, look at revelation 2. The book is also written to all believers everywhere. 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. Nowhere is this more evident than in the book of revelation. To the church in smyrna sermon by johnny small, revelation 2.