Scripture: “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
Revelation 2:8-11 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, Christ affirms the positive attributes of the Ephesian church: good works, persevering suffering, and wisely discerning false prophets. Christ then calls out the Ephesian Christians for forsaking him (their “first love”) and challenges them to soberly reflect on how far they have drifted in their faith and affections toward him and repent and return to the good works they first did. Otherwise, Christ will remove their lampstand (i.e., they will no longer bear the light of Christ). But if they listen with understanding, that leads to obedience, they will conquer evil and eat from the tree of life in God’s paradise (bookending the conclusion of Christ’s revelation, see 22:2).
Today’s reading covers the second of Christ’s exhortations to the seven churches: Smyrna. Again, referring to himself as “the first and the last” (see 1:17), Christ also reiterates that he is the “living one” (see 1:18) in the sense that he “died and came to life” (v.8). And as with all seven churches, Jesus introduces the issue with “I know” (v.9).
Aware of Smyrna’s struggles with tribulation and poverty, Jesus contends they are spiritually rich and apprises them that their Jewish slanderers do not worship him but the devil (i.e., a synagogue of Satan). Keeping this in mind, Jesus urges them to resist anticipating and fearing their suffering, for the devil will soon orchestrate their imprisonment (an unspecified but soon time of testing symbolically conveyed as ten days away, perhaps referring to Daniel 1:12). Instead, they must exercise faith—persevering suffering unto death—and they will receive Jesus’ crown of life (i.e., eternal life; see a similar appeal in James 1:12). Lastly, using a familiar phraseology that he cited when concluding a parable or teaching point (e.g., Matthew 11:15), Jesus declares, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death” (v.11).
Historical Note: Smyrna (modern Izmir, Turkey) lies about forty miles north of Ephesus and is known as the birthplace of Homer. A wealthy populous flourishing in the sciences and medicine, Smyrna gained favor from Rome for its support and cult worship of Ceasar and thus enjoyed self-governing status.
Takeaway: To remain in good standing with Rome, once a year, citizens would burn a pinch of incense and hail Caesar as Lord. But such an idolatrous act was an anathema to Christians. Indeed, about sixty years later, governing officials burned Polycarp alive in Smyrna at age eighty-six for refusing to utter these blasphemous words (Eusebius Ecclesiastical History 4.15.25). In contrast, those who sought comfort and wealth as their top priority would rationalize the significance of this small gesture of imperial worship and ridicule and marginalize Christians, as perhaps did those Jews from the “synagogue of Satan.” Still, Jesus is not making a sweeping statement about fellow Jews, given the church comprised both Jews and Gentiles. Instead, as he will do throughout his revelation (2:13; 3:9; 9:11; 12:9–10, 12; 13:4; 20:2, 7, 10), Jesus reminds the Smyrna church that Satan is the source of their tribulations and clarifies that their suffering serves to test their faith (v.10). So even though they will face death, they will see redemption when they receive the “crown of life.”
But what are we to make of the second death? Jesus refers to those who reject him. They will suffer eternal separation from Christ, but those who conquer trials and tribulations while holding fast to their faith will conquer death and be with Jesus in paradise (see the above recap of yesterday’s Daily Focus regarding paradise). In other words, while Christians will experience the death of their mortal bodies, their spirits will immediately enter into the presence of Christ in his heavenly realm. Paul affirms this truth as he paraphrases Hosea (13:14): ‘”When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
1 Corinthians 15:54-55 ESV
The real sting isn’t neurological pain from dying but eternal separation from all that is good, beautiful, and glorious. That’s the ultimate anguish Jesus describes as the gnashing of teeth (see Matthew 13:38-43).
Our takeaway? Likely, as the Smyrna church read this revelation, they would recall Job’s story, where God permitted Satan to test Job (1:6-12) and incur unthinkable suffering. By God’s grace, Job persevered and gained blessings far exceeding his losses. Still, to conquer does not mean that we will die in comfort. Consider Polycarp, who endured excruciating pain at the end of his long life. But whether Job or Polycarp, we can know Christ’s peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7) and his joy that is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10) if we continue to mature in our faith, learning to trust in God’s love and love him back.
As Director of Pastoral Services at the last church I served, I witnessed those dying of cancer overcome their fears and manage their pain far better than those who did not know and love Jesus. With that in mind, my hope for you, your loved ones, and my family and friends is that we will be more than conquerors in Christ (Romans 8:37) as we overcome worry with the worship of the Lover of our souls who has prepared a crown of life for us in his eternal paradise (John 14:2).
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who, for us (the joy set before him), endured his cross (see Hebrews 12:2). And we thank you for your Holy Spirit, who imparts your Son’s incomprehensible peace and joy amid our suffering so that we might remain faithful to you and him and conquer our fears of dying and death. Still, we confess we sometimes become consumed with the anticipated suffering. So please help us draw near your Holy Spirit and follow his lead to overcome worry with worship by fixing our eyes on the Lover of our souls who welcomes us into his eternal paradise. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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