REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 2.8a

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

(The Apocalypse)

 

LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES

 

CHAPTER 2

 

Smyrna

 

Outline

1.  The Addressee – To whom the letter is addressed (2:8)

2.  The Address – To where the letter is addressed (2:8)

3.  The Addresser – From whom the letter is addressed (2;8)

4.  The Approval – The acclamation of good qualities (2:9)

5.  The Accusation – The presentation of bad qualities (N/A)

6.  The Appeal – The application to change (2:10)

7.  The Advice – The recommendation to change (2:11)

Each church letter is written to the second generation of Christians living in Asia Minor. However, the Lord also desires to speak to us today through each message. There are seven components to every letter. Smyrna and Philadelphia are two exceptions where no criticisms are against them. Our risen Lord has nothing negative to say about Smyrna.

 

 

(Verse 8a)

 

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive.

 

Smyrna

1. The Addressee – To whom the letter is addressed

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna

The church in Smyrna in Asia Minor: Smyrna [Greek: Smurna, Smurnaios, (Strong's, G4666-8)] means myrrh. Myrrh is a derivative of an Aramaic word meaning bitter or suffering.

 

Myrrh

Myrrh is an aromatic resinous substance that was extracted from a thorny tree. Although it is considered a spice, however, it has many uses. Three qualities are:

1.   First of all, if you crushed the substance, it would yield an oil – a sweet-smelling fragrance known to us as perfume

 

2. Secondly, myrrh was used as a holy ointment applied to people in pagan religious rituals. In the Old Testament, Levite priests used this oil for anointing

 

3.  Lastly, myrrh was also used as an embalming fluid. When a person died, myrrh was substituted for blood as a preservative

 

Frequently myrrh was employed in the Old Testament. Interestingly, it is only used three times in the New Testament; except when a city was designated:

1.  The first-time myrrh is mentioned was at Christ’s birth in Bethlehem. Recall: The wise men came bearing gifts. They fell down and worshiped baby Jesus. When they opened their treasures, they presented Him with three offerings (representative of the three offices held by Christ):

1.  Gold - King

2.  Frankincense - Priest

3.  Myrrh - Prophet

Matthew 2:11 - And when they (the Wise Men) were come into the house (months after His birth), they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

In this context, myrrh was used as perfume. However, it also has many medicinal purposes, especially conducive to baby skin.

 

Footnote: The first mention of myrrh in the Bible is in Genesis 37:25. After Joseph’s brothers threw Joseph into the pit, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites from Gilead passing through transporting spicery, balm, and myrrh to Egypt. Joseph's brothers sold Joseph to them for twenty pieces of silver.

 

2.  The second time the word myrrh appears is in the Gospel of Mark. While Jesus was on the cross, Roman soldiers offered Him wine mixed with myrrh.

Mark 15:23 - And they gave Him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but He received it not.

 

In this instance, it was used as an ointment or an anesthetic. Myrrh was given not as an act of mercy, but to stupefy Him while the nails were driven by the soldiers. But Jesus refused to partake of any such means of relief. Even through the excruciating pain, He wanted to retain all His mental facilities for the perfect, complete fulfillment of His Father’s will. (cf. Matthew 27:24).

 

3.  The third and final time myrrh occurs is in John’s Gospel.

John 19:39 - And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred-pound weight.

 

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloe (an embalming fluid) and used it to prepare the body of Christ for burial:

So, all three uses of myrrh were employed:

1.  At the birth of Christ - As an oily perfume

2.   At the cross of Christ - As an anesthetic

3. At the death of Christ - As an embalming fluid

 

When Christ returns, He will only bring gold and frankincense - not myrrh. Discussing the future glory of Zion, Isaiah writes:

Isaiah 60:6 - The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense, and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.

 

To the overcomers of this world, John writes, myrrh will be missing. What a tremendous promise for believers – no more suffering.

John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation (suffering – myrrh): but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

 

The Church

Geographically the church was located about forty miles northeast of Ephesus. It is logical to deduce the assembly became an offshoot of the mother church. You recall Paul had spent three years in Ephesus and the Word spread throughout all of Asia Minor (cf. Acts 19). Someone most likely had taken the Gospel there and started a little Bible study group. From a small body of believers, the church continued to grow as they studied Christ.

 

The church of Smyrna is never mentioned in any of the Pauline epistles. It is only recorded in Revelation as a poor suffering Church. Smyrna and the Smyrnean period represent the persecuted church that underwent a tremendous time of tribulation. According to Fox’s Book of Martyrs, about five million believers [Some resources cite six million] died for their faith in Jesus Christ.

 

Today, Turkey is a Muslim country where no church exists. If there are any Christians, they most likely worship underground.

 

Polycarp

Historically, Polycarp was one of the first great church fathers. Two theologians of the late second century, Tertullian and Irenaeus state that Polycarp, a student of John the Apostle, was appointed Bishop or Pastor of this church; until he was martyred around 156 A.D. (dates vary).

 

Roman Emperor Nero notably launched a persecution campaign against the Christian world. After Augustus Caesar’s death, the people of the Roman world honored him as a ‘god’. Vespasian began a campaign, later revived by Domitian, elevating the emperor as Dominus et Deus (lord and god), thus empowering emperor cult worship. Remember the words of Christ:

Mark 12:17 - Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.

 

The Smyrneans especially would render, however, they would not bow; thus, causing animosity amongst the populous.

 

During their public games and at the height of excitement, shouts from the crowds resonated: “Away with the atheists; let Polycarp be searched for!”  Polycarp was arrested and brought before the proconsul. Given a choice for his freedom, Polycarp had two options: either curse Christ or bow down to Caesar. Albeit he refused to acknowledge the Emperor of Rome as a god.

 

After being labeled an atheist, the crier shouted, “Polycarp professes to be a Christian.” The crowd cried, “Burn him! Burn him!” Polycarp’s reply was, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my Lord and Savior?” Reminiscent of Jesus, Polycarp was forced to ride on a donkey to his execution site. As the Romans bound him to the stake Polycarp said in effect, "There's no need to bind me. Leave me as I am. The Lord who has stood by me all these years will stand by me now.” It is also said Polycarp thanked God that he was able to share in the sufferings of Christ.

 

Polycarp took what Christ had said at the end of verse ten, “Be thou faithful unto death.” And He was. It is reported the fire did not touch his body. Polycarp was finally stabbed to death at the ripe old age of ninety-nine by the executioner.

Footnote: Ironically, apostate Jews from all over the city, leaving their homes, workshops, and baths, flocked with sticks to burn such a godly man on their celebrated Sabbath.

It was to this church at Smyrna, Jesus writes His second epistle. The message is to this church, for the known world and generations to follow.

 

 

2. The Address – To where the letter is addressed

 

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna

 

The City of Smyrna, (Lydia), Asia Minor

 

Early History

How the City of Smyrna began is unclear. It had a long history dating back over two thousand years before Christ. About 334 B.C., it was occupied by the Hittites. After many wars, earthquakes, and fires, Alexander the Great began beautifying and rebuilding Smyrna. Upon his death, Lysimachus, one of four generals of the divided Greek Empire, continued the project and brought it to completion.

 

 

Greek historian, geographer, and philosopher Strabo said it was the most beautiful city in the world. It also has been labeled:

1.  The Crown of Ionia

2.   The Crown of Porticoes

3. The Ornament of Asia

4.  The Beauty of Asia

5.  The Jewel of Asia

6.  The Flower of Asia

7.  The Pearl of Turkey

 

GEOGRAPHY

 

The Harbor

Smyrna had a large strategic seaport on the west coast of the Aegean Sea; about forty miles northeast of Ephesus. The port itself was a natural land-locked harbor where fleets would enter and remain. They were completely protected from any outside piracy attacks. It had an inner and an outer harbor. From the Harbor, one would enter the Ephesian Gate; travel on Gold Street (mentioned by Aristocles in his writings), and wide boulevards at right angles which transverses east to west up the rolling slopes of Mt. Pagos - Thus, making it one of the few planned cities of the ancient world.

 

Mount Pagos

On the summit of Pagos was an Acropolis, the location of all kinds of great noble and glorious Greek buildings and temples. The Street of Gold mentioned circled the Mount. However, what made this city the most beautiful in this part of the world was its landscaping: large cedar trees, interspersed with myrtle trees, hedges, and an array of flowers produced a necklace around its crown. A traveler would say, “What a queenly city covered with towers - the beautiful.”

 

3

Commerce

Commercially, Smyrna was a competitor to Ephesus. Exclusive to the city, however, was direct trade routes from India, Persia, and Rome. By the time of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Empire had built a million paved roads that lit up at night for safe travel. Piracy on the seas ceased commerce flourished, families had trades, and the Empire enjoyed a Pax Romana (Roman peace). Smyrna was also noted for having coins: Of Homer and Apollo.

 

Politics

There were no Roman garrisons stationed there, so politically, Smyrna was free to govern itself, a self-governing city. They enjoyed the same political freedom Ephesus enjoyed. However, Rome desired the church and state to become one.

 

Amid their opulence and wealth, Caesar worship grew and became compulsory. It was a political statement rather than a religious one. The Roman authorities could not care less who you worshipped, as long as you gave honor to Caesar. Yearly the citizenry was officially required to make a pilgrimage to the temple, burn incense, and bow on their knees to proclaim publicly, “Caesar is Lord.” However, the Smyrna Christians refused to do so.

 

Literary Arts

Smyrna’s claim to fame in the literary world was that this city was the birthplace and home of Homer; one of Greece’s great poets. Here, Homer wrote the Iliad; set during the ten-year siege of the Trojan War, and The Odyssey; the sequel, set after the fall of Troy. Respectively, both are among the oldest extant works of Western literature.

 

Not only did Smyrna have a magnificent public library, but also, to honor Homer, a building (The Homerian) where a large monument to Homer was erected to memorialize the poet. Monuments to Homer also existed in several other cities of antiquity – the largest was in Alexandria, Egypt.

 

Athletics

The city had a large sports stadium where thousands of Christians were fed to the lions while the multitudes cheered. It was in this arena Polycarp was martyred.

 

Science

Smyrna was acclaimed for its schools of science and medicine.

 

Music

Smyrna was the home of music. It had a music center (one of the largest in Asia Minor) called an Odeum. Its ceiling consisted of carved beams of cedar (for acoustics), with an open space in the center to let the light shine in.

 

Religion

Similar to Ephesus, the city had a pantheon of pagan gods and idols. There were all kinds of Temples erected to these various deities:

1.  The Temple to Zeus (Greek) or Jupiter (Roman) – King of the gods; also called the Savior god.

2.  The Temple to Aphrodite (Greek) or Venus (Roman) – Goddess of love

3.  The Temple to Apollo – God of the arts and divination

4.  The Temple to Asclepius – God of healing and medicine

5.   The Temple of Dionysus (Greek) or Bacchus (Latin) – God of wine, drama, and sexuality

6.  The Temple to Cybele – Mother goddess

7.  The Temple to Nemesis – Daughter of Zeus

 

Smyrna was also the first city in all of Asia to build a temple to Dea Roma (the goddess Rome). There was also Meles, a river god of a small stream near Smyrna, Lydia (old Anatolia).

 

But, nestled amid this beautiful city was a little band of Christians who were in love with Jesus Christ, and they were being persecuted for their faith. The more they were killed, the more they smelled sweet, and the more they grew. Next week we will discuss their character.

 

Modern Smyrna (Izmir)

Smyrna’s history spanned a period of over five thousand years. It survived many empires: From early Hittites, Anatolians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantine, and Ottoman civilizations. In the New Testament age, this city had a population of more than 100,000 people. A second-century great earthquake destroyed this glamorous Greco-Roman city in A.D. 178. After its rebuilding, on September 9, 1922, Smyrna was liberated by the Turks. In 1930 its name was changed to Izmir - the third most populous city after Istanbul and Ankara, Turkey.  

Today, ruins are scattered throughout the city. Two archaeological sites exist within the modern city of Izmir, Turkey; one of antiquity, the other of the Roman period A Greek agora - a gathering place on the northern slopes of Mt. Pagos - remains visible.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.  Describe the properties of myrrh.

2.  How did Smyrna begin?

3.   Who was Polycarp and why was he martyred?

4.  Why was the city of Smyrna important?

5. What was Smyrna called?

6. Name two pagan temples.

7.   What happened to the church and city of Smyrna?

 

 

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