The Riches of Poverty (Rev 2:8-11): To the Church in Smyrna

Revelation 2:8-11; Key Verse: Rev 2:10b

"Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown" (NIV, 2011). "I will give you the crown of life" (NIV, 1984).

Seven letters speaking to churches through out the church age. In Revelation chapters 2-3, Jesus addresses 7 letters to historical churches scattered throughout western Asia Minor. While Jesus addresses the specific issues facing each of these churches he is also speaking to the churches through out the church age, which is the present period between Jesus' first and second coming, also known as the "last days" and the great tribulation. In each letter, Jesus pronounces his blessing on churches which are faithful in the midst of their struggles, while he threatens curses on churches who are not. Jesus commends churches for their faith and perseverance, and confronts them with their sins.

To Ephesus: Repent of forsaking your first love. In the first letter to the church in Ephesus (Rev 2:1-7), the Son of Man commended them for faithfully persevering in the face of false teaching. But Jesus also has a stern word of rebuke. He diagnosed their problem as having discernment without love. They lost their first love and fell from their lofty heights. Paul said that we Christians should be "speaking the truth in love" (Eph 4:15). The Ephesians were clear about the truth (Rev 2:2-3, 6), but lacking in love (Rev 2:4). Jesus encouraged them to repent and do what they did at first (Rev 2:5a), which is to genuinely love and serve and care for others, for God is love (1 Jn 4:8, 16). Genuine love for each other is the sure sign to unbelievers that we are Christ's people (Jn 13:34-35). If they did not, Jesus warned, "I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place" (Rev 2:5b), which is symbolic of his presence among them, and of the Spirit's empowering of this congregation to be a light to those around them. But if they overcame, they would be given "the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God" (Rev 2:7).

Using the same template and pattern for all 7 churches, the church in Smyrna may be considered in the following way:

1. The Church: A suffering church (Rev 2:9).
   
2. The Christ: A Living Savior who "died and came to life again" (Rev 2:8).
   
3. The Commendation: Affliction, poverty, imprisonment and death (Rev 2:9-10a).
   
4. The Condemnation/Confrontation: None.
   
5. The Command: Be faithful (Rev 2:10b).
   
6. The Consummation: The victor "will not be hurt at all by the second death" (Rev 2:11).
   

Persecution unto death. Jesus said, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first... If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also" (Jn 15:18, 20). In his letter to the church in Smyrna, Jesus says that they will suffer great persecution, persecution even to the point of death (Rev 2:10). The devil, through the local synagogue and the local government, is aggressively conducting his campaign against the church. But Jesus is the Lord of his church, and even when persecuted unto death, his people triumph. The victor who is faithful to the point of death is promised a crown of life and safety from the second death (Rev 2:10b-11).

Poor yet rich. Amid unrelenting suffering, Smyrna is one of Jesus' two blameless churches (together with Philadelphia). Paradox is vivid in this letter. The Christians in Smyrna are poor, yet they are rich (Rev 2:9), which is in sharp contrast to those in Laodicia, who are rich, yet are poor (Rev 3:17).

The First and the Last, the One who died and came to life. It is Christ who commands John to write to the seven churches (Rev 1:11), which includes Smyrna (Rev 2:8a). "These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again" (Rev 2:8b). Jesus, the First and the Last, is Isarel's eternal refuge (Isa 44:6; 48:12). The implication is that Jesus' authority over his church is the same as God's authority over Israel, because Jesus' authority is God's authority. Also, Jesus is the one who died for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. By virtue of his humiliation he has now been exalted to the status of King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus declares in Rev 1:18, "I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." To the church in Smyrna, Jesus reaffirms this glorious promise. This is especially important in the context of Satanically inspired persecution facing Christians there, with the constant threat of imprisonment and death. Those Christians in Smyrna who face death at the hands of the devil need to know that Christ alone holds in his hands the keys of death and Hades.

Those who say they are God's people but are Satanic. "I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!" (Rev 2:9a). The Smyrnan church's tribulation and poverty resulted from physical and economic assaults, which will be symbolized in the beast that attacks the saints and makes submission to his "mark" the condition for enjoying the prosperity of his evil empire (Rev 13:7, 16-17). This church's affliction was brought about by "those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan" (Rev 2:9b). Though ethnically descended from Israel's patriarchs, the opponents' actions show that they are not God's people but Satan's synagogue. The issue is not birth from the flesh but birth from the Spirit (Jn 3:6), just as circumcision that marks God's people is not a fleshly surgery but a cleansing of the heart by the Spirit (Rom 2:28-29; Phil 3:2-3). Gentiles, once not a people, have become "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession" (1 Pet 2:9-10; 1:18). Titles that once set Israel apart (Ex 19:5-6) now belong to all who belong to Jesus, who abide in him as branches in the true vine, bearing fruit pleasing to the Father (Jn 15:1-8; Isa 5:1-7). Although the apostles often were welcomed initially by the Jewish communities of the dispersion (Ac 13:5, 15-42; 14:1; 17:2, 10-11; 18:4), in one city after another their message of a crucified Messiah and his welcome to pagans apart from circumcision led to expulsion from the synagogue (Ac 13:44-45; 18:12-13; Heb 13:12-14). In a culture that prized social stability and viewed new religious movements as political threats, Christians pushed out from the umbrella of established Judaism would be exposed to suspicion from neighbors and intimidation by local officials.

The reward of death that is better than freedom from imprisonment. Difficult persecution and imprisonment awaited the church at Smyrna, but Jesus assures his faithful ones that the tribulation will be brief, a mere 10 days. To comfort them, Jesus gives them the following promise: "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 life as your victor's crown" (Rev 2:10). While the news that these Christians will suffer hardly sounds like a word of encouragement, Jesus not only tells the Smyrnans that their suffering will be of a limited duration–ten days–he also tells them that those who are faithful unto death will receive the crown of life. Roman authorities used incarceration not for long-term containment but for short-term custody of those awaiting trial or the sentence of death. Since Jesus' prediction of coming affliction closes with the exhortation, "Be faithful, even to the point of death," the release that he promises after the "ten days" may not be a return to freedom to their families or church but something better: martyrdom--the apparent defeat that is, paradoxically, the supreme victory. The "crown of life" is the laurel wreath that honors the triumphant athlete when the contest is completed (1 Cor 9:25; Jas 1:12; 2 Tim 4:6-8). It also has overtones of royal authority (Rev 4:4, 10; 6:2; 12:1; 14:14). The Smrnan martyrs are a preview of the host of martyrs, slain for the testimony of Jesus and God's word, who share in the first resurrection and enjoy Christ's protection from the second death (Rev 2:11; 20:4-6).

A simple application of Jesus' letter to the church in Smyrna. The point of application for us is simple. No matter what Satan can do to us–even if he forces us to live in poverty, even if he turns the government against us, even if causes other religions to slander us, even if he takes our lives–he cannot win.

Satan may take away our material goods, but in Jesus Christ we have all the riches of heaven.

Satan may turn the state against us, but Jesus Christ is our king and to him, the nations are but a drop in the bucket.

Satan may lie about us and slander us, but Jesus Christ rebukes him and strips off our filthy rags while clothing us with his perfect righteousness.

Satan may even take our lives, but if he does, we will come to life with Christ and reign with him for a thousand years.

The application is very simple. In Jesus Christ we are rich. In Jesus Christ we overcome. In Jesus Christ we will never face the second death. In Jesus Christ we have already received the crown of life. Therefore, "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Rev 2:11). Amen!

Will you be faithful to Jesus even to the point of death?

Questions:

1. How is the title, "the first and the last" used in Revelation (Rev 2:8; 1:17; 22:13)? Why does this mean (Isa 44:6; 48:12)?
2. What kind of afflictions and poverty did the church at Smyrna face (Rev 2:9a)? Why does Jesus say, "I know your poverty--yet you are rich"? How can Jesus say they are rich if they are poor (Rev 2:10b-11)?
3. What is so blasphemous about saying you are a Jew when you are not (Rev 2:9b; Rom 2:28-29; Phil 3:2-3)? Why the reference to "a synagogue of Satan" (Rev 13:7, 16-17)?
   
4. What did the future hold for the church of Smyrna (Rev 2:10)? What were they admonished to do? What is the stated purpose in their persecution? Is the reference to "ten days" literal or figurative? Is the "crown of life" salvation or a reward? Have you ever been persecuted because you are a Christian? Are you willing to be "faithful until death" (1 Cor 9:25; Jas 1:12; 2 Tim 4:6-8)?
   
5. What does "he who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death" mean (Rev 2:11; 20:4-6)?
   

References:

1. Johnson, Dennis E. Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation. Pillipsburg: P&R Publishing Company. 2001.
2. The Revelation of Jesus Christ (Rev 1:1-20).
3. Christian, Listen Up! (Rev 2:1-3:22).
4. What Is Heaven Like? (Rev 21:1-22:5).
   
5. Sermons on the Book of Revelation. Kim Riddlebarger, Sr. Pastor, Christ Reformed Church. Anaheim.
6. Questions on Revelations chapters 2-3.