Revelation 2:8-2:17, Enduring persecution is spiritually healthy. Compromising God's truth with the world's culture is deadly

Rev 2:8-11 (ESV) "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 'The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

9 "'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.  10 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.  11  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.'


DESCRIPTION
• Destination is Smyrna
• Greek word for myrrh. Used in embalming. Would also mix with wine for fragrance. Taste is  "bitter"
• The city is also a harbor town
• Probably a better harbor town than Ephesus but looked northwest, while Ephesus was south and most traffic would have come from the south
• Black sea traffic would choose Smyrna
• In Smyrna, Rome found its most loyal supporters (due to some political interactions with Pergamum)
• Smyrna was the first city to dedicate a temple to the cult of Rome (195 BC)
• Little remains of the city (earthquake and the real city of Izmir
• Metroum - sanctuary to the mother of the gods (BSP 5:2, p.37)
• Gymnasium
• Two-storied colonnades
• Library
• Homereium -  "… Homereium, a quadrangular portico containing a shrine and wooden statue of Homer; for the Smyrnaeans also lay especial claim to the poet; and indeed a bronze coin of theirs is called Homereium" (Strabo 14.1.37)
• Harbor can be closed
• Stone paved streets laid out in a grid
• City lacked sewers
• Residents worshipped a goddess, Cybele, who rose from the dead every spring
LITERAL / UNIVERSAL
• What is the point of the description of Jesus?
• First and last; died and came to life again (simile to the city, which had died and was resurrected)
• Beginning and the end; overcame death
• Death is not the end
• Jesus is the proof (this would be an especially encouraging reminder for those who are about to die)
• What do we learn about the church from the commendations?
• Unusually poor suggesting some inability to maintain wealth or to own homes
• But they haven't lost a thing because their reward was in heaven
• One possibility: People who called themselves Jews could be a reference to a people who thought they were the people of God. The Romans considered themselves God's people with the emperor as God himself
• Another possibility: the Jewish community was particularly anti-Christian in this city
• Exhortation
• Devil will put some in prison (coercion to compel obedience or to restrain a person before execution)
• Technically, the only acceptable worship was the Emperor
• Judaism was granted an exception (apparently, their proselytizing was not enough to be a nuisance)
• Most other religions were not against adding in the imperial cult
• Christianity was perceived as a sect of Judaism, which it was, but it was not silent like the Jews and was becoming an issue
• Most likely a literal ten days to the recipients of the letter (although also a metaphor at the time for a short period)
• Ten days of persecution - the Romans did not use long-term incarceration
• No free room and board
• Fine, whip, release, or kill
• Although, only a few places had authority to execute capital punishment
• APPLICATION: You will have ten days to live. Don't give up! You are going to die
• Death is a good thing and a bad thing in scriptures (and is used both ways)
• It is a good thing when we have served the Lord faithfully
• It is a bad thing when God has to remove us from the earth because of our witness
• Scriptures talk about 5 crowns for believers

An Imperishable Crown	For leading a disciplined life	1 Cor. 9:25
A Crown of Rejoicing	For evangelism and discipleship	1 Thess. 2:19
A Crown of Righteousness	For loving the Lord's appearing	2 Tim. 4:8
A Crown of Life	For enduring trials	James 1:12; Rev. 2:10
A Crown of Glory	For shepherding God's flock faithfully	1 Pet. 5:4

2 Tim 4:7-8 (ESV) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
1 Cor 9:24-25 (ESV) Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

• What do we learn from the condemnation?
• There is no condemnation
• In the first century the enemies of Christians leveled six slanderous ("reference to slander")accusations against Christians: cannibalism (eating and drinking the body and blood of Jesus), lust and immorality, breaking up homes (they called each other brother and sister), atheism, political disloyalty, and being incendiaries (because they taught that the world would burn up)
• The promise is specific to the individuals and what does it mean "not be hurt by the second death"
• What is the second death? It occurs after the second coming where the unbelievers are thrown into the lake of fire
• That is the real death to fear
• Dying on earth is nothing compared to the reality of the second death
• Their persecutors will die twice but they will only die once
PROPHETIC
• For the purpose of the historical-prophetic interpretation,  Smyrna is the "The Church of Roman Persecution" and covers the period of AD 100-313
• The ten days may also represent ten emperors of the period (overlapping some with the previous church)
1. Nero, persecution years 64-68 (followed by Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus)
2. Domitian, persecution years 95-96 (followed by Nerva)
3. Trajan, persecution years 104-17 (followed by Hadrian and Pius)
4. Marcus Aurelius, persecution years, entire reign, 161-180 (followed by Commodus, Pertinax, Julianus)
5. Septimus Severus, persecution years 200-211 (followed by Caracall, Macrinus, Elagabalus, Alexander Severus)
6. Maximus, years of persecution, entire reign, 235-237 (followed by Gordian I, II, III, Philip the Arabian)
7. Decius, years of persecution, entire reign, 249-251 (followed by Galllus, Aemilianus)
8. Valerian, years of persecution, 257-260 (followed by Gallienus, Claudius II)
9. Aurelian, years of persecution, 274, 275 (followed by Tacitus, Probus, Carus, Carinus, and Numerian)
10. Diocletian, years of persecution, 303-305
• Suffering afflictions
• At the martyrdom of Polycarp in 168, the Jews assisted by gathering wood on the Sabbath for the fire (Ryrie)
• APPLICATION: the church continued to grow despite the heavy persecution. Not too many years ago, the fastest growing church in the world was in Communist China. Persecution helps you to realize what is really important in the world. Jesus has no condemnation for this church, because they were seeking him, not the things of the world. How does my seeking "things" divert my attention from God


Rev 2:12-17 (ESV) "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 'The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

13 "'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.  14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.  15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.  16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.  17  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.'



DESCRIPTION
• Destination is Pergamum
• The direct translation from Greek means "citadel" or "tower"
• Fruchtenbaum and Armstrong: "thoroughly married"
• Town is noteworthy on multiple counts
• It was the capital city of the Asia Minor. It was a political city
• Center for many pagan religious cults -- emperor worship was also intense
• Temple of Zeus
• Altar of Zeus taken to Berlin. Excavated and transferred to Germany stone by stone (1930)
• Speer used the design to create the Zeppelin parade review in Nuremburg
• Temple of Athena
• Three temples to Caesar
• Temple to Demeter
• A major healing complex dedicated to the god Asclepius (held a snake-entwined staff)
• Went in through the basement
• Given a sedative
• Slept in the dormitory with a large number of non-poisonous snakes
• Snakes would heal the petitioners (or reveal to the doctor the prescription)
• It had a university with a large library (rivaled Alexandria)
• It was the leader and center of the production of parchment
• Imperial governor held court -- one of the places where a capital sentence could be execute
LITERAL / HISTORICAL
• What is the point of the description of Jesus, "him who has the sharp double-edged sword'
• In the original description, the sword comes out of his mouth, signifying the word of God
• One thought: the Romans held the sword, the power of life and death, but God really holds the true power of life and death
• Second thought (preferred): the picture of Jesus is a picture of judgment used later in the book of revelation. Jesus is the judge of all the earth and he will judge the people for their sins
• What about the location might have something to do with the description of Jesus
• If a large parchment producer and a large library, it may be a source of intelligence/wisdom of the world to spread
• Jesus' word is the answer to the world's wisdom and writings
• What do we learn about the church from the commendations?
• Even after Antipas' martyrdom, the church remained true
• Antipas cast out a lot of demons. Demons complained in dreams to pagans
• "Antipas is said to have been a dentist and a physician, but the Aesculapiades suspected that he was propagating Christianity secretly and they accused him of disloyalty to Caesar. He was condemned to death and was shut up in a brazen (or copper) bull, which was then heated until it was red-hot." (Tatford)
• It could be that they live in a particularly saturated area of worldly wisdom and pagan religious ideas, and no one wanted to listen to the truth of Jesus Christ?
• Sometimes it is difficult to stay true when it doesn't seem like anyone else believes
• Which is why fellowship is so important, because if I think I am the only one out there I will be defeated. We need support from other brothers and sisters
• Not absolutely sure about the "Satan's throne" reference
• Some think it is an emperor worship
• Most think it is one of the temples (like the altar of Zeus)
• The temple of Esculapius contains an idol in the image of a serpent
• It could literally have been his throne (at that time) for a variety of reasons
• What do we learn from the condemnations? (There are two)
• FIRST: The teaching of Balaam was essentially to mix ideologies through marriage
• Balaam told Balak to form alliances through marriage and to bring foreign concepts of worship in the Israelite community
• APPLICATION: You need to marry another believer, and not just some who calls themselves a Christian
• SECOND: We already discussed the teaching of the Nicolatians previously. The word is related to rule and Fruchtenbaum believes that this is where the distinction between clergy and laity starts to blossom (with different rules for each)
• Exhortation
• Repent, which means change your mind and choose to act differently
• Otherwise, you will be fighting against God (and you will be fighting against his word of truth)
• The promise is "hidden manna" and "white stone" -- what do they mean?
• Hidden manna is spiritual nourishment and sustainment
• White stone could be received three ways
• One, when found innocent in a trial
• Two, when received into membership of a private club
• When you left the healing facility, you would pick up a stone and write what you were healed of and place in a pile near the exit. Would be a great marketing tool (Armstrong)
• APPLICATION: Jesus provides real healing to those who conquer the false marriage of Christianity and culture. This is a universal struggle for the church. Nowadays, people are trying to combine an acceptance of homosexual marriage with the church
• In the bible, a person receives "a new name" when he has overcome some spiritual obstacle, like Abram and Jacob being renamed Abraham and Israel
PROPHETIC
• For the purpose of the historical-prophetic interpretation,  Pergamum is "The church of the age of Constantine" and covers the period of AD 313-600
• The condemnation of Balaam fits the period well
• The legalization of Christianity in the emperor allowed many pagan ideas to marry into it such that it was hard to determine what Christianity really was …
• The separating of the church into clergy and laity picked up steam, and the mixing of the state and the church. Constantine becomes the head of the church
• True Christianity is attacked because it is an attack on the state and an attack on the head of the church
• APPLICATION: the danger of mixing the ways of the world and it's culture into our faith is very real even today. We may not have a "state" controlling our faith, but we have the "loud" voices of culture that tell us what is acceptable or not, and it gets into the faith (homosexual marriage, living together before marriage, pornography as freedom of speech, white lies on taxes, accepting other's beliefs as appropriate ways to worship God, …)