The Church in Smyrna Revelation 2:8

After John the apostle saw the vision of Jesus in chapter one of “Revelation”, he began to write to the “seven churches in Asia”. He started with the church located in “Ephesus”, and he told them to, “Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent.” He added, “But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” In chapter two and verse eight of Revelation, John shared how Jesus addressed , “the church in Smyrna” where we read:

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write;

These things says the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

The verse begins, “And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write;” John began with the words, “and unto the angel” which means “to the messenger, envoy, one who is sent and by implication the pastor” “of the church” or “pertaining to the assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting” “in Smyrna” which means “myrrh” and referred “the inhabitants within the assembly of Christians in Smyrna” “write” or “delineate or form letters on a tablet, parchment, paper, or other material”. The second “messenger or pastor” to which John was to “write” was to the “messenger” who presided over the “church of Smyrna”.

The verse goes on to say, “These things says the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;” John added the words, “these things” or “that which John is about to write” “says” which means “speaks, utters, proclaims and declares” “the first” or “the chief and principal one in time or place” “and the last” which means “and the extreme, uttermost part and the end”, “which was dead” or “that was as one that breathed his last, lifeless, deceased, departed, destitute of life and inanimate”, “and is alive” which means “is among the living, active, blessed and endless in the kingdom of God”. As John began to share with the “church of Smyrna”, He referred to Jesus' characteristics listed in chapter one of Revelation that He is “first and last” and was “dead” and “is alive”.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we note the name “Smyrna” which means “myrrh” was a “fragrant gum of popular use, especially for embalming purposes” and implies “suffering or death”. “Smyrna” was located about “forty miles north of Ephesus and still exist today” and is known as “Izmir” in Turkey. This was “the church of persecution” and corresponds to the period of time just after the “church of Ephesus”. It is thought that “Polycarp” whom John the apostle set up as Bishop was the “angel” or “messenger and pastor” of this church. Is it any wonder that Jesus would identify Himself specifically to this “persecuted” church as “the first and the last” and He that “was dead” and is “alive” again? God Almighty knows the state of people everywhere, and He knows they need a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. Though they may suffer “persecution” as we shall see within the “church of Smyrna”, He has their “everlasting life” in mind. May all who read these words both “hear” and understand them.

Next time John begins to write, “I know your works, tribulation and poverty”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.