Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Revelation

Revelation 
Day 
Day 18

"To the angel of the church in Smyrna"

Text: Revelation 2:8

THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA

There were only two churches that did not receive a scathing rebuke from the Lord Jesus Christ. Smyrna was one of the two churches.

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,
‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:
‘I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich);
and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.””
Revelation 2:8-9

1. Smyrna

a) Ancient Smyrna suffered badly because of foreign powers.

b) It was re-founded as a Greek city in 290 BC by Lysimachus, one of the generals of Alexander the Great.

c) Smyrna appealed to Rome to build a Temple to honour and worship Emperor Tiberius Caesar. Their appeal was successful. Smyrna housed a temple dedicated to Emperor Tiberius as deity.

d) There was much hostility from a local synagogue that led to great persecution of the church.

e) Smyrna was a prosperous city, commercially.

2. A great word of encouragement from the Lord.

a) The Lord was referred to as “The First and the Last”.

b) He was also described as He “who was dead, and came to life”.

c) These were precious words of great comfort and encouragement.

i) The Church was reminded of the example of the Lord Jesus.

ii) He was persecuted to death and He was raised from the dead.

iii) The Church at Smyrna must not be afraid of suffering and death.

iv) Their faith in the Lord must strengthen them to trust their souls to the Lord who would care for them even if they were to suffer as martyrs.

3. The works of the church at Smyrna evaluated.

a) Their works for the Lord were noted.

b) They had to endure much tribulation.

c) Despite the fact that the city of Smyrna was wealthy, the church was quite poor.

d) The Lord reminded the Church of Smyrna that they were in fact “rich”:

i) Rich in faith.

ii) Rich in good deeds.

iii) Rich in spirit.

4. A synagogue of Satan.

a) The word “synagogue” is a reference to a Jewish house of worship.

b) The local population was against the existence of the Christian Church in Smyrna.

c) They stirred up a lot of trouble and caused much tribulation to come to the church in Smyrna.