It Starts Small

We learned while studying the historical background, the name Smyrna is closely related to myrrh. When certain plants went through the process of being crushed, they emitted a fragrant resin. When the church at Smyrna suffered, it produced a similar characteristic reaction. Jesus does not bring a harsh word of criticism against the church of Smyrna. The suffering of this church produced exactly the kind of results Christ expects of us. Through the testing of hardship and suffering, the church remained pure.

Some versions of the Bible use the word tribulation. Jesus knows the tribulation the Smyrna church faced. “Tribulation” means pressure, distress. Tribulation is anything that oppresses or crushes the soul. He knew everything about the anguish they encountered. He notices all the heartaches Christians go through.

Notably, Jesus does not rebuke these suffering Christians. This stands in striking contrast to five of the other churches whom He gives rebuke to. Those who put their faith in God’s promises when they experience tribulation become unadulterated in doctrine and spirituality.

Not only was the church under fierce persecution and suffering, they were living in poverty. It is likely the Romans took all their property and goods, however, Jesus says they are rich. They had treasure in heaven!

The Greek word for poverty carries the idea of destitution. The Smyrna church endured extreme poverty. They were beggarly and destitute. This poverty may have been due to their stand for Christ. They lived in a prosperous city, yet they were in abject poverty because they loved the Lord.

The believers were not only attack from Romans, but also a certain group of militant Jews. These Jews were apostates. SO they had the Romans, apostate Jews and the devil himself after them. Jesus called this particular group of a synagogue of Satan. This reference is very specific. Jesus is not referring to all Jews, or all synagogues, rather a specific faction which apparently plagued the churches of both Smyrna and Philadelphia. When we study the church of Philadelphia, we will look deeper into the understanding of the synagogue of Satan.

Satan is mentioned in four of Jesus’ seven letters (Revelation 2:9, 13, 24; 3:9). These references ought to increase our awareness of Satan’s antagonism of believers. The apostle Peter urged:

The New Testament does not use “blasphemy” exclusively to describe defaming God. It uses this word many times of defamation of people. It means slander and refers to all abusive speech. Certain Jews attempted to defame or slander the church at Smyrna. These people tried to harm the reputation of this church.

⁸ Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. ⁹ Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.

1 Peter 5:8-9

We can be rich without wealth.

We should never ever think that we will never face persecution. Jesus knows the plight we face. There is no tear, blow, or hardship that comes our way that He does not know. He knows when someone gossips, slanders or smears your reputation. When people lie about you He hears and the Sovereign Son of God deals with it.

Contrary to modern thinking, we can be rich without wealth.

⁸ More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith. ¹⁰ My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,

Philippians 3:8-10

Paul says everything I have done is a dung pile compared to Christ.

God does not want us to depend on a monetary worldview. He wants our worldview to center on our relationship with Christ. When we hold to this perspective, all suffering makes us strong.

⁶ You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials ⁷ so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy,

1 Peter 1:6-8

God designs all suffering for our blessing. It makes us rich in our relationship to God, rich in the Word, rich in the promises of God. Nothing shakes a person like this. This is a different scale of values.