The “watch” group Open Doors USA reported that 360 million Christians last year lived in countries where persecution was “significant.” Roughly 5,600 Christians were murdered, more than 6,000 were detained or imprisoned, and another 4,000-plus were kidnapped. In addition, more than 5,000 churches and other religious facilities were destroyed. American Christians talk of persecution, but that is what real persecution looks like. Every year Open Doors USA releases its World Watch report of the 50 nations most likely to punish Christians for their faith. Last year 11 nations were guilty of “extreme persecution.” Afghanistan took over the top spot from North Korea this year. North Korea is horrific: Being a Christian in North Korea is a death sentence. If you are not killed, Christians are taken to labor camps as political criminals. “Kim Jong-un is reported to have expanded the system of prison camps, in which an estimated 50,000-70,000 Christians are currently imprisoned.”

A true case of such persecution has been well documented concerning Romanian Pastor Richard Wurmbrand. He spent 14 years in prison for preaching the gospel. His captors smashed four of his vertebrae and cut or burned 18 holes in his body, but they could not defeat him. He testified, “Alone in my cell, cold, hungry, and in rags, I danced for joy every night.” During this time he turned to a fellow prisoner, a man he had led to the Lord before they were arrested, and asked, “Have you any resentment against me that I brought you to Christ?” His response: “I have no words to express my thankfulness that you brought me to the wonderful Savior. I would never have it another way.” These two men exemplify the supernatural joy that can be experienced by believers who live on the edge of death as the result of being severely persecuted.

Such was the testimony of the saints at the Church in Smyrna. In fact the history is based on the same testament more renowned in the martyrdom of Polycarp in A.D. 155. He was born in Smyrna in A.D. 69 and he later became the pastor. When asked to renounce his faith in Christ this disciple of John, “Eighty-six years have I served Him and He has done me no wrong. How can I speak evil of my King, who saved me?” Tradition has it that he was put to the flames, but when the fire refused to consume him he was killed with the sword and then burned. We continue our study of the seven churches, and today examine the Church in Smyrna, the city, the commendation and the consolation.

I.The Church in Smyrna/Persecuted Church (2.8) – Church age 100 – 312 AD

1. Smyrna was a beautiful city located on the coast about 40 miles north of Ephesus. It was one of the most prosperous cities in Asia. In Roman times Smyrna was quite a place. It had a harbor that actually reached in about 35 miles, one of the finest in the world. The city fathers called it “the pride of Asia.” There was a hill named Pagos which was located at the back of the city. On the crest of this hill were a number of pagan temples, forming a circle. The crest with all its temples resembled a crown when looking at it from a distance. The city received the name “the crown of Asia” as a result of its prosperity and its temple’s on the crest of the hill.

The Greek historian Strabb, described Smyrna as “the most beautiful of all cities.” Noted not only for her beauty but for her illustrious past, Smyrna had given birth to such prominent figures as the Greek epic poet Homer. Today the city still flourishes as Izmir, Turkey’s third-ranking metropolis, with a population of 820,000.

2. Smyrna was one of the major centers of emperor worship. It was allied with Rome and so it enjoyed being automatous and independent. The emperor’s temple had been erected in 26AD during the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Since the time of Christ many Christians were put to the test annually in claiming who was Lord. The Romans would charge others to say, “Caesar is Lord!” those who denied and said “Jesus is Lord” faced persecution from the Romans. Smyrna still lives and in that city there are still Christians worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ.

II. The Commendation (2:9)

1. This verse begins with our Lord Jesus saying, “I know thy works and tribulation, and poverty” the Greek word translated know (ay’-doe), means “fullness of knowledge”-a complete knowledge attained by experience. Christ says, I know thy works, and tribulation…. The Greek word translated tribulation (thlip’-sis –thee’pis) literally means “pressure” or “to be crushed.” It is the idea of constant, aggressive pressure, or persecution. Our Lord is saying He knew the pressure of the persecution that the Smyrna’ Christians were facing.

2. It’s interesting to note that the name Smyrna means “Myrrh.” It is a very fitting name for this church because myrrh is a perfume, whose aroma is released by crushing it. Myrrh was a substance that was taken from a thorny tree and it was used basically for perfume or it was used to put on a dead body for aromatic purposes. In order for that thorny tree to yield that fragrance, it had to be crushed. So, we see a little church, the myrrh or persecuted church, crushed and when it’s crushed it yields the sweet aroma. God permitted Satan to crush them to yield the sweetness of their aroma. Maybe you feel crush today because of your faith, God can turn the bitterness into
the sweet aroma of a changed life for you and others.

The Lord knew every sorrow, counted every tear, felt every pain, and completely understood the physical and mental anguish His people were enduring. Jesus had experienced all this persecution while He was here on earth too. This church was being crushed with persecution because of their faith and loyalty to Jesus Christ. Smyrna receives a message of understanding from the Lord Jesus who said, “I KNOW”, a message of encouragement and of hope. Christ knew because he too suffered persecution.
I Peter 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
3. Moreover, Christ is fully aware of our tribulation today. He takes note of those who are ridiculed at work or at school because they are faithful followers of His. He knows of those who are passed over for promotion because they will have no part of shady business practices or deceitful solicitation. The Good Shepherd knows every wound and every bruise sustained by His sheep as they follow Him. Remember, as a believer being ostracized and tried; you must hear the words of the Lord Jesus say, “I KNOW.” – Psalms 56:8-9

4. Christ also says, I know … thy poverty. The Greek word translated poverty is not the ordinary word for poverty (PENIA, pen-ay’ah). It is the Greek word (ptōcheia- po-kay’-ah) that means extreme poverty or beggary. These Christians were deprived of the right to make a living because of economic sanctions imposed against those who refused to participate in emperor worship. It is also possible that part of their persecution was having their property confiscated. Christ offers
III The Consolation (2:10,11)

1. The Christians at Smyrna did not experience the approval or praise of men, but they certainly received both from God. However, their tribulation was not yet over, so our Lord commands, Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer …. The Lord knew ahead of time of the devil’s plans to have some of the believers imprisoned and tried as traitors. (YOU ARE RICH!),

The Lord said this persecution would be for ten days. It could refer to a short or limited period of time. However, some interpret this to mean ten specific persecutions under Roman emperors, beginning with Nero and ending with Diocletian. – (Foxes book of Martyrs, page 12).

2. Historically Domitian (da’ mission’) was the Caesar at this time. If you know anything about Roman history you know that Domitian was a murderous dictator who launched an extensive persecution against the church which reached some kind of a fever pitch in the town of Smyrna. And we learn here or are reminded at least of a very important principle that the church which suffers persecution becomes purged, becomes pure. Hypocrites don’t stick around to be persecuted. False Christians don’t want the pain, they don’t need it.

3. The persecution did not just come from the Romans it also came from the Jews. Christ calls these particular Jews in Smyrna the synagogue of Satan, which reveals Satan is the author of all persecution of Christians. Note that the hatred of the Jews for Christians is a familiar fact to anybody who reads the book of Acts. If you read in Acts chapter 13 and verse 50, you see their hatred in Antioch. In the Roman Empire there were many wealthy Jews who had made their fortune by doing business with Rome. They had the ear of the authorities and they sought to blot out the infant church.

Smyrna is one of the two churches to which our Lord gives no word of condemnation. The other is Philadelphia. There was a large community of Jews living within the city. These Jews were outright hostile to the Christians in the city. They were involved in lying about Christians and encouraging the Romans to deal with these cannibals, atheists, and immoral Christians. Jews joined with heathens in demanding that Polycarp should be cast to the lions or burned alive and the Jews were foremost in bringing logs for the pile and in the endeavor to prevent the remains of the martyr from being delivered to his Christian friends for burial. It was the time of the public games. The city was crowded and the crowds were excited. Suddenly the shout went up, “Away with the atheists, let Polycarp be searched for.” (Foxes book of Martyrs -Polycarp).

4. The promise to this church is that those who give up their life for Christ kingdom will receive the “Crown of Life!” Contained in this command is a promise, . . . be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life (Rev. 2:10). Some interpret this to mean only those who are faithful unto death will be saved. However, this verse has nothing to do with being saved; it concerns rewards, or crowns, as the NT calls them. The NT mentions at least five different crowns, which are rewards for different and special service to the Lord.

Conclusion:
I am absolutely convinced that we in America do not even know what real persecution is. We have no understanding of what these Christians went through… Gospel.