B. Letter to Smyrna. 2:8-11 - The persecuted Church I. Church period - Year 100 - 313 A.D. The Persecuted age. During this period of the Church it was heavily persecuted and they battled sects and false doctrine. II. Connection to the 7 churches of Paul: Philippians (Joy through persecution) III. Connection to the 7 parables of Jesus: The wheat and the tares. Matt. 13:24-30 IV. Smyrna means bitter and myrrh, myrrh was used to embalm the dead and given to Jesus on the cross. V. The shortest letter of all seven, Jesus knew that suffering people do not need many words but short and comforting words. VI. SMYRNA. A. Was placed about 40 miles from Ephesus. B. It was the centre of science and medicine. C. Romans called it “ The beauty of Asia” and ‘ The city of life and strength” , the Greek called Smyrna the “ The crown of Asia minor” . D. In the late first century the city had a population of 100.000 thousand people. E. Today it is called Izmir with a population of about 200.000 thousand people. V.8 a) The Counsellor - I. Jesus reveals Himself as the First and the Last because the church was dying for Him - It’ s all about Him. II. Jesus reveals Himself as the One who was dead and came to life, to give this persecuted church hope of eternal life. V.9 b) The Commendation - I. 4 things Jesus knows about them: 1. Works - Perhaps works of love and of the Gospel. 2. Tribulation - Sufferings for the Gospel. 3. Poverty - Material poor but they were spiritual rich. Perhaps the people of the city resisted Christians and restricted their work opportunities. 4. Blasphemy - Religious Jews who blasphemed (slandered) because of their believe in Christ, the Jews are called the synagogue of Satan because of their rejection of Christ. Rom.2:28-29; John 8:31-47 V.10 c) The Counsel - I. 3 challenges of Jesus concerning their upcoming sufferings: A. This verse begins with a command “do not fear” and ends with a promise “the crown of life” B. Prediction - “ About to suffer” C. Person - The devil will be behind it. D. Purpose - God will be testing you. E. Persecution - 1. Will last 10 days, some sees it as 10 actual days others as 10 years or periods, the 10 actually days are most preferably. John 16:33 2. Tribulation (Gr.thlipsis) means pressure, like when grapes are pressured to obtain their juice. F. Be faithful until death - 1. Christ was faithful until death v.2:8 and they should too. James 1:12 2. The crown of life is possibly the experience of the fullness of life. John 10:10 3. Because of their faithful duty some city administrators, rulers, and priests of Smyrna received a crown of leaves every year. V.11 d) The Challenge - I. Those who has spiritual desire to hear the voice of the Spirit will be Attentive to the words and Act on it. Matt.13:9 II. To him who overcomes, who does not loose faith. 1.John 5:4-5 III. The 2nd death is the lake of fire. Rev.20:14-15 IV. He who is born once will die twice, he who is born twice will die once.