Freedom River Church Sunday Message 5/27/18
Channel: Freedom River Church
Date: 2018-05-29

Smyrna   
Dying To Be Faithful 
Revelation 2:8-11

Who is the letter from?

In each of the letters to the Seven Churches, John uses a direct quote or an inferred characterization from his description of Jesus in chapter one. Each description is significantly appropriate to the church He is addressing. Smyrna was suffering, therefore; the Lord refers to an attribute of His character that relates to endurance
through suffering. Jesus is the WORD of God. He is the alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet; and the omega, the last letter of the Greek alphabet. He encourages them with the fact that He not only begins things, He also sees them through to the end. He is not
only the author of life but also the champion of death. He conquered death and now lives to render death powerless against His true church.

Who is this church to whom the letter is written?

 In contrast to the Church at Ephesus, very little is known about the Church at Smyrna. Smyrna means myrrh. Other than the references to the city name in the book of Revelation, the word is used only three other times in the New Testament. Each of these uses is made in connection with Him who was the sufferer for our sin: (1) Gift to the young child Jesus – gold, frankincense and
myrrh – Matthew 2:11, (2) Offered as painkiller on the Cross – Mark 15:23, (3) Brought to anoint the body of Jesus after death – John 19:39. Myrrh is a sweet-smelling perfume used most often after death to anoint the body for burial. It was also used as an anesthetic (mixed with wine as a painkiller). Myrrh comes from a
small thorny tree grown primarily in Africa (importing to Israel made it very costly). The tree itself emits no odor, but when the bark is cut it leaks a resin that dries in the air and when crushed produces a powerful fragrance. Yes, of course, the more you crush it the more powerful the fragrance becomes!

 Polycarp, one of the three great early church Apostolic Fathers (Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp of Smyrna) was the Pastor of the Church at Smyrna. He was a disciple of John, and it is thought that John ordained him Pastor of Smyrna. Polycarp is recorded as saying on the day of his death,
"Eighty and six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and Savior? You threaten me with a fire that burns for a season, and after a little while is quenched; but you are ignorant of the fire of everlasting punishment that is prepared for the wicked." Polycarp was burned at the stake and was pierced with a spear when the fire failed to
touch him for refusing to burn incense to the Roman Emperor (AD155). On his farewell, he said "I bless you Father for judging me worthy of this hour, so that in the company of the martyrs I may share the cup of Christ."


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