In
these verses, the message of the crucified and risen Lord was written to
address the congregation in Smyrna, a port city located forty miles north
of Ephesus. It was known for its culture, wealth, and beauty. The population of
Smyrna comprised of Greeks, Jews and Roman business people. Christians there also
faced social pressures to accommodate Greco-Roman practices. Here the Lord
referred to Himself as the first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life. As the first and
the last, He is the One in whom time and history began, and will be the One
that time and history will find its climax. In saying that He was the One Who
was dead and has come to life, He was referring to His death and resurrection.
This reference could also be an intentional allusion to the city of Smyrna,
which was destroyed once and then rebuilt again.
Although the Christians of
Smyrna appeared to be poor materially in comparison with the richness of the
city, yet they were rich because of who they were in Christ. Isn’t this the
same for us too? To be materially rich is really unimportant. As believers we are
infinitely richer when we are vitally related and connected to Christ. However,
this exhortation is not a commendation for poverty but an encouragement for
those who are poor, to remain faithful to Christ.
Bear in mind that Christianity
is an offshoot of Judaism. It is not a new religion born out of nothing. Its
foundation is deeply rooted in the ancient promise made to Israel. The God of
Israel had given His people the promise of a Messiah. The Christians insisted
that Jesus, the crucified and resurrected Lord is the Messiah. A true Jew
recognized and acknowledged this Messiah and put their faith in Him. If the
followers of Jesus belong to the God of Israel, those who reject them would be
rejecting God. Hence those Jews of natural
descent who refused to acknowledge Jesus are in effect not true Jews.
The synagogue in Smyrna
were made up of both Jews who didn’t acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah and those
who did. When those who did made their stand that would immediately become a
problem. Members of the synagogue who did not accept the claim would persecute
them, and added their own blasphemies upon the Lord. In rejecting Jesus, and
renouncing the Christians, they were also hurling all kinds of wicked
accusations on them and the Lord. They were in effect acting in accord with
Satan, hence they were called a synagogue of Satan.
However,
the call Christ gave in the message to Smyrna was an exhortation to the believers
not to cave in to fear, especially in the coming tribulation that they were
about to go through. The duration of this test would be “ten days.” What do we
understand by “ten days”? It simply means a period of time. And in that
duration, they would be threatened with incarceration. This threat would have
made some Christians ready to relinquish their faith in order to avoid that
outcome. This was a test. And believers were challenged to remain faithful
until death.
And
again this challenge is accompanied by a promise of the crown of life.
Overcomers, people who remain faithful, will be marked by the crown of life.
That will be the true and pure resurrected life in God’s eternal presence. It
is interesting to know that Smyrna was shaped like a city with a crown, created
by the brilliant architecture of the steep hill surrounding it. Here the
overcomers were also promised that they would not taste or be touched by the
second death. The first death affects both the non-believers and believers in
Christ. The second death will only be experienced by those condemned by God.
The second death will do to one’s entire personality what the first death would
only do to the physical body.
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