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G. Coleman Luck
Second in a Series of Messages on the Churches of Revelation.
If human authority ever conflicts with His revealed will, then “we ought to obey God rather than men.” In the midst of persecution it is especially important to remember this. He is also the One “which was dead, and is alive.” Some of the saints in Smyrna would be obliged to suffer even martyrdom for His sake. With such a fate impending, our Lord re minds His own that He, too, has died, and has won the victory over death forevermore. He acclaims: “Because I live, ye shall live also.” 3. Commendation of Good Works
Stoke Poi/is Church, England
„ . (2:9a). As usual our Lord first com- erence to the churches that were in men(js the church for its good works, them. Ephesus means desirable, ,,j ¡tnow thy works”—yes, He knows and the church there was truly desir- all bQth in the corporate life of the able in many ways Smyrna is liter- church and the individual life of the ally 1myrrh. Myrrh, when crushed, Christian. But how surprising are the produced a very precious and fragrant jtems mentioned as good works here perfume. The church at Smyrna (and _ .- tribulation” and “poverty.” It is the entire church of tile first two cen- not that having trouble and being tunes, which it typifies), though ter- poor are commendable things in them- ribly crushed by persecution, brought geives Often they may be the result forth a sweet fragrance to God. 0f failure and sin. But in the church This letter had its first application at Smyrna this condition resulted from to the actual church that existed in a faithful stand for Christ. If they Smyrna at the time John wrote Reve- had been willing to deny their faith lation. But, using these seven epistles in Christ, tribulation would have as a prophetic outline of Church His- ceased. But because they steadfast- . .. .. ,
I N Revelation 2 and 3, we find what might well be called “the last mes sage of Christ to the churches.” No doubt every local church that has ex isted throughout this dispensation could be classified, generally speak ing, under one of these seven types. Ephesus, the first of the seven churches of Asia Minor, is the church that left its first love. Smyrna, the second, is pre-eminently the church that suffered. As in the case of the other letters, this beautiful epistle to Smyrna should be considered under the sevenfold division found in each (with certain significant exceptions). 1. The Address. “And unto the an gel of the church in Smyrna write” (2:8a). Angel is literally messen ger, sometimes referring to that spirit race of beings who are God’s messengers. It can also on occasion refer to human messengers, and in this instance, it indicates the pastor of the church who is (or should be) God’s messenger to that church. He is to present the letter to the people. It is of interest that the city of Smyrna is still in existence, and is, in fact, the largest city of Asia Minor at the present time, with a population of approximately 250,000. It is now called Izmir, a modern corruption of the ancient name. Apparently the names of these towns have some typical ref-
ly refused to do this, they suffered tribulation and had their belongings confiscated, being thereby reduced to poverty. Persecution was so severe that they had no opportunity for fur ther service; but when endured for the sake of Christ, tribulation and poverty became precious works for Him. He says: “But thou art rich.” I think of another of these seven churches where the people were out wardly rich and prosperous—in com plete contrast to Smyrna. But to those people.our Lord had to say: “Thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” The faithful saints at Smyrna, though paupers from a worldly standpoint, were truly rich in the eyes of God. T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
tory (a key which undoubtedly un locks the “mystery” connected with this portion of Scripture), we find that Smyrna is typical of the entire Church from John’s day until about 313 A.D., when under Constantine the great persecution ceased. 2. Description of the Lord. “These things saith' the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive” (2:8b). Again Christ is depicted in a twofold manner. He is “Alpha and Omega, the first and the last” (1:11). Only Deity could speak such words. Look back into eternity past, and He is there; peer into eternity to come, and He will be present. Truly the Son of God is the Eternal One. As such, He is the only true Authority.
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