“I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9).

First impressions are important.  A few years ago, I was looking for the right way to describe the Church, as we were setting up our new website.  I did not want to paint a false picture, so in the end I described us as a ‘small but enthusiastic Church’.  Had they had websites back in the days of the Seven Churches Smyrna’s website might have read something like this.  ‘We are small, struggling Church who has suffered persecution in the past, and are about to face persecution again.’  I wonder if this kind of image would encourage you to attend a service there?

But, such was the reality of the Church to whom Christ sends this letter. The Church had almost certainly come into being during Paul’s remarkable two year ministry at Ephesus (Acts 19:10) – but found its self in a hostile situation, as Smyrna was one of the first places to embrace Emperor Worship, and so, verse 9 highlights their problems.  Interestingly enough, however, Jesus has only words of encouragement for them.

Firstly, he reminds them of who he is.  He is: ‘the first and last, who died and came to life’ (v8).  If they were having a hard time for not worshipping Caesar as ‘lord and saviour’ they could look to one who was the real deal!  Their confidence was in one who was sovereign over everything, even life and death!  Secondly, they had encouragement of knowing that Jesus knows them and their situation.  The: ‘I know’ (of verse 9) is a common feature in these letters.  Jesus is walking among the seven lampstands which represent the Churches (1:13), so he really knows his Churches. The Lord knows they appear very poor; the text uses the Greek word: ‘ptocheia’ which means to have nothing at all.[1]  But in reality they are: “rich”, which reflects their spiritual state!  The Lord knows that they are having a hard time due to the hatred of the Jews.  He knows they are going to suffer persecution, but he reminds them that he is in control and the time will be limited (v10).

Finally, Jesus tells them their future.  For those who are faithful, there will be a: ‘crown of life’ and also the promise of being with Him forever (vs10-11).  Are you, like me wondering how they felt when they received this letter?  I imagine they would have been very encouraged.  Those believers may well have been a ‘laughing stock’ of Smyrna, and no doubt, people felt they could push them around.  However, the fact remained that Jesus was Lord, and sovereign over everything – and that made all the difference!

Sadly, in some Churches today there has been a tendency to teach that if you come to Jesus all your problems will be solved.  A false ‘gospel’ of ‘easy believe-ism’ has been substituted, for Christ’s command to deny ourselves, and take up our cross and follow him (Mark 8:34).  Anyone preaching such a falsehood would have been very quickly booted out of the Church in Smyrna, as they knew it could be tough following Christ.  Nonetheless, they would have been encouraged to keep going because the benefits were truly going to be ‘out of this world’!  Living as we do, in a situation today where Gospel preaching is often scorned and the Bible criticised, we too can take encouragement from the words of the glorified Christ to a small, struggling first-century Church in Asia Minor.  We too can appear poor, but in reality be rich, if we trust in the truth of the Gospel.

Would you like to hear a sermon on this passage?    A Church that has Real Riches despite its Appearance.

[1]  Leon Morris, Revelation (Leicester, Inter-Varsity Press, 1969) 65.