Smyrna’s Love

To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. ⁹ I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰ Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

¹¹ Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death

The Church at Smyrna was a great church.  It is one of two of the churches of Revelations that is not rebuked by the Lord.  The qualities that kept this church strong are personal and doctrinal.  Polycarp was the head of this church.  He was a direct disciple of the John the Apostle.  Being disciple by the apostle who wrote so much of love was a great advantage.  Polycarp had a devotion to him that extended throughout his life.  This devotion also led to an honoring of the Jewish roots of the faith including the keeping of the Sabbath and Passover.

When you do what is right there is generally a counterfeit that arises beside it.  Jesus the judge points his finger at those directly when he says, “I know about those who say they are Jews and are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan.”  Polycarp and the disciples of Smyrna must have taken great comfort in these words.  Obeying God can leave us feeling lonely, Elijah’s words, “I am the only one left” come to mind.  A modern way of feeling this same pain is to say; “maybe I really am the one who is crazy.”  Dear saint of God, you are not crazy and you are not alone.   

God is raising up in this day more than 7,000 who have not bent the knee to false relationships or false doctrine.  Polycarp fought the fight of faith until his martyrdom sometime between 150 and 170 AD.  Let us endure onto the end as he did and be provided the victors crown from the one who has earned our love and devotion through his incarnation, perfect life, and crucifixion.