The Second Letter

"And to the angel, or the messenger, from the church in Smyrna write: the First and the Last who was dead and has come to life says this: I know your tribulation and your poverty but you are rich and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan, do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison that you may be tested and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches, he who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." Revelation 2:8-11

This is the second of seven letters to the churches in the various cities of Asia Minor, now modern Turkey. This is one of just two of the seven where there is no condemnation, there is no discussion about sin, there is no word from the Lord about punishment. This is a purged church. It has been purged of sin through the matter of suffering. The price of being a Christian can be very high in a hostile environment. That apparently was the case in Smyrna where at this time the Caesar, Domitian had launched an extensive persecution of the church. And so, through persecution they had been purified, through persecution they had come to a serious kind of Christianity, through persecution they had been deprived and in their poverty they had become spiritually rich. And so, in these verses we see that John has only praise for this church.

The church at Smyrna is an example of how every faithful Christian should respond in the matter of suffering. We know from 2 Timothy 3:12 that suffering is inevitable. "All who desire to live godly in Jesus will be persecuted." And from Hebrews we know that our salvation is perfected in suffering (2:10) and that Christ learned obedience through suffering (5:8).

The message given to the church at Smryna told them not to fear what they were about to suffer. No matter how small or how severe, the One who has overcome death says, “fear not.” Isaiah 41:10 says, "Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." The Smyrnan Christians are challenged to face possible martyrdom with courage and fidelity to God. And for their faithfulness they will be “crowned” with the enjoyment of life “more abundant”. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 10:10

The letter closes with a promise to the one who overcomes that they will not experience the second death. "Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 John 5:5 So true believers, He says, those of you who are real believers will never be hurt by the second death. That's the one to worry about. The first death is only physical, the second is spiritual and eternal.

All of the letters to the churches share a similar structure. There is a description of Christ, a commendation, a reproof, instructions/warnings, and a promise to overcomers. I am always captivated by the description of Christ when I stop to consider the words He has chosen to describe Himself. "...the First and the Last who was dead and has come to life..." Just think about what that means...

The First and the Last this is a name God took for Himself. I won't take you back through it again but in case you're taking some notes, in Isaiah 41:4, Isaiah 43:10, Isaiah 44:6 and 48:12, in those places God calls Himself the First and the Last. Here that same title is used to designate Jesus Christ...in chapter 1 verse 17, here again in chapter 2 verse 8, and once again in chapter 22 and verse 13. This is to say then that Jesus Christ is none other than God Himself. And yet though they be one He is distinct. He is the eternal infinite God, already in existence when all things were created and remaining after all things are destroyed. He is the first, He preexisted, He is the last, He will go on forever. When other things cease, He does not. When some things begin, yes when all things begin He is already there. He is the First and the Last, the eternal One. The idea is that He transcends time, that He transcends space, that He transcends creation. And yet amazingly, look back at verse 8, this same One who is eternal, who was before all things and will live forever, who transcends all things was dead and has come to life. Here is a paradox of all paradoxes. How can the eternally living God who is beyond all time, beyond all space, beyond all history die? How can He die? But He did. The Lord Jesus Christ, as you know, was God incarnate, entering into time, space and history for the very purpose of dying. That is the heart of the gospel.

How could the eternally living One die? He could only die as a man. He never could die as the eternal God in whom is unending life. But He died as man for sin and now lives by resurrection as the glorified God/Man. But He Himself, according to Hebrews 7:16, had the power of an endless life. ~ John MacArthur

No matter then what might happen to the Christians at Smyrna or to us, our Savior has gone through the worst life can bring. As such, He is one who feels for us in our suffering with special love and compassion and is ever present to come to our aid and comfort! Like the Smyrnan Christians we can be comforted by the fact that the sufferings of this present time do not continue forever, and the blessings that are ours in Christ through His salvation and precious promises will go on through eternity.

"And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." Mark 13:13