Smyrna was about 40 miles from Ephesus and also a port city. It was an academic center, home of Homer. Smyrna is translated into myrrh, which is a perfume used to embalm dead bodies. Here is Smyrna on the map.

   

Christ the Conqueror v.8  

Jesus is the conqueror of sin and death. Although we may be physically killed, our soul in Christ will live forever. This was encouraging to the church at Smyrna. They were suffering greatly for their faith in Christ.  

This statement that Christ makes and John records “the first and the last,” means He is Superior, his has rule and control over all things. This statement would have really rubbed those in Smyrna who worshipped the Roman emperor, the wrong way. The Christians, the non-emperor worshipers, were being killed because of their faith! One ministry called open door USA reported that in 2018, 4,136: Christians were killed for faith-related reasons, 2,625: Christians detained without trial, arrested, sentenced and imprisoned, and 1,266: churches or Christian buildings were attacked. So this is so very real today.  

Paul’s words to the Romans and to us today should encourage us as we await or endure persecution.  

Romans 8:35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  
 

The statement that Jesus makes in which He says, “who died and came to life,” shows His supremacy. He has power over death; therefore, Jesus specializes in bringing dead people to life. You and I, before Christ, were dead. Christ saved us and made us alive.   

 

1 Corinthians 15:55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” When you are realizing that death is going to happen, you delight in the fact that as a Christian, you will not have to suffer for eternity like those not in Christ. Well pastor, what do you mean? Here is what Jesus said.  

 

Matthew 13:50 “And throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  

 

I pray we’ll be like Spurgeon, who said, “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for.”  

 

Christ the Comforter v.9  

 

They were attacked by a group of Jews, John refers to as a synagogue of Satan. Jesus mentions that He knows their suffering and although physically poor, they were spiritually rich in Christ! Jesus is showing comfort by relating.      John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  

 

Christ the Crowner v.10

 

They, the church of Smyrna are suffering, and should expect to continue to endure. Their reward is the crown of life. This term that John uses is also found in James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”  In the Roman culture, who Smyrna was ruled under, the athlete would receive a victory crown. Although, we may not win here on earth, we are awarded eternal life. Six different types of crowns are illustrated throughout the NT. Crown of Life, Crown of righteousness, crown of glory, crown of gold, crown of rejoicing, and crown of incorruption. Each crown points back to the Crowner, Jesus Christ.  

 

Christ’s Church are Champions v.11  

 

The second death is Hell! Jesus warns more about Hell than anyone else throughout God’s Word. Listen to what He tells us in Revelation 20:14 “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.” Revelation 21:8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”  

 

Who are the Champions?

The Saints

1 John 5:12-13 “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”